4581230 Resolution 20-294, "School Transit Subsidy Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2013"

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

20-294  

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

October 1, 2013

 

 

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to Congressional review, with respect to the need to amend the School Transit Subsidy Act of 1978 to clarify the fare charged, if any, to students to travel to and from school. 

 

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “School Transit Subsidy Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2013”.

 

           Sec. 2.  (a) As part of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Act of 2013 (“BSA”), the Council voted to make Metrobus travel free to students traveling to and from school; however, students will still be required to pay to ride on the Metrorail system on school days.

            (b) Unfortunately, the language included in the BSA would actually raise the cost of Metrorail travel by students by 40%. 

(c) This emergency legislation, which was drafted by the District Department of Transportation, would correct this error and maintain the current policy of selling monthly Metrorail passes to students for $30. 

(d) This emergency legislation is necessary to ensure that the cost of traveling to and from school by Metrorail for students is not increased by 40% when the new school year begins in August 2013.

(e) On July 10, 2013, the Council unanimously approved the School Transit Subsidy Emergency Amendment Act of 2013.  The measure expires on October 29, 2013, and the accompanying temporary measure has not yet taken effect.  Consequently, Congressional review emergency legislation is needed.

 

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the
School Transit Subsidy Emergency Amendment Act of 2013 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.