Council of the District of Columbia

Committee of the Whole

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

 

TO:                      Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

FROM:              Phil Mendelson, Chairman

DATE:                May 14, 2020

 

               The following measures are placed on the agenda for the May 19, 2020 Legislative Meeting:

 

• Coronavirus Support Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2020
• Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020
• Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2020
• Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020
• Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020

 

               These measures consolidate into a single new emergency the four previous COVID-19 emergency measures adopted by the Council beginning March 17, 2020.  While the structure of the new measure differs from the previous bills, it is substantively identical in content to the enrolled versions of the earlier bills (see, in particular, Bill 23-734, the COVID-19 Response Supplemental Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 and Bill 23-750, the Coronavirus Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2020).  Because a temporary bill has now been sent to Capitol Hill, and the four already-adopted emergency acts will expire by June 9^th, it is necessary to move a new emergency, congressional review emergency, and temporary bill that will have applicability to March 11, 2020 and going forward once the new temporary has been transmitted for congressional review.  All previous emergency acts in effect and the temporary act under congressional review are repealed.

 

               In addition to consolidating the previous bills, the draft measure for Tuesday perfects several previous provisions in the earlier bills including: an extension of time of Mayor’s public health emergency authority; labor and workforce provisions; liability for health-care providers; mortgage deferrals; debt collection; credit reporting; rental payment plans; limitations on foreclosures; non-profit board meetings; contractor reporting of positive cases; and the budget submission date.  Additionally, there are new substantive provisions including: utility payment plans; voluntary guardianship for minors; clarifications to public benefits; quorum requirements for the Rental Housing Commission; prohibitions on discharging Long-term care residents; and a food access study (See sections 308, 504, 507(a), 405(b)(1), 510, and 512).

 

               The draft measures are attached, including a version tracking provisions that are changed from the previous emergency.  Additional provisions may be added or refined over the next several days in coordination with Councilmembers and the Executive.  This will be a consensus bill.  It is my intent that this bill will represent the near-entirety of statutory authority necessary to address the COVID-19 public health emergency – indeed, many of the provisions have been under scrutiny for almost three months – while it is possible that additional legislation might be needed as we progress through the pandemic and move to various stages of reopening.  Please call me or Mr. Evan Cash if you have any questions at (202) 724-7002. 

 

cc:          All Councilmembers

               Council Officers

 

 

Evan Cash

Committee and Legislative Director

Committee of the Whole

Chairman Phil Mendelson

 

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Suite 410

Washington, DC 20004

Tel: (202) 724-7002

http://www.chairmanmendelson.com/cow

 

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