,i  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #hbce  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,september #ad1      
#bjbj,mr4 ,johnson of ,georgia 7for     
himself and ,mr4 ,collins of ,georgia7  
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on the      
,judiciary  ,a ,,bill  ,to provide for  
the modernization of electronic case    
management systems1 and for other       
purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act  
may be cited as the ,open ,courts ,act  
of #bjbj4  #b4 ,modernization of        
electronic court records systems  7a7   
,consolidation ,not later than the date 
specified in subsection 7e71 the        
,director of the ,administrative ,office
 of the ,united ,states ,courts1 in     
coordination with the ,administrator of 
,general ,services1 shall establish1    
maintain1 and operate1 consistent with  
the requirements of this section and    
section #c1 one system for all public   
court records4  7b7 ,requirements of    
system ,the system developed under      

subsection 7a7 shall comply with the    
following requirements3 7#a7 ,the system
 shall provide search functions1        
developed in coordination with the      
,administrator of ,general ,services1   
for use by the public and by parties    
before the court4  7#b7 ,any information
 that is prohibited from public         
disclosure by law or court order shall  
be redacted4  7#c7 ,any information made
 available through a website established
 pursuant to section #bje of the        
,e-,government ,act of #bjjb shall be   
included in the system4  7#d7 ,any      
website for the system shall            
substantially comply with the           
requirements under subsections 7b7 and  
7c7 of section #bje of the              
,e-,government ,act of #bjjb4  7#e7 ,to 
the extent practicable1 external        
websites shall be able to link to       
documents on the system4 ,each website  
established pursuant to section #bje of 
the ,e-,government ,act of #bjjb shall  
contain a link to the system4  7c7 ,data

 standards  7#a7 ,establishment of data 
standards ,the ,director of the         
,administrative ,office of the ,united  
,states ,courts1 in coordination with   
the ,administrator of ,general ,services
 and the ,archivist of the ,united      
,states1 shall establish data standards 
for the system established under        
subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,requirements ,the
 data standards established under       
paragraph 7#a7 shall1 to the extent     
reasonable and practicable-- 7,a7       
incorporate widely accepted common data 
elements2  7,b7 incorporate a widely    
accepted1 nonproprietary1 full text     
searchable1 platform-independent        
computer-readable format2 and  7,c7 be  
capable of being continually upgraded as
 necessary4  7#c7 ,deadlines ,not later 
than #f months after the date of        
enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of
 the ,administrative ,office of the     
,united ,states ,courts shall issue     
guidance to all ,federal courts on the  
data standards established under this   

section4  7d7 ,use of technology ,in    
developing the system under subsection  
7a71 the ,director shall use modern     
technology in order-- 7#a7 to improve   
security1 data accessibility1           
affordability1 and performance2 and     
7#b7 to minimize the burden on pro se   
litigants4  7e7 ,date specified ,the    
date specified in this subsection is the
 date that is #b years after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act1 unless the 
,administrator of ,general ,services    
certifies to ,congress1 by not later    
than #ij days after such date of        
enactment1 that an additional period of 
time is required4 ,if the ,administrator
 so certifies1 the date specified in    
this subsection is the date that is #c  
years after the date of enactment of    
this ,act4  7f7 ,funds for              
establishment1 operation1 and           
maintenance of modernized court records 
system  7#a7 ,short term access fees to 
fund establishment of modernized court  
records system  7,a7 ,in general        

,section #cjc of the ,judiciary         
,appropriations ,act1 #aiib 7title ,,iii
 of ,public ,law #ajb-adj2 #aje ,stat4  
#hjg7 7#bh ,u4,s4,c4 #aiac note7 is     
amended-- 7i7 in subsection 7a71 by     
inserting ,the ,judicial ,conference    
shall prescribe a schedule of additional
 fees for any person who accrues such   
fees for access in an amount of #be1jjj 
or greater in any quarter4 ,all fees    
collected shall be deposited as         
offsetting collections to the ,judiciary
 ,information ,technology ,fund pursuant
 to section #fab7;c77#a77;,a7 of title  
#bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 to reimburse
 expenses incurred in carrying out      
section #b of the ,open ,courts ,act of 
#bjbj4 before ,the ,director of the     
,administrative ,office of the ,united  
,states ,courts2 and  7ii7 in subsection
 7b71 by striking ,all fees hereafter   
and inserting ,except as otherwise      
provided in this section1 all fees      
hereafter4  7,b7 ,excess fees ,amounts  
deposited in the ,judiciary ,information

