COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

               

FROM:       Phil Mendelson, Chairman

                                                               

DATE:             February 25, 2021

 

RE:           Emergency Measures for the March 2, 2021 Legislative Meeting

 

This memo is to request that the following measures be placed on the agenda for the March 2, 2021 Legislative Meeting:

 

§  Coronavirus Support Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2021

§  Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2021

§  Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021

 

            These measures will continue most of the provisions of D.C. Law 23-130, the Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020, the provisions of which will expire approximately March 31, 2021.  The following changes from the previous temporary measure are included in this emergency and temporary legislation:

 

• Amendments to Section 203 to incorporate and continue amendments regarding CBE assistance included in D.C. Act 23-524.[1]
• Amendments to Section 204 to incorporate and continue amendments regarding alcohol sales included in several subsequent emergency and temporary acts.
• Removal of now-moot provisions including late fees for corporate filings and trade name renewals, the one-time sales tax deferral granted to businesses, and the one-time property tax deferral granted to hotels.
• Removal of Section 208 regarding the 8^th and O Street disposition extension.
• Removal of Section 301 regarding opportunity accounts to reflect repeal in D.C. Law 23-149.[2]
• Amendment to Section 306 regarding price gouging to account for the use of a seasonal pricing model for rental vehicles to consider the price at which the vehicle was set during the same week in the previous year rather than the 90-day period preceding the public health emergency.
• Amendment to Section 507(a) to remove an obsolete provision; the amendment does not limit Mayoral access to any source of funding that is otherwise statutorily available.
• Amendments to section 507(c) to incorporate and continue amendments regarding public health emergency grants included in D.C. Act 23-524.[3]
• Amendments to section 507(d) to extend the Mayor’s authority to declare a public health emergency to May 20, 2021.
• Removal of Section 510 regarding a financial control board for United Medical Center that pertained to FY 2020 and is now moot.
• Removal of Section 513 which required a food access study that has already been completed.
• Amendments to Section 601 to incorporate and continue amendments regarding graduation requirements included in D.C. Act 23-524.[4]
• Removal of Section 604-606 regarding 2020-specific education matters that are moot.
• Amendment to Section 701 to require additional reporting on COVID-19 testing and vaccination related to the Department of Corrections.
• Removal of Section 704 regarding Office of Police Complaints board reporting extensions.
• Amendments (for the emergency only) to Section 706 regarding good time credits and compassionate release to reflect subsequent updates contained in D.C. Act 23-568.[5]
• Removal of Section 801 which authorized an increase in Board of Elections stipends that were only applicable for 2020.
• Removal of Sections 802 and 803 regarding an extension of time for submission of financial disclosures that were only applicable for 2020.
• Removal of Sections 804 and 805 regarding election preparedness that were only applicable for the 2020 election.
• Removal of Section 808 regarding tolling for FOIA requests which were revised already through D.C. Act 23-595.[6]
• Amendment to Section 813 to remove provisions relating to tolling of Mayoral nominations transmitted to the Council.
• Addition of a new Section 815 to allow for flexibility in hiring an Executive Director for the D.C. Retirement Board to assist the Board in its current search for candidates.
• Addition of a new Section 816 to repeal the current term limit for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board members.
• Removal of Section 901 regarding Council Period 23 rules – now moot.
• Addition of a new Section 901 to clarify that the Council can utilize detailees from agencies.
• Amendment to Section 903 to delay submission of the FY22 budget to April 22, 2021.
• Removal of Section 904 regarding tolling of matters transmitted to the Council.
• Removal of Title X regarding revenue bonds, all of which have now been approved by resolution.
• Removal of Title XI regarding FY20 GO and TRANS borrowing.