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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-76
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
MAY 28, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,theSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentandAssistanceActof2005torequireabusinessapplyingforcertificationasalocalbusinessenterprisetobeindependentlyownedandoperated,toamendtheminimumcertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformancerequirementsinacertifiedjointventure,andtoestablishuniformhearingproceduresforenforcementactions.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“CertifiedBusinessEnterpriseProgramComplianceandEnforcementSupportEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”,
Sec.2.TheSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentandAssistanceActof2005, effectiveOctober 20, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-33;D.C. OfficialCode § 2-218.01etseq.),is
amendedasfollows:(a)Section2302(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.02)isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(7)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(7)“Economicallydisadvantagedindividual”meansanindividualwhoownsatleasta51%interestinabusinessenterpriseandwhosepersonalnetworthdoesnotexceedthelimitssetbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofTransportation,pursuantto49C.F.R.§26.68.”.
(2)Paragraph(8A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(8A)“Equityimpactenterprise”meansabusinessenterprisethatisaresident‘ownedbusiness,smallbusinessenterprise,anddisadvantagedbusinessenterprise.”.(3)Paragraph(9)isredesignatedasparagraph(8B).(4)A newparagraph(9)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(@)“Formalcomplaint”meansacomplaintthatissubmittedtotheDepartmentinwriting,sworntobythecomplainant,andnotarized.”.(5)A newparagraph(10)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(10A)“Informalcomplaint”meansacomplaintotherthanaformalcomplaintandincludescomplaintssubmittedinperson,byemail,bytelephone,orthroughtheDepartment'scomplainthotline.”
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(6)Anew paragraph(10B)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(10B)“Independentlyownedandoperated”meansthatthebusinessenterprise
managesandcontrolsitsday-to-dayoperationswithoutbeingsubjecttocontrol,restriction,
modification,orlimitationbyanotherbusinessenterpriseornot-for-profitbusinessthathasan
ownershipor otherfinancialinterestinthebusinessenterprise.”.
(7)A newparagraph(13A-i)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(13A-4)“Person”meansanyindividual,firm,partnership,jointventure,general
partnerofapartnership,limitedliabilitycompany,registeredlimitedliabilitypartnership,foreign
limitedliabilitypartnership,association,corporation,unincorporatedbusiness,company,
syndicate,estate,trust,businesstrust,trustee,trusteeinbankruptcy,receiver,executor,
administrator,assignee,fiduciary,orentityofanykind.”.
(b)Section2331 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-218.31)isamended by addinga new paragraph
(1A)toreadasfollows:
*(LA)(A)Is:
“(i)Independentlyownedandoperated;
“(ii)Morethan50%owned,operated,andcontrolledbyaDistrict-
basedenterpriseornot-for-profitbusiness;or
i’)Ownedbyanon-District-basedbusinessenterprisethatis
more than50% owned by Districtresidents;”.
(c)Section2346(b)(2)(A)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.46(b)(2)(A))isamendedby
strikingthephrase“thecertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformatleast50%ofthecontracting
effortwith itsown organizationand resourcesand,ifitsubcontracts,35% of thesubcontracted
effortshallbewithcertifiedbusinessenterprises.”andinsertingthephrase“eachcertified
businessenterpriseholdingamajorityorminorityinterestinthecertifiedjointventureshall,
withitsown organizationand resources,perform a percentageof thework equalto or greater
thanitspercentageinterestinthejointventure,and,ifthecertifiedjointventuresubcontracts,at
least35%of the subcontractedeffortshallbe withcertifiedbusinessenterprises.”initsplace.
(d)Section2363 (D.C. OfficialCode § 2-218.63)isamended as follows:
(1)Subsection(c)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“,inaccordancewith
proceduressetforthinsubsection(e)ofthissection,that”andinsertingtheword“that”inits
place.
(2)Subsection(¢)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraphs(1),(2),and(3)areamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(e)(I)(A)AnypersonmayfilewiththeDepartmentaformalorinformalcomplaintallegingaviolationofthisact.
“(B)TheDepartmentshallmaintainahotlineforthefilingofinformal
complaints.
“(2)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,theDepartmentshall
investigateeachformalorinformalcomplaintfiledwithit.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(3)TheDepartmentmaydismissacomplaintwithoutconductingan
investigationif theDepartment determinesthecomplaintisfrivolousorotherwisewithoutmerit.
IftheDepartment dismissesa formalcomplaintas frivolousor otherwisewithoutmerit,the
Departmentshallprepareareportthatincludes:
“(A)A statementdetailingtheformalcomplaint,includingthename,
address,andtelephonenumberofthepersonfilingthecomplaint;
*(B)Thenameofthepersonorcertifiedjointventureallegedtobein
violationofthisact;and
“(C)Anyotherinformationconsideredinrenderingthedetermination.”,
(B)Paragraph(4)isrepealed.
(C)Newparagraphs(5)and(6)areaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(5)Afierthecompletionof an investigationconductedpursuanttothis
subsection,theDepartmentshalltakesuchenforcementaction,ifany,itdeemsappropriate.