 ,technology ,fund pursuant to the      
amendments made by subparagraph 7,a7 and
 not used to reimburse expenses incurred
 in carrying out section #b of this ,act
 may be used pursuant to section        
#fab7;a7 of title #bh1 ,united ,states  
,code4  7,c7 ,effective date ,the       
amendment made by subparagraph 7,a7     
shall take effect on the date of        
enactment of this ,act4  7#b7 ,filing   
fees to fund operation and maintenance  
of modernized court records system  7,a7
 ,in general ,section #cjc of the       
,judiciary ,appropriations ,act1 #aiib  
7title ,,iii of ,public ,law #ajb-adj2  
#aje ,stat4 #hjg7 7#bh ,u4,s4,c4 #aiac  
note7 is amended by striking subsections
 7a7 and 7b71 and inserting the         
following3  7a7 ,to cover the costs of  
carrying out section #b of the ,open    
,courts ,act of #bjbj1 the ,judicial    
,conference may1 only to the extent     
necessary-- 7#a7 prescribe reasonable   
filing fees1 pursuant to sections #aiac1
 #aiad1 #aibf1 #aicj1 and #aicb of title

 #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 for        
collection by the courts under those    
sections1 which-- 7,a7 shall be based on
 the extent of the use by the person    
filing of the system established under  
such section #b for purposes of such    
action2  7,b7 shall in addition be      
adjusted based on factors including the 
nature of the action and claim for      
relief1 the amount of damages demanded1 
the estimated complexity of the type of 
action1 and the interests of justice2   
7,c7 may be prescribed for the filing of
 a counterclaim2 and  7,d7 shall not    
apply in the case of a pro se litigant  
or litigant who certifies their         
financial hardship2 and  7#b7 prescribe 
a reasonable fee for the filing of a    
proof of claim or interest under ,rule  
#cjjb and ,rule #cjjc of the ,rules of  
,bankruptcy ,procedure1 which may be    
adjusted proportionately to the amount  
of the claim1 the status of the claim1  
and the type of proceeding in which the 
claim is filed1 and interests of        

justice4  7b7 ,the ,judicial ,conference
 and the ,director shall transmit each  
schedule of fees prescribed under       
subsection 7a7 to ,congress at least #ij
 days before the schedule becomes       
effective4 ,all fees collected under    
subsection 7a7 shall be deposited as    
offsetting collections to the ,judiciary
 ,information ,technology ,fund pursuant
 to section #fab7;c77#a77;,a7 of title  
#bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 to reimburse
 expenses incurred in carrying out      
section #b of the ,open ,courts ,act of 
#bjbj4  7c7 ,the ,judicial ,conference  
shall review a schedule of fees         
prescribed under subsection 7a7 three   
years after it becomes effective and    
every three years thereafter to ensure  
that the fees meet the requirements of  
this section4 ,if the fees do not meet  
the requirements of this section1 the   
,judicial ,conference shall prescribe a 
new schedule of fees pursuant to        
subsection 7a7 and submit the new       
schedule of fees to ,congress pursuant  

to subsection 7b74  7d7 ,amounts        
deposited to the ,judiciary ,information
 ,technology ,fund pursuant to this     
section and not used to reimburse       
expenses incurred in carrying out       
section #b of the ,open ,courts ,act of 
#bjbj may be used pursuant to section   
#fab7;a7 of title #bh1 ,united ,states  
,code4  4  7,b7 ,effective date ,the    
amendment made by subparagraph 7,a7     
shall take effect on the date specified 
in subsection 7e74  #c4 ,public access  
to electronic court records system      
requirement  7a7 ,in general ,not later 
than the date specified in subsection   
7d71 the ,director of the               
,administrative ,office of the ,united  
,states ,courts1 in coordination with   
the ,administrator of ,general          
,services1 shall make all materials in  
the system established under section #b 
publicly accessible1 free of charge4    
7b7 ,authority for short term delays of 
public access to certain records ,the   
,judicial ,conference1 after appropriate

 public notice and opportunity for      
comment1 may designate categories of    
records which are not automatically made
 publicly accessible under subsection   
7a74 ,any such category shall be no     
broader than necessary1 based on a      
determination of a specific and         
substantial interest in restricting the 
public right of access to court records1
 and subject to no more than a #e-;day  
delay before being made publicly        
accessible under subsection 7a74 ,any   
such designation shall expire after #c  
years unless renewed pursuant to the    
requirements of this subsection4  7c7   
,use of technology ,in providing public 
access under subsection 7a71 the        
,director shall1 in coordination with   
the ,administrator of ,general          
,services1 use modern technology in     
order-- 7#a7 to improve security1 data  
accessibility1 ease of public access1   
affordability1 and performance2 and     
7#b7 to minimize the burden on pro se   
litigants4  7d7 ,date specified ,the    

