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A BILL 1
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26-526 3
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 6
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To amend An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia to designate 11
the Department of Corrections (“DOC”) as the District agency to provide a free 12
appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and 13
District law to certain individuals in DOC custody and detained in its secure facilities; to 14
expand eligibility for special education assessments for individuals in DOC custody; to 15
require that the Department of Corrections establish an online portal and tracking system 16
for grievances and short-term and long-term service requests; to repeal section 3001.16 17
and 3001.17 of Chapter 30 of Subtitle A of Title 5 of the District of Columbia Municipal 18
Regulations; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Official Code to 19
clarify that certain provisions only apply to a victim who is under the age of 18; to amend 20
Title 20 of the District of Columbia Official Code to amend the definition of abbreviated 21
probate, to authorize the Register of Wills to refer proceedings to the Court to determine 22
if one or more personal representatives should be appointed and the will be admitted to 23
probate, to strike the reference to will admission in transfers by affidavit, to allow for 24
notice of request for formal probate, notice from a foreign personal representative of a 25
decedent who owned any property located in the District of Columbia, and notice of 26
appointment to interested persons, creditors, and unknown heirs in a legal periodical or 27
newspaper of general circulation in the District; to amend the Strengthening Probate 28
Amendment Act of 2024 to clarify that the act applies to estates for whom the decedent 29
died on or after March 21, 2025; to amend the Volunteers Services Act of 1977 to clarify 30
that the Attorney General for the District of Columbia has the authority to promulgate 31
regulations governing the Attorney General’s use of volunteers; to amend the Criminal 32
Justice Coordinating Council for the District of Columbia Establishment Act of 2001 to 33
clarify certain reporting requirements, and to change the date by which the Prearrest 34
Diversion Task Force shall issue initial recommendations for prearrest diversion of 35
certain misdemeanor offenses and categories of persons to July 2026; and to repeal 36
section 3 of the Safe Passage Training and School Engagement Amendment Act of 2025. 37
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 39
act may be cited as the “Leading Education Access for Reentry and Necessary Success 40
(“LEARNS”) Amendment Act of 2026”. 41
Sec 2. An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia, approved 42
June 27, 1946 (60 Stat. 320; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.01 et seq.), is amended as follows: 43
(a) Section 2(b) (D.C. Official Code § 24-211.02(b)) is amended as follows: 44
(1) Paragraph (9) is amended by striking the phrase “; and” and inserting a 45
semicolon in its place. 46
(2) The first paragraph (10) is amended by striking the period and inserting a 47
semicolon in its place. 48
(3) The second paragraph (10) is redesignated as paragraph (11). 49
(4) Paragraph (11) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase “; 50
and” in its place. 51
(5) A new paragraph (12) is added to read as follows: 52
“(12) During each school year: 53
“(A) Provide a free appropriate public education under the IDEA and 54
District law, to individuals with disabilities who are in its custody and detained in its secure 55
facilities from the age of 18 through the end of the individual’s eligibility for special education and 56
related services under the IDEA and District law; and 57
“(B) Following a request for evaluation by the individual or a person 58
authorized to request an evaluation pursuant to 5E DCMR § 3004, shall evaluate individuals in its 59
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custody and detained in its secure facilities, who are age 18 through the end of the individual’s 60
eligibility for special education and related services under the IDEA and District law, and who 61
were not previously assessed for special education services, to determine if the individual is a child 62
with a disability.”. 63
(b) New sections 11a, 11b, and 11c are added to read as follows: 64
“Sec. 11a. Education services. 65
“(a) The Department of Corrections, as the agency responsible for ensuring a free 66
appropriate public education, shall make a free appropriate public education available to all 67
students with a disability from age 18 through the end of the individual’s eligibility for special 68
education and related services under the IDEA and District law who are in the custody of the 69
Department of Corrections, including students who, in the last educational placement prior to 70
their incarceration in an adult correctional facility, were not identified as being a child with a 71
disability in accordance with Chapter 30 of Subtitle A of Title 5 of the District of Columbia 72
Municipal Regulations (5-A DCMR § 3001 et seq.) (“Chapter 30”), or who did not have an 73
individualized education program in accordance with Chapter 30. 74
“(b) The Department of Corrections shall contract for delivery of education services 75
necessary to provide free appropriate public education to students eligible under this section. The 76
contracted education provider shall, at a minimum: 77
“(1) Have experience and expertise in providing education in the District of 78
Columbia; 79
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“(2) Manage and run a high school diploma program within the Department of 80
Corrections that offers credit-bearing courses and post-secondary planning and preparation; 81
“(3) Be able to provide in-person instruction to every eligible student, including 82
those in segregated or restricted housing and on medical units; 83
“(4) Understand the unique social, emotional, and learning needs of incarcerated 84
students; and 85
“(5) Be able to implement every student’s individualized education program. 86
“Sec. 11b. Grievance and service request tracking system. 87
“(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, the Department of Corrections (“Department”) shall 88
establish and maintain on its website an online portal, which includes a grievance and service 89
request tracking system that shall: 90
“(1) Be accessible to individuals in the Department’s custody for the purpose of 91
submitting, tracking, and receiving updates on service requests, grievances, and complaints through 92
the tracking system; 93
“(2) Provide a public facing, view-only interface that allows members of the public 94
to search and view aggregate information from the tracking system, but does not permit the public 95
to submit, modify, or otherwise input service requests, grievances, or complaints; 96
“(3) Provide individuals in the Department’s custody with access to: 97
“(A) Contact information for the Director, Deputy