5200187 Resolution 20-674, "New Columbia Statehood Initiative, Omnibus Boards and Commissions Reform, and Election Transition Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014"

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

20-674

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

October 28, 2014         

 

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the District of Columbia Statehood Constitutional Convention Initiative of 1979 to repeal the Statehood Commission, repeal the Statehood Compact Commission, to establish the Office of the Statehood Delegation, and to establish the New Columbia Statehood Commission and the New Columbia Statehood Fund; to repeal the 51^st State Commission Establishment Act of 2010; to amend section 47-1812.11c of the District of Columbia Official Code to reflect the establishment of the New Columbia Statehood Fund; to amend the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to establish personnel authority for the Statehood Delegation over the Office of the Statehood Delegation; to amend the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985 to repeal the Health Occupation Advisory Committees; to amend the Department of Health Functions Clarification Act of 2001 to re-establish the Health Occupation Advisory Committees under the Department of Health; to amend the Retail Service Station Act of 1976 to modify the membership and scope of the Gas Station Advisory Board; to amend the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to modify the personnel authority for the District of Columbia Law Revision Commission; to amend the District of Columbia Law Revision Commission Act of 1980 to modify the membership of the commission and provide that members shall not be compensated for service; to amend section 47-355.07 of the District of Columbia Official Code to codify the role and responsibilities of the Board of Review for Anti-Deficiency Violations, and to revise the membership of the board; to amend the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to clarify the compensation provisions for various boards and commissions, and to increase the statutory compensation cap for members of certain boards and commissions; to abolish certain boards and commissions; to amend Chapter 24 of Title 17 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations to repeal the authority for the Notary Public Board of Review; to make conforming amendments; and to provide for the orderly transition of duties and responsibilities to the newly elected Mayor and Attorney General.

           

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “New Columbia Statehood Initiative, Omnibus Boards and Commissions Reform, and Election Transition Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”.

 

            Sec. 2.  (a)  On January 18, 2013, Chairman Phil Mendelson, at the request of the Mayor, introduced Bill 20-71, the Boards and Commissions Reform Act of 2013.  That legislation was referred to the Committee of the Whole, which held a hearing on the bill on June 5, 2014, and approved the bill with amendments on October 7, 2014.  That bill has undergone 1^st and 2^nd readings on October 7, 2014, and October 28, 2014.

            (b)  Streamlining the District’s approach to statehood by combining the functions of several defunct and unfunded boards and commissions, creating a body through which funds dedicated to the achievement of statehood may be accessed, and assuring the participation of the Council and the Mayor with the Statehood Delegation is important to focus the District’s efforts to achieve statehood.  These reforms should be implemented without delay.

            (c)  Reform of the District’s boards and commissions should occur without delay, and emergency adoption of Bill 20-71 will enable this to happen.  The bill reduces the number of boards and commissions, eliminating ineffective ones.  It also strengthens several others.  It is appropriate that this happen with the impending change in government.

            (d)  In 1998, 2006, and 2010, the Council adopted emergency measures, D.C. Act 12-541, D.C. Act 16-534, and D.C. Act 18-590, to assist the incoming Mayor-elect with the transition into office.  Again, there is that need with the new Mayor.  There will also be, for the first time in the District’s history, an elected Attorney General.  Authorization for the Mayor to provide funds and resources to the Mayor-elect and Attorney General-elect will facilitate the orderly transition of duties and responsibilities for both offices.

 

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 New Columbia Statehood Initiative, Omnibus Boards and Commissions Reform, and Election Transition Emergency Amendment Act of 2014 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.