D.C. Law 22-276. District of Columbia Department of Aging and Community Living Amendment Act of 2018.

AN ACT

To amend the District of Columbia Act on Aging of 1975, to establish the Department of Aging and Community Living and transfer the functions of the Office on Aging to the Department; to codify the mission statement of the Department; and to supplement the mission of the agency to include the prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "District of Columbia Department of Aging and Community Living Amendment Act of 2018".

Sec. 2. The District of Columbia Act on Aging, effective October 29, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-24; D.C. Official Code§ 7-501.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 201 (D.C. Official Code § 7-502.01) is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 201. Definitions.

"For the purposes of this act, the term:

"(1) "Aged" means a person 60 years of age or older.

"(2) "Commission" means the Commission on the Aging created by section 401.

"(3) "Department" means the Department of Aging and Community Living created by section 301.

"(4) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living.".

"(5) "Services to the aged" means those services designed to provide assistance to the aged, including nutritional programs, transportation and legal services, health and financial assistance, employment and housing programs, recreational opportunities, and information, referral, and counseling services.".

(b) The title heading of Title III is amended to read as follows:

"Title III. Department of Aging and Community Living.

(c) Section 301 (D.C. Official Code § 7-503.01) is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 301. Establishment of the Department of Aging and Community Living.

"(a) There is established a Department of Aging and Community Development. All the functions of the Office on Aging are hereby transferred to the Department. The Department shall provide within the District government a single administrative unit, responsible to the Mayor, to administer the provisions of the Older Americans Act (P.L. 89-73, as amended), and such other programs as shall be delegated to it by the Mayor or the Council of the District of Columbia, and to promote the welfare of the aged.

"(b) The mission of the District of Columbia Department of Aging and Community Living is the following:

"(1) To advocate, plan, implement, and monitor programs in health, education, and social services for the elderly;

"(2) To promote longevity, independence, dignity, and choice for aged District residents, District residents with disabilities regardless of age, and caregivers;

"(3) To ensure the rights of older adults and their families, and prevent their abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

"(4) To uphold the core values of service excellence, respect, compassion, integrity, and accountability; and

"(5) To lead efforts to strengthen service delivery and capacity by engaging community stakeholders and partners to leverage resources.".

(d) Section 302 (D.C. Official Code § 7-503.02) is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 302. Director.

"(a) The Department shall be headed by a Director ("Director"), who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, from a list of not more than 3 names submitted to the Mayor by the Commission.

"(b) The Director shall be devoted full time to the duties of the office.

"(c) The Director shall be in the Executive Service.

"(d) The Director shall have such staff as is approved in the current District government budget and federal grants, plus any temporary staff .".

(e) Section 303 (D.C. Official Code § 7-503.03) is amended as follows: .

(1) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the word "Office" and inserting the word "Department" in its place.

(2) Paragraph (5) is amended by striking the word "Office" and inserting the word "Department" in its place.

(3) Paragraph (8) is amended by striking the word "Office" and inserting the word "Department" in its place.

(f) Section 305 (D.C. Official Code § 7-503.05) is amended by striking the word "Office" and inserting the word "Department" in its place.

(g) Section 306 (D.C. Official Code § 7-503.06) is amended by striking the word phrase "new Office" and inserting the word "Department" in its place.

(h) Section 401 (D.C. Official Code § 7-504.01) is amended by striking the phrase "Director of the Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(i) Section 409 (D.C. Official Code § 7-504.09) is amended by striking the phrase "Director of the Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(j) Section 410 (D.C. Official Code § 7-504.10) is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" wherever it appears and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

Sec. 3. Conforming amendments.

(a) Section 301(17)(U) 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 § 1-603.01(17)(U)), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(b) The Language Access Act of 2004, effective June 19, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-167; D.C. Official Code § 2-1931 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(1) Section 2(3)(B)(xvi) (D.C. Official Code § 2-1931(3)(B)(xvi)) is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(2) Section 7(c)(2) (D.C. Official Code § 2-1936(c)(2)) is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(c) Section 3b(c)(6) of An Act To classify the officers and members of the fire department of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, effective October 8, 2016 (D.C. Law 21-160; D.C. Official Code § 5-404.02(c)(6)), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(d) Section 5(b)(5) of the Department of Public Heath Establishment Act of 1992, effective March 13, 1992 (D.C. Law 9-182; D.C. Official Code § 7-154(b)(5)), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(e) The Office on Aging Reporting Requirements Act of 2015, effective October 22, 2015 (D.C. Law 21-36; D.C. Official Code § 7-561), is amended as follows by:

(1) The section heading is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(2) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(f) The District of Columbia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Act of 1988, effective March 16, 1989 (D.C. Law 7-218; § 7-701.01 et seq.), is amended as follows by:

(1) Section 101 (D.C. Official Code § 7-701.01) is amended as follows by:

(A) Paragraph (6) is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(B) Paragraph (8) is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" both times it appears and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(2) Section 202(a)(1) (D.C. Official Code § 7-702.02(a)(1)) is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(g) Section 8(9) of the Department of Health Care Finance Establishment Act of 2007, effective February 27, 2008 (D.C. Law 17-109; D.C. Official Code § 7-771.07(9)), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(h) Section 4 of the Security Alarm Systems Regulations Act of 1980, effective September 26, 1980 (D.C. Law 3-107; D.C. Official Code § 7-2803), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(i) Section 2(c) of the Nurses Training Corps Establishment Act of 1987, effective October 9, 1987 (D.C. Law 7-32; D.C. Official Code § 38-1501(c)), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

(j) Section 302(d)(3) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Official Code § 42-3503.02(d)(3)), is amended by striking the phrase "Office on Aging" and inserting the phrase "Department of Aging and Community Living" in its place.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 22-276 (PDF)
  • 66 DCR 1721

Effective

Mar. 29, 2019

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 22-276, the “District of Columbia Department of Aging and Community Living Amendment Act of 2018,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 22-964 which was referred to the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization . The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Dec. 4, 2018, and Dec. 18, 2018, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 22-626 on Jan. 30, 2019, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 22-276 became effective Mar. 29, 2019.