date specified in this subsection is the
 date that is #b years after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act1 unless the 
,administrator of ,general ,services    
certifies to ,congress1 by not later    
than #ij days after such date of        
enactment1 that an additional period of 
time is required4 ,if the ,administrator
 so certifies1 the date specified in    
this subsection is the date that is #c  
years after the date of enactment of    
this ,act4  7e7 ,funding for public     
access to modernized electronic court   
records system  7#a7 ,in general        
,section #cjc of the ,judiciary         
,appropriations ,act1 #aiib 7title ,,iii
 of ,public ,law #ajb-adj2 #aje ,stat4  
#hjg7 7#bh ,u4,s4,c4 #aiac note7 is     
amended by adding at the end the        
following3  7c7 7#a7 ,to cover the costs
 of ensuring the public accessibility1  
free of charge1 of all materials in the 
system established under section #b of  
the ,open ,courts ,act of #bjbj in      
accordance with section #c of such ,act1

 the ,judicial ,conference shall collect
 an annual fee from the ,department of  
,justice equal to the ,public ,access to
 ,court ,electronic ,records access fees
 paid by the ,department of ,justice in 
#bjah1 as adjusted for inflation4 ,all  
fees collected under this subsection    
shall be deposited as offsetting        
collections to the ,judiciary           
,information ,technology ,fund pursuant 
to section #fab7;c77#a77;,a7 of title   
#bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 to reimburse
 expenses incurred in providing services
 in accordance with section #c of the   
,open ,courts ,act of #bjbj4  7#b7 ,to  
cover any additional marginal costs of  
ensuring the public accessibility1 free 
of charge1 of all materials in the      
system established under section #b of  
the ,open ,courts ,act of #bjbj in      
accordance with section #c of such ,act1
 the ,judicial ,conference may prescribe
 reasonable filing fees1 pursuant to    
sections #aiac1 #aiad1 #aibf1 #aicj1 and
 #aicb of title #bh1 ,united ,states    

,code1 for collection by the courts     
under those sections4 ,the filing fees--
 7,a7 shall be based on the extent of   
the use by the person filing of the     
system established under such section #b
 for purposes of such action2  7,b7     
shall be adjusted based on factors      
including the nature of the action and  
claim for relief1 the amount of damages 
demanded1 the estimated complexity of   
the type of action1 and the interests of
 justice2  7,c7 may be prescribed for   
the filing of a counterclaim2 and  7,d7 
shall not apply to a pro se litigant or 
a litigant who certifies their financial
 hardship4  7#c7 7,a7 ,the ,judicial    
,conference and the ,director shall     
transmit each schedule of fees          
prescribed under this subsection to     
,congress at least #ij days before the  
schedule becomes effective4 ,all fees   
collected under this subsection shall be
 deposited as offsetting collections to 
the ,judiciary ,information ,technology 
,fund pursuant to section               

#fab7;c77#a77;,a7 of title #bh1 ,united 
,states ,code1 to reimburse expenses    
incurred in providing services in       
accordance with section #c of the ,open 
,courts ,act of #bjbj4  7,b7 ,the       
,judicial ,conference shall review a    
schedule of fees prescribed under this  
paragraph three years after it becomes  
effective and every three years         
thereafter to ensure that the fees meet 
the requirements of this paragraph4 ,if 
the fees do not meet the requirements of
 this paragraph1 the ,judicial          
,conference shall prescribe a new       
schedule of fees pursuant to this       
paragraph and submit the new schedule of
 fees to ,congress pursuant to          
subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,amounts       
deposited to the ,judiciary ,information
 ,technology ,fund pursuant to this     
subsection and not used to reimburse    
expenses incurred in carrying out       
section #c of the ,open ,courts ,act of 
#bjbj may be used to reimburse expenses 
incurred in carrying out section #b of  

the ,open ,courts ,act of #bjbj4        
,amounts not used to reimburse expenses 
incurred in carrying out section #b of  
the ,open ,courts ,act of #bjbj may be  
used pursuant to section #fab7;a7 of    
title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code4  4    
7#b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made
 by paragraph 7#a7 shall take effect    
beginning on the date specified in      
subsection 7d74  #d4 ,rule of           
construction ,nothing in this ,act1 or  
the amendments made by this ,act1 shall 
be construed to-- 7#a7 affect the filing
 fees or other filing procedures for    
prisoners2 or  7#b7 abrogate1 limit1 or 
modify the requirements described in    
section #aiae of title #bh1 ,united     
,states ,code4  #e4 ,digital            
accessibility standards ,the systems    
established under sections #b and #c of 
this ,act or the amendments made by such
 sections shall comply with relevant    
digital accessibility standards         
established pursuant to section #ejh of 
the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc4