Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 115 Part 3.djvu/42

 115 STAT. 2116 PUBLIC LAW 107-114-^AN. 8, 2002 (iii) The action or proceeding was initiated in the Family Division prior to the 2-year period which ends on the date of enactment of this Act. (C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.— Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude magistrate judges appointed pursuant to this subsection from performing upon appointment any or all of the functions of magistrate judges of the Family Court or Domestic Violence Unit as set forth in subsection ll-1732A(d). SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BORDER AGREEMENT WITH MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. It is the sense of Congress that the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia should promptly enter into a border agreement to facilitate the timely and safe placement of children in the District of Columbia's welfare system in foster and kinship homes and other facilities in Maryland and Virginia. SEC. 8. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE USE OF COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES. It is the sense of the Senate that the chief judge of the Superior Court and the presiding judge of the Family Division should take all steps necessary to encourage, support, and improve the use of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in family court actions or proceedings. SEC. 9. INTERIM REPORTS. Deadline. Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the chief judge of the Superior Court and the presiding judge of the Family Court— (1) in consultation with the General Services Administration, shall submit to Congress a feasibility study for the construction, lease, or acquisition of appropriate permanent courts and facilities for the Family Court; and (2) shall submit to Congress an analysis of the success of the use of magistrate judges under the expedited appointment procedures established under section 6(d) in reducing the number of pending actions and proceedings within the jurisdiction of the Family Court (as described in section 11- 902(d), District of Columbia). SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRLVTIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Courts of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia such sums as may be necessary to carry out the amendments made by this Act.

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