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: December 16, 2021

RE: Request to Place Measures on the December 21, 2021 Legislative Meeting Agenda

The following measures are placed on the agenda for the December 21, 2021 Legislative Meeting:

▪ Coronavirus Immunization of School Students and Early Childhood Workers Regulation Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2021

▪ Coronavirus Immunization of School Students and Early Childhood Workers Regulation Emergency Amendment Act of 2021

This legislation mirrors permanent legislation scheduled for final reading on December 21, 2021. This bill would require all eligible students to have received the complete dose of the fully approved COVID-19 vaccine before enrolling in a District school (public, independent, private or parochial) by March 1, 2022. The bill would also require all staff at OSSE-licensed child development facilities to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related documentation annually. This would add to existing regulations that currently require childcare staff to complete an annual physical exam and provide certification that they are free of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. Lastly, the bill will require student certifications of all immunization data to be electronically transmitted by either a private physician or the public health authorities directly to the student’s local education agency.

On October 4, 2021, the Coronavirus Immunization of School Students and Early Childhood Workers Amendment Act of 2021 was introduced as permanent legislation. Upon a hearing, this bill received a first vote at the December 7, 2021 Legislative Meeting. The date for when eligible students are required to be fully vaccinated is three months away. Thus, an emergency is needed to have the mandate as law, now.

The draft measures are attached. Please call me or Ms. Raleigh Lancaster if you have any questions at (202) 724-7130.

cc: All Councilmembers

Council Officers

Christina K. Setlow, Deputy Committee Director

Committee of the Whole, Chairman Phil Mendelson

Council of the District of Columbia

1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 410

Washington, DC 20004

Ph: (202) 724-4865

Fax: (202) 724-7139

www.chairmanmendelson.com