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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-179
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
ToestablishtheYouthAdvisoryCouncilonClimateChangeandEnvironmentalConservationtoprovideanorganizedyouthperspectiveonvariousissues,includingtheimpactsofthechangingclimate,adverseweatherevents,andwaystheDistrictcanmitigate,prepare,andadapttoclimatechangeandcreateandsustainenvironmentaleducationalopportunitiesforyouth;andtoamendtheDistrictofColumbiaGovernmentComprehensiveMeritPersonnelActof1979toauthorizeastipendformembersoftheYouthAdvisoryCouncilonClimateChangeandEnvironmentalConservation.
BE JT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“Youth Advisory Councilon ClimateChange and Environmental
ConservationEstablishmentAct of 2025”.
Sec.2.YouthAdvisoryCouncilonClimateChangeandEnvironmentalConservation.
(a)(1)ThereisestablishedtheYouthAdvisoryCouncilonClimateChangeandEnvironmentalConservation(“YouthClimateCouncil”),themissionofwhichistoconsultwithandadvisetheMayor,theCouncil,theDepartmentofEnergyandEnvironment(“DOEE”),the
CommissiononClimateChangeandResiliency,andotherentitiesontheeffectsof,andrecommendimprovementsto,theDistrict’slaws,policies,practices,programs,andbudgetsregardingthefollowingtopicsintheDistrict:
(A)Climatechangeandmitigatingoradaptingtotheimpactsofclimatechange;
(B)Environmentalconservation;and
(C)Greenworkforcedevelopment,includingapprenticeships,certificationprograms,andothereducationalorwork-basedopportunitiesforyouth.
(2)Pursuanttoitsmission,theYouthClimateCouncilmay,withrespecttothetopicslistedinparagraph(1)ofthissubsection:
(A)Providecommentsandrecommendationsonlawsandregulations;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
(B)Developandproposeitsownplans,programs,orinitiatives;
(C)Collaboratewithotheryouthorganizationsandentitiesonprograms,
events,orinitiativesthateducateandengageyouthandadults;
(D)RespondtorequestsforcommentsandrecommendationsfromDistrict
officials,agencies,boards,commissions,andadvisorycommittees;
(E)Presentitsviews totheCouncil,theMayor, or Districtagencies;and
(E)Issueorpublishreportsonitsfindings,recommendations,activities,
goals,andaccomplishments,
(b)TheYouthClimateCouncilshallhave17votingmembers,tobeappointedas
follows:
(1)NinemembersappointedbytheMayorasfollows:
(A) Six high schoolstudents,who shallbe from Districtof Columbia
publicschools,Districtof Columbia publiccharterschools,or independentschoolsoperating
withintheDistrict;and
(B) Three individuals18 to21 yearsof age who residewithintheDistrict;
and
(2)EighthighschoolstudentmembersappointedbyeachWardCouncilmember
torepresenttheCouncilmember’srespectiveward.
(©\(1)AllinitialappointmentstotheYouthClimateCouncilshallbemadenolaterthan
180 days aftertheapplicabilitydateof thisact.Initialappointmentsshallbe as follows:
(A)OfthemembersappointedbytheMayorpursuanttosubsection(b)(1)
of this section,5 members shallbe appointedfora termof 2 years,and 4 members shallbe
appointedfora term of one year;and
(B)OfthemembersappointedbytheWardCouncilmemberspursuantto
subsection(b)(2)ofthis section,4 members shallbe appointedfora termof2 years,and 4
membersshallbeappointedforatermofoneyear.
(2)Exceptfortheinitialappointmentsprovidedinparagraph(1)ofthis,
subsection,members of theYouth ClimateCouncilshallbe appointedfortermsof 2 years.
(3)A membermaybereappointedbutmaynotservemorethan2fullterms.
(4)If.anappointedhighschoolmembergraduatesduringtheirterm,orif'a
memberappointedpursuanttosubsection(b)(1)(B)ofthissectionagespasttheageof21during
theirterm,theymay continueto servethroughtheirterm so long astheycontinuetolive,work,
orstudyintheDistrictofColumbia.
(5)Intheeventofa vacancyduringanyvotingmember’stermofoffice,a
successorshallbeappointedinthesamemannerastheoriginalappointmenttofilltheunexpiredportionofthemember’sterm.
(@YouthapplyingtoserveontheYouthClimateCouncilshall:
2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(2)BeaDistrictresident;
(2)HavesubstantialtiestotheDistrict,suchascurrentlyorformerlyattendingschoolorworkingintheDistrictpriortotheirapplicationtoserveontheYouthClimateCouncil;
(3)Haveagenera!knowledgeofhow theDistrictisaffectedbythetopicslistedinsubsection(a)(1)ofthissectionthatisinformedbytheireducationorpersonalexperience;
(4)Haveaninterestinaddressingthetopicslistedinsubsection(a)(1)ofthissectiontoimprovethelivesofDistrictresidentsandsafeguardtheenvironment;
(5)Havetheabilityto
(A)Thinkcreatively;
(B)Engageandeducateotheryouth;
(C)Collaborateandworkpatientlyandconstructivelyinagroupsetting;and
(D)ResponsiblyfulfillthefunctionsoftheYouthClimateCouncil;and
(6Haveaninterestindevelopingleadershipskills.
(©)(1)Appointedmembersshallbediverseinexperienceandbackgroundstoallowforarangeofperspectives,includingthoseofdisadvantagedcommunities.
(2)Disadvantagedcommunitiesincludethosewhoaremarginalized,underserved,andoverburdenedbypollutionasidentifiedbytoolssuchastheMetropolitanWashingtonCouncilofGovernments’EquityEmphasisAreas,DC’sHeatSensitivityExposureIndex,orOfficeofPlanning’sLowFoodAccessAreasmap.
(O(2)YouthClimateCouncilmembersmayreceive,inreturnfortheirservice,thefollowing:
(A)(i)A stipendnottoexceed$1,000peryear;or
(ii)Therecognitionorcertificationofvolunteerservicehours;and
(B)Recognitionoftheirserviceforthepurposesofreceivingacademiccredit,ifauthorizedbytheirschool.
(2)DOEEmayreimbursemembersforreasonabletravelandotherexpensesincurredintheperformanceoftheirdutiesbasedonavailablefunding.
(g)Within60daysafteraYouthClimateCouncilmember’scommencementofservice,whetherforaninitialappointmentortofillavacancy,DOEEshallprovidetrainingcoveringthefollowingtopics:
(1)AnoverviewoftheDistrict’sgovernmentandpoliticalprocessesand‘structure;
(2)The District'scurrentenvironmentalpolicylandscape,includingcurrent
progresson climateactionplansand strategiesaffectingyouth;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(3)StatutorymandatesandresponsibilitiesofYouthClimateCouncilmembers
andstaff;
(4)RequirementsoftheOpenMeetingsAct,effectiveMatch31,2011(D.C.Law18-350;D.C,OfficialCode§2-571efseq.),andhowtoconductmeetingsbasedonRobertsRulesofOrder;and
(8)InformationalmaterialprovidedbytheOfficeofOpenGovernmentconcerningthedutiesofYouthClimateCouncilmembers,andotherDistrictboards,commissions,andadvisorybodies.
Sec.3.Functionsand proceduresof theYouth ClimateCouncil.
(a)(1)The Youth ClimateCouncilshallelectfrom among itsmembership a chairperson,
-vice-chairperson,andsecretary,eachforatermofoneyear.
(2)Theseofficersshallbere-electedannuallyorintheeventofavacancy,but
shallserveno more than 2 terms inany combinationof offices.
(3)TheYouthClimateCouncilmayvotetocreateotherleadershippositionsfrom
withinitsmembership.
(4)TheYouthClimateCouncilmayformcommitteesorworkinggroupsfromits
membershiptoconsiderspecificsubtopicsandinviteparticipationfromoutsideindividualsandentities,includingthepublicandsubject-matterexperts,
(b)(1)The Youth ClimateCouncilshallmeet atleastonce permonth.
(2)The chairpersonof theYouth ClimateCouncil,or vice-chairpersoninthe
chairperson’sabsence,shall,inconsultationwith and withtheassistanceof theDepartment of
Energy and Environment (“DOEE”), convene allYouth ClimateCouncilmeetings,
(3)A majorityofthemembersappointedtotheYouthClimateCouncilatany
giventime shallconstitutea quorum forthetransactionofofficialbusiness.
(c)(1)The Youth ClimateCouncilmay provideupdatestotheCommission on Climate
Change and Resiliency(“Commission”) ateach of theCommission’s quarterlymeetings,and
may seektheadviceoftheCommission as needed.
(2)The Youth ClimateCouncilshallmeetjointlywiththeCommission atleast
once each yeartoexchange informationand feedbackrelatedtocommon issuesand concerns,
(d)Allactionsof theYouth ClimateCouncilshallbe consideredadvisoryand shallbe
approvedbya majorityvoteof thememberspresentandvotingatameeting.
(e)(1)DOEE shallprovideprincipalstafftosupporttheactivitiesof theYouth Climate
Council,toinclude:
(A)Conveningandmanaginglogisticsformeetings;
(B)Deliveringandcoordinatingeducationandtraining;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(C)Partneringwithotheragencies,theCouncil,organizations,and
colleges;and
(D)Assistingwiththedevelopment,publication,andsubmissionofall
reportstotheCounciland Mayor.
(2)TheYouthClimateCouncilmayusespaceandsuppliesownedorrentedby
‘theDistrictgovernmentforpurposesconsistentwiththisact.
(3)The CouncilshallprovidestaffassistancetotheYouth ClimateCouncilfor
thepurposesoffacilitatingcommentsonallproposedlegislationpendingbeforetheCouncilof
interesttothe Youth ClimateCouncil.
(4)The chairpersonsofthe Councilcommitteeswith jurisdictionoverthe
environment,energy,andnaturalresourcesshallprovideanopportunityfortheYouthClimate
Counciltoreportinpersononitsfindingsandrecommendationsatleastonceeachyear.
Sec.4.Section1108(c-2)oftheDistrictofColumbiaGovernmentComprehensiveMeritPersonnelActof1979,effectiveMarch3,1979(D.C.Law2-139;D.C.OfficialCode§I-611.08(c-2)),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Paragraph(10)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodandinsertingthephrase“;and”initsplace.
(b)A newparagraph(11)toreadasfollows:
“(11)EachmemberoftheYouthCouneilonClimateChangeandEnvironmentalConservationappointedpursuanttosection2oftheYouthAdvisoryCouncilonClimateChange
andEnvironmentalConservationEstablishmentActof2025,passedon2ndreadingonOctober21,2025(EnrolledversionofBill26-66),mayreceivecompensationintheformofa stipendofnotmorethan$1000peryear,inaccordancewithstandardstheMayormayestablishbyrulemaking.",
See.5.Applicability.
(a)Thisactshallapplyuponthedateofinclusionofitsfiscaleffectinanapproved
budgetandfinancialplan.
(b)The ChiefFinancialOfficershallcertifythedateof the inclusionofthe fiscaleffectin
an approved budgetand financialplanand providenoticetotheBudget Directorof theCouncil
ofthecertification,
(c)(1)TheBudgetDirectorshallcausethenoticeofthecertificationtobepublishedin
ictof Columbia Register.
(2)The dateof publicationof thenoticeofthe certificationshallnotaffectthe
applicabilityofthisact.
theDist
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.6.Fiscalimpactstatement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscal
impactstatementrequiredby section4a of theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,
approved October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.7.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
asprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
jairman
CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia
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APPROVED
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
ia
COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
DocketNo,826-0066
[X1ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[ACTION FirstReading,CC
[DXIVOTEDATE October7,2025
[X]VOICEVOTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT i
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result
|[AB|Rec|Counci
ChairmanMendelson,X Henderson Pinto
Allon x LewisGeorge R.White
Bonds MeDutie
Felder Nadeau
Frumin Parker
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
Secretary0theCounall Date
DocketNo.826-0086
[DC]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XJACTION FinalReading,CC
{X]VOTEDATE ‘October21,2025
[DX]VOICEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
‘ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE-Result
iMember[Aye|NayNV.TAB i
ChairmanMendelson)X Pinto
Allen x R.White
Bonds x
x
x
‘SecretarytotheCounel Date