*(6)TheDepartmentshallmaintainarecordlistingallformalcomplaints,which
shallcontain:
“(A)Thenameofthepersonallegedtobeinviolationofthisact;
“(B) The datetheformalcomplaintwas made totheDepartment;and
“(C) A descriptionof the formalcomplaint.”.
(3)Subsection(g)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(g)(1)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(8)ofthissubsection,beforeissuinga civil
penaltyto,ordenying,suspending,changing,orrevokingacertificationof,apersonora
certifiedjointventure,theDepartmentshallissuea noticeof determinationtothepersonor
certifiedjointventure.The noticeof determinationshalldescribethe:
“(A) BasisfortheDepartment'sdetermination;
“(B)Proposedpenalty,ifany;and
“(C) Processand timelineby which thepersonor certifiedjointventure
mayrequestahearing.
(2)Pursuanttoparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,aperson,oradesignated
representativeonbehalfofa certifiedjointventure,mayrequestahearingbeforetheOfficeof
AdministrativeHearingswithin10 days afterreceivingthenotice.If thepersonorcertifiedjoint
venturedoes notrequesta hearingwithinthattime,thecivilpenalty,denial,suspension,change,
or revocationshallbecome final,and thepersonorcertifiedjointventureshallbe deemed to
havewaivedtheopportunityforjudicialreview.
“(3)Ifahearingisrequested,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconsider
thematterpursuantto section19 of theOfficeof AdministrativeHearingsEstablishmentAct of
2001,effectiveMarch 6,2002 (D.C.Law 14-76;D.C. OfficialCode § 2-1831.16),and therules
issuedpursuanttoit.The Departmentshallbeartheburdenofestablishingtheviolationby a
preponderanceoftheevidence.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(4)TheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductsuchhearingbasedon
‘therecorddevelopedby theDepartment.The decisionof theOfficeof AdministrativeHearings
shallbe thefinaladministrativedecisionforthepurposeof judicialreview.
“(5)Noticeofafinalsuspensionorrevocationofa certificationshallbepublished
ontheDepartment'swebsite.
“(6)A businessenterpriseorjointventurewhose certificationhas been revoked
shallnotbeeligibletoapplyforanewcertificationfromtheDepartmentuntil36monthsafier
thedatethattherevocationbecame final.
“(7)(A)TheDepartmentmayatanytime,uponmotionbyabusinessenterpriseor
jointventurewhosecertificationhasbeensuspendedotrevoked,removethesuspensionor
reissuea certificationiftheDepartmentdeterminesthatitisintheDistrictgovernment’sinterest
1o remove thesuspensionorreissuethecertificationbeforetheendof the36-month periodand
theremoval or reissuancewillnotendangerthehealth,safety,or welfareof thegeneralpublic.
“(B)Indeterminingwhethertoremoveasuspensionorreissuea
certification,theDepartment shallconsiderwhether thebusinessenterpriseorjoint venture
submittedsatisfactoryproofthatconditionswithin,oractionsby,thebusinessenterpriseor joint
venturethatledtothesuspensionor revocationhave been corrected.
“(C)A businessenterpriseor jointventurewhose certificationisreissued
shallceasetobesubjecttothe36-monthwaitingperiodestablishedinparagraph(6)ofthis
subsection.
“(8)(A)If,afteran investigation,theDepartmentdeterminesthata business
enterpriseorjointventurecertifiedunderthisacthasviolatedanyprovisionofthisactinsucha
manner as topresentan imminent dangertothehealth,safety,or welfareof any personor the
generalpublic,theDepartmentmaysummarilysuspendthecertificationofthebusiness
enterpriseor jointventureuponissuingthenoticeofdeterminationdescribedinparagraph(1)of
thissubsection,
“(B)(i)Thenoticeofdeterminationshallinformthebusinessenterpriseorjointventureofthereasonforthesummarysuspensionandtherighttorequestahearingbefore
theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingspursuanttothissubsection.“(ii)Ifabusinessenterpriseorjointventuretimelyrequestsahearingonasummarysuspension,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductthehearingwithin14daysafterreceivingtherequest,unlessalongerperiodoftimeisagreedtoby
thebusinessenterpriseorjointventure,andtheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallissueadecisionwithin14daysaftertherecordofthehearingcloses.”.
Sec.3.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofMarch1,2025.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.4.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheChiefFinancialOfficerasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.5.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;89D.C.OfficialCode§ 1-204.12(a)).
DE Wwe —‘Chairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
Distri¢tof Columbia
APPROVEDMAY 28, 2025
DocketNo.826-0206
[JITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XTACTION
DCVOTEDATE
DaVoicevoTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Resuit
COUNCILOF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
‘May6,2025
Approved
CouncilMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CounciMemberAye[Nay[NV[AB[RecCounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendelson)x Henderson__| x Pinto
‘Allen x LewisGeorge| x R.White
Bonds x MeDutfe x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB~Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD _
d- xs