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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-306
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
APRIL 24, 2026
To amend SubchapterI-Bof Chapter28of Title47of the Districtof Columbia OfficialCode to
providelimitedcivilliability,absentgrossnegligenceor willfulmisconduct,to licensed
architects,professionalengineers,andprofessionallandsurveyorswho,ingoodfaithand
withoutcompensation,renderassistanceatthesceneof,orinconnectionwith,a life-
threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment,atthedirectionorrequestof,orwiththe
approvalof,afederalorDistrictofficial,duringaperiodofa publicemergencydeclared
bytheMayororwithin90daysfollowingtheendofsuchperiodatthesceneofthelife-
threateningemergency inthebuiltenvironment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“Architectand EngineerGood SamaritanAmendment Act of 2026”.
Sec.2.SubchapterI-BofChapter28ofTitle47oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficial
Codeisamendedasfollows:(a)Section47-2853.01isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(1A)toreadasfollows:“(1A)“Builtenvironment”meansthehuman-constructedsurroundingsthatsupporthumanactivities,includingbuildings,transportsystems,andlandscapes.”.
(b)PartC isamendedasfollows:(1)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoreadasfollows:“47-2853.69.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeofarchitectureatsceneoflife-
threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”.(2)A newsection47-2853.69isaddedtoreadasfollows:“§47-2853.69.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeofarchitectureatsceneoflife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.“Anypersonwithavalidlicenseasanarchitectshallnotbeliable,intheabsenceofgrossnegligenceorwillfullmisconduct,foranycivildamagesforactsoromissionsresultingfrom
renderingassistancethroughthepracticeofarchitectureatthesceneof,orinconnectionwith,alife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;provided,thatthepersonacted:
1
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(1)DuringapublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§7-2304(a),orwithin90daysfollowingtheendofthepublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§ i7-2304(a),atthesceneofthelife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment; |
“(2)Ingoodfaithandwithoutcompensation;“(3)Atthedirectionorrequestof,orwiththeapprovalof,afederalorDistrictofficialreasonablybelievedbythepersontobeactinginanofficialcapacity;and \“(4)Afterhavingcompleteda trainingprogramthatusestheCaliforniaGovernor’sOfficeOfEmergencyServicesSafetyAssessmentProgramtoprovidelicensed
architectstheabilitytoassistlocalgovernmentsinsafetyevaluationofthebuiltenvironmentintheaftermathofa life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment”.
(©)PartH isamendedasfollows:(1)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoread
asfollows:“47-2853.115.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeoflandsurveyingatsceneof
life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”.(2)A newsection47-2853.115isaddedtoreadasfollows:“§47-2853.115.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeoflandsurveyingatscene
oflife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.“Anypersonwithavalidlicenseasaprofessionallandsurveyorshallnotbeliable,inthe
absenceofgrossnegligenceorwillfulmisconduct,foranycivildamagesforactsoromissionsresultingfromrenderingassistancethroughthepracticeoflandsurveyingatthesceneof,orinconnectionwith,alife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;provided,thattheperson
acted:
“(1)DuringapublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuant§7-2304(a),or
within90daysfollowingtheendofthepublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§7-
2304(a),atthesceneof thelife-threateningemergency inthebuiltenvironment;
“(2)Ingoodfaithandwithoutcompensation;
“(3)At thedirectionor requestof,or withtheapprovalof,a federalor District
officialreasonablybelievedbythepersontobeactinginanofficialcapacity;and
“(4)AfterhavingcompletedatrainingprogramthatusestheCalifornia
Governor'sOfficeOfEmergencyServicesSafetyAssessmentProgramtoprovidelicensed
professionallandsurveyorstheabilitytoassistlocalgovernmentsinsafetyevaluationofthe
builtenvironmentintheaftermathofa life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”,
(@)PartJisamendedasfollows:
(1)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoread
as follows:
“47-2853.134,Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeofengineeringatsceneoflife-
threateningemergency inthebuiltenvironment.”.
(2)A new section47-2853.134isadded toreadas follows:
Ҥ 47-2853.134.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeof engineeringatsceneof
life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“Anypersonwithavalidlicenseasaprofessionalengineershallnotbeliable,inthe
absenceofgrossnegligenceorwillfulmisconduct,foranycivildamagesforactsoromissions
resultingfromrenderingassistancethroughthepracticeofengineeringatthesceneof,orin
connectionwith,alife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;provided,thattheperson
acted:
“(1)DuringapublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuant§7-2304(a),or
within90daysfollowingtheendofthepublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§7-
2304(a),atthesceneofthe life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;
“(2)Ingoodfaithandwithoutcompensation;
“(3)Atthedirectionorrequestoforwiththeapprovalofa federalorDistrict
officialreasonablybelievedbythepersontobeactinginanofficialcapacity;and
«(4)Afterhavingcompleteda trainingprogramthatusestheCalifornia
Governor’sOfficeOfEmergencyServicesSafetyAssessmentProgramtoprovidelicensed
professionalengineerstheabilitytoassistlocalgovernmentsinsafetyevaluationofthebuilt
environmentintheaftermathofa life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”.
Sec,3.Fiscalimpact statement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscal
impactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,
approved October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobythe
Mayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
as providedinsection602(c)(1)of theDistrictof Columbia Home Rule Act,approved December
24, 1973 (87 Stat.813;D.C. OfficialCode§ 1-206.02(c)(1)).
airman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
Mayor
Qe BO ED
APRIL 24, 2026
DocketNo.B26-0173
[ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
[XTACTION FirstReading,CC
(x1VOTEDATE March3,2026
[x1VOIGEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[TROLLCALLVOTE—Resut
‘CouncilMember[Aya|Nay|NV [AB[Rec[Counc!Member[Aye|Nay[NV[AB[Ree]GouncdMember[Aye[NayNV [AS[Ree
CChaitmanMendelson]x Foun x Pinto x
Alen x Henderson| X R.White x
Bonds x LewisGoorge_| x T.White x
Crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
XsIndicateVote AB Absent NV--Present,NotVoting ‘Rec«Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
_saeeciel aoeaeety WeCou Date
DocketNo.826-0173
{ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
1X]ACTION FinalReading
{x1VOTEpate March31,2026
[X1VOIcEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
{JROLLCALLVOTE~Result
CourcilMember| Aye[NayNV.[AB| Rec|CouncitMember[Aye|Nay|NV_|AB_|Reo|CouncilMember|Aye|NayNV [AB|Rec
ChairmanMendelson]X Frumin x Pinto
Aen x Henderson| x .White
Bonds x LewisGeowe| x T.White
crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-IndicateVote 2 AB—Absent NV+Present,NotVoting : Ree-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
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