Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-309
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
APRIL 24, 2026
Toamendsection16-2301oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodetoconsolidateandstandardizethestatutorydefinitionofneglect,toclarifythataparent,guardian,orcustodian’seligibilityfor,oruseof,publicbenefits,norhomelessness,orlackofstablehousing,alone,shallnotbesufficienttoestablishthattheparent,guardian,orcustodian’s
failuretoprovideadequatecareisduetothelackoffinancialmeans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“StatutoryNeglectAmendment Act of 2026”.
Sec.2,Section16-2301oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeisamendedasfollows:
(a)Paragraph(9)isamendedasfollows:(1)Subparagraph(A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(9)(A)Theterm“neglectedchild”meansachild:(i)whohasbeenabusedbytheirparent,guardian,orcustodian,orwhoseparent,guardian,orcustodianhasfailedtotakeactionsthatarereasonableunderthe
circumstancestoprotectthechildfromabuse;“(ii)whoissufferingorisatsubstantialriskofsufferingseriousphysical,mental,oremotionalharm,duetotheparent,guardian,orcustodian’sfailuretoprovideadequatecare,includingminimallynecessarysupervision,subsistence,andeducationasrequired
bylawbasedona considerationofa totalityofthecircumstances,andthefailureisnotsolelyduetothelackoffinancialmeansofhisorherparent,guardian,orcustodian;provided,thateligibilityfor,orreceiptof,publicbenefits,alone,shallnotbesufficienttoestablishthatthe
failureisnotduesolelytothelackoffinancialmeans;“Gii)whoissufferingorisatsubstantialriskofsufferingseriousphysical,mental,oremotionalharm,becausetheparent,guardian,orcustodianisunabletodischargetheirresponsibilitiestothechildduetomentalincapacity;“(iv)whoseparent,guardian,orcustodianrefuses,isunavailable,
orstatesthattheyareunabletocontinueprovidingfororassumethechild’scare,control,or
subsistence;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(y)whoisinimminentdangerofbeingabusedandanotherchild
livinginthesame householdor under thecareof thesame parent,guardian,or custodianhas
been abused;
“(vi)Repealed;
“(vii)who has been abandoned;
“(viii)who isborn dependenton a controlledsubstanceor has a
significantpresenceof a controlledsubstanceintheirsystem atbirth;
“(ix)inwhose body thereisa controlledsubstanceas a directand
foreseeableconsequenceof the actsor omissionsof thechild’sparent,guardian,or custodian;or
“(z)whoisregularlyexposedtoillegaldrug-relatedactivityinthe
home.
“(xi)Repealed,
(2)A newsubparagraph(D)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(D) Homelessness or lackofstable housingaloneshallnot be sufficient
toestablishthata childisa neglectedchild.”.
(b)Paragraph(23)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Subparagraph(A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(23)(A)Theterm“abused”,whenusedwithreferencetoa child,includes:
“(i)inflictionofphysicalinjury;
“Gi)inflictionofmentalinjury;
“(iii)sexualabuseorexploitation;
“(iv)mistreatmentofthechildbywithholdingadequatefood,
clothing,shelter,ormedicalcare;
“(v)interferingwith a child'sbreathing;or
“(vi)threateningachildwithafirearm,aknife,oranyprohibited
‘weapondescribedinsection14 of An Act To controlthepossession,sale,transfer,and use of
pistolsandotherdangerousweaponsintheDistrictofColumbia,toprovidepenalties,to
prescriberulesofevidence,andforotherpurposes,approvedJuly8,1932(47Stat.654;
OfficialCode § 22-4514),or usingsuch a weapon on a child.”.
(2)Subparagraph(B)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(B) The term “abused” does not includephysicaldisciplineadministered
by a parent,guardian,or custodiantotheirchild;provided,thatthechildisatleast3 yearsof
age,andthephysicaldisciplineisreasonableinmannerandmoderateindegree.”.
(c)Paragraph(24)isrepealed.
(@)A newparagraph(52)isaddedtoreadasfollows
“(52)(A)Theterm“abandoned”meansachild:
“(i)whose parent,guardian,or legalcustodianhas notmade
reasonableeffortstomaintaina parentalrelationshipwith thechildfora periodofat least4
months;or

.C,

ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
(ii)whohasresidedinahospitallocatedintheDistrictofColumbiaforatleast10daysfollowingthebirthofthechildandtheparentofthechilddidnot
undertakeanyactionormakeanyefforttomaintainaparental-relationshiporcontactwiththe
childorhospital.“(B)Theterm“abandoned”doesnotincludeachildwhoissurrenderedinaccordancewithTitleIoftheNewbornSafeHavenAmendmentActof2010,effectiveMay27,
2010(D.C.Law18-158;D.C.OfficialCode§4-1451.01efseq.).”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectafterapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember
24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
airman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

APRIL 24, 2026

[DX]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,
[XCACTION
1XVOTEDATE
[VOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE—Result
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FirstReading,CC
March3,2026
Approved

Gomeliwanber[aye[Ney[NW[AS[Ree[Gammelavber[aye]Nay[WV[AB[Reo]couneiMember[aye[Nay[NV[AS
ChaimanMendelson]x Frumin x Pinto
Aen x Henderson[x awit
Bonds x LovisGeore[x Tit
craw x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
‘X- IndicateVote AB~ Absent NV -Present, NotVoting Rec- Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
4DeeSacratayWeCou Dai
Docket No. 826-0400
[X] ITEM ON CONSENT CALENDAR:
PxTAGTION FinalReading,
{X] VOTE DATE March 31,2026
[X] VOICE VOTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
BseNt
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CoundMember [aye|Nay[NV [AB[Ret]CountMember[aye[Nay|NV.[AB[Rec]CouncliMember[Aye[Nay|NV.|AB[Reo
ChairmanMendssor]x Frumin x Pio
‘Alon x Henderson|X ite
Bonds x LewisGooge|x Tite
craw x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-IndicateVote ~AB~Absont_ NV-Presont,NotVoting
CCERTIFIOATIONRECORD
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