5240054 Library, D.C. Public - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - To amend 19 DCMR Chapter 8 Sec. 819 regarding weapons in D.C. public libraries

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

 

The District of Columbia Public Library Board of Trustees, pursuant to the authority set forth in An Act To establish and provide for the maintenance of a free public library and reading room in the District of Columbia, approved June 3, 1896, as amended (29 Stat. 244, ch. 315, § 5; D.C. Official Code § 39-105 (2012 Supp.)); Section 3205 (jjj) of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 39-105 (2012 Supp.)); Section 2 of the District of Columbia Public Library Board of Trustees Appointment Amendment Act of 1985, effective September 5, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-17; D.C. Official Code § 39-105 (2012 Supp.)); and the Procurement Reform Amendment Act of 1996, effective April 12, 1997, as amended (D.C. Law 11-259; 44 DCR 1423 (March 14, 1997)); Section 156 of An Act Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, approved October 21, 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, Pub. L. 105-277; codified at D.C. Official Code § 39-105 (2012 Repl.)); hereby gives notice of its intent to amend the following Section 819 of Chapter 8 (Public Library) of Title 19 (Amusements, Parks, and Recreation) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).

 

The Board of Library Trustees has appointed the Executive-Director, through D.C. Official Code §39-105(a)(10) (2012 Repl.) to establish rules and manage the day-to-day operations of the library.  The proposed rulemaking would allow the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) to prohibit the carrying and use of firearms in the library. 

 

The Executive-Director of the DCPL approved these rules on November 12, 2014 and intends to take final rulemaking action to adopt the rules as final in not less than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.  

 

Chapter 8, PUBLIC LIBRARY, of Title 19 DCMR, AMUSEMENT, PARKS, AND RECREATION is amended by adding a new Section 819 to read as follows,

 

819                  WEAPONS

                       

819.1               In accordance with D.C. Official Code § 22-4503.02 and D.C. Official Code § 22-4502.01, no person shall carry or possess firearms on and/or within 1000 feet of D.C. Public Library property.

 

819.2               The exceptions granted in D.C. Official Code § 22-4502.1 shall apply to this section. 

 

819.3               No person shall carry or possess knives, razors or blades longer than three (3) inches on D.C. Public Library property.

 

 

Any person desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking should file comments in writing not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.  Comments should be submitted to Grace Perry-Gaiter, DCPL, General Counsel, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, N.W., 4^th Floor, Washington, D.C.  20001.  Telephone: [phone].  Copies of the proposed rulemaking may be obtained by writing to the address stated above.