D.C. Law 23-232. Surplus Green Space Retention Amendment Act of 2020.

AN ACT

To amend An Act Authorizing the sale of certain real estate in the District of Columbia no longer required for public purposes to require the Department of General Services to provide the Council with an annual account of green space owned by the District, and to require the Mayor to include the square footage of green space at a real property in proposed surplus resolutions transmitted to the Council.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Surplus Green Space Retention Amendment Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. An Act Authorizing the sale of certain real estate in the District of Columbia no longer required for public purposes, approved August 5, 1939 (53 Stat. 1211; D.C. Official Code § 10-801 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 1 (D.C. Official Code § 10-801) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended by adding a new paragraph (4) to read as follows:

"(4) Within 180 days after the effective date of the Surplus Green Space Retention Amendment Act of 2020, passed on 2nd reading on December 1, 2020 (Enrolled version of Bill 23-661), and on an annual basis thereafter, the Department of General Services shall transmit to the Council a report on green space in the District, which shall include:

"(A) The total square footage of green space owned by the District, broken down by ward and by the District agency that owns the real property;

"(B) The square footage of green space that the District gained or lost over the preceding year, broken down by ward and by the District agency that owns the real property; and

"(C) A summary of measures taken over the preceding year to increase access to green space for District residents.".

(2) Subsection (a-1)(2)(A) is amended by striking the phrase "by the Mayor," and inserting the phrase "by the Mayor, the square footage of green space on the real property," in its place.

(b) Section 1a (D.C. Official Code § 10-801.01) is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 1a. Definitions.

" For the purposes of this act, the term:

"(1) "Green space" means an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation that is located on real property and accessible to the public.

"(2) "Real property" means land titled in the name of the District or in which the District has a controlling interest and includes all structures of a permanent character erected thereon or affixed thereto, any natural resources located thereon or thereunder, all riparian rights attached thereto, or any air space located above or below the property or any street or alley under the jurisdiction of the Mayor.".

Sec. 3. 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. 4. 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 23-232 (PDF)
  • D.C. Act 23-579 (PDF)
  • 68 DCR 001126

Effective

Mar. 16, 2021

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 23-232, the “Surplus Green Space Retention Amendment Act of 2020,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 23-661 which was referred to the Facilities and Procurement. The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Nov. 17, 2020, and Dec. 1, 2020, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 23-579 on Jan. 13, 2021, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 23-232 became effective Mar. 16, 2021.