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Criminal Justice Act Revision of 1986

Public Law 99-651 · H.R. 3004 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 14, 1986 · Law

Sponsor: Rep. Robert Kastenmeier (D-WI-2)

Cosponsors (9): Rep. Carlos Moorhead,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

(House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment)

Criminal Justice Act Revision of 1986 - Title I: Criminal Justice Revisions - Revises provisions concerning the appointment of counsel in Federal criminal proceedings.

Makes the representation of material witnesses in custody a right of such witnesses instead of discretionary with the court. Authorizes the representation of financially eligible persons charged with a petty offense for which a sentence of confinement is authorized.

Authorizes the Judicial Conference of the United States to set and modify the maximum hourly rates within a certain range which appointed counsel shall receive.

Increases the maximum amounts appointed counsel may receive: (1) in a felony case, from $2,000 to $3,500; (2) for a misdemeanor, from $800 to $1,500; and (3) for an appeal, from $2,000 to $2,500. Provides that for any other kind of representation authorized by this section, the compensation shall not exceed $750. Provides for an additional $300 for investigative, expert, or other services without prior authorization in certain circumstances. Increases the maximum amount of compensation paid to a person for services other than for legal counsel to $1,000.

Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to provide liability insurance for employees of a Federal Public Defender Organization or Community Defender Organization receiving grants.

Allows a Federal Public Defender, by majority vote of the court of appeals, to continue in office after the expiration of such term of office until a successor is appointed or one year after such term of office expires, whichever is earlier.

Authorizes appropriations to the U.S. courts for representation plans, including funds for the continuing education of persons providing representational services.

Amends the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 to make technical and conforming amendments.

Authorizes Federal defenders and other attorneys appointed under the Criminal Justice Act to certify the payment of defense witnesses in Federal criminal cases.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  • Judiciary Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee; Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.

  1. Nov 14, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-651.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 5, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 17, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 15, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Concurred, in Senate Amendments , with Amendments by Voice Vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Proceedings of October 14, 1986 Vacated in House.
  7. Oct 14, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Concurred, in Senate Amendments , with Amendments by Voice Vote.
  8. Oct 6, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1581 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Judiciary Committee
  10. Dec 16, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  12. Dec 11, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
  13. Dec 9, 1985FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  14. Dec 5, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  15. Nov 19, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  16. Oct 1, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  18. Jul 25, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  19. Jul 22, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  20. Jul 16, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  21. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.