Legislative Highlights Sep 1997

A draft of the <b>Bankruptcy Review Commission's report</b> is expected by October 8. In September, the Senate Judiciary Committee plans an oversight hearing on the Commission's process.

</p><p>It is also expected that Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL) will soon introduce <b>consumer bankruptcy legislation</b> aimed at tightening perceived debtor abuses.

</p><p>The House has passed legislation (<a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:hr1596:&quot; target="_parent">H. R. 1596</a>) to create <b>18 additional bankruptcy judgeships</b>. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

</p><p>The <b>Ninth Circuit would be split</b> under language in a Senate appropriations bill that passed 99-0 in late July. <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:s1022:&quot; target="_parent">S. 1022</a> would create a new 12th Circuit of Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Washington and two territories. Remaining in the 9th Circuit would be California and Arizona. A House bill (<a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:hr908:&quot; target="_parent">H.R. 908</a>) would create a panel to study structural alternatives for the appeals courts.

</p><p>The Senate appropriations bill also differs from the House in the levels of <b>funding for the U.S. Trustee system</b>. The Senate approved an increase in funding; the House version would keep funding at 1997 levels.

</p><p>The Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts held a hearing in Des Moines, Iowa, on legislation to make <b>chapter 12</b> permanent (<a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:x1024:&quot; target="_parent">S. 1024</a>).

</p><p>The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the <b>impact of §§724(b) and 505(a)</b> on local education funding. Witnesses representing local taxing authorities and schools alleged that the current law works a hardship on local and state governments. The "Investment in Education Act" would remove <i>ad valorem</i> taxes from the reach of trustees under §724(b), among other features. Legislation will be introduced in September.

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