MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                 Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

               

FROM:              Phil Mendelson, Chairman

                                 

DATE:                September 28, 2023

 

RE:                       Request to Place Measures on the Agenda for October 3, 2023 Legislative Meeting

 

            This memorandum is to request that the following measures be placed on the agenda for next week’s Legislative Meeting:

 

§  DC Nursing Education Enhancement Program Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2023

§  DC Nursing Education Enhancement Program Emergency Amendment Act of 2023

§  DC Nursing Education Enhancement Program Temporary Amendment Act of 2023

 

            This is a new round of emergency and temporary legislation that would continue to authorize stipends for nursing students at the University of the District of Columbia Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning Division (UDC-WDLL). 

 

            The DC Nurse Education Enhancement Program was established in the FY 2022 budget to provide education benefits for District residents in various nursing and health care programs at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) as well as at community training providers.  The program provides tuition assistance for students in UDC’s 4-year program and the UDC-Community College. Students within the Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning Division do not pay tuition therefore the program provides, among other things, living and transportation stipends for students.

 

            Last year UDC asked for this clarification because it was unclear whether they had the authority to issue the stipends without explicit legislative authority.  However, it is unclear if this issue has been resolved without the need for legislation.  Out of an abundance of caution, I am moving this legislation to ensure the status quo stays in place while the Committee of the Whole works with UDC to see if permanent legislation is necessary.

 

Draft