WASHINGTON, DC – Phil Mendelson today introduced the “Truancy Referral Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” and the “UDC DREAM Amendment Act of 2015.”

The “Truancy Referral Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” – co-introduced by Councilmember David Grosso – clarifies the term “unexcused absence” as missing a full day of school for referral to Court Social Services Division (CSS) of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

“We currently have students being sent to court who are chronically tardy but not chronically truant,” Mendelson said. “An immediate need exists for this legislation so these youth do not end up inadvertently involved in the juvenile justice system.”

Chairman Mendelson also introduced the “UDC DREAM Amendment Act of 2015” to provide District residents, regardless of federal immigration status, the ability to receive in-state tuition and local financial aid at a UDC school or campus as long as they meet certain District graduation and residency requirements.

“Providing these students with in-state tuition and access to local financial aid will allow to them to obtain a post-secondary education and enable them to contribute to the District’s economy,” Chairman Mendelson noted.

Also of note, the Chairman referred the “Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015” to the Committee of the Whole. The legislation will establish a fund that will enable workers in the District of Columbia to receive up to 16 weeks of paid leave for a major life events. The government-run fund will be supported by payments from employers, the self-employed, and certain individual employees. Chairman Mendelson has committed to holding a public hearing on the bill this fall.

Council Financial Disclosure Amendment Act of 2015

This bill modifies the District’s Ethics Act to clarify and strengthen the financial disclosure requirements as they relate to the Council.  Creating bright lines in the law the legislation will increase compliance, and bolstering the requirements for the financial disclosure will make the information obtained more meaningful.

Building Service Employees Minimum Work Week Act of 2015

This bill would require a minimum 30-hour workweek for janitorial and building maintenance workers in office buildings over 350,000 sq. ft.  This will allow these workers to access employer-based healthcare and enable them to earn sufficient income without working multiple jobs.

click the titles above to view the legislation

“I was disturbed to learn today that the Mayor opposes the implementation of broad-based tax relief as adopted by the Council,” Mendelson stated.  “Acting to implement tax relief expeditiously is an important component of the District’s affordability strategy.  Changing course from this strategy would delay tax relief, hurting middle-class residents, or those on the road to the middle class, as well as businesses.”

“There is no reason to delay implementation of tax relief,” Mendelson continued, “unless the Mayor’s goal is to cancel the tax reform in order to unnecessarily increase spending on discretionary programs.  The government should be steadfast in its commitment to providing relief to those residents and businesses that bolster the District’s continued growth.”

The tax relief approved in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget is a comprehensive package of tax reforms that place particular emphasis on benefitting low and moderate income earners.  On average, the package provides an estimated $400 – $600 per resident in tax relief.   The reforms also make the District more competitive for businesses.  The Council has made implementation of this relief a priority.  Implementation of the tax reform package as proposed does not impact the approved funding for agencies and programs in the upcoming fiscal year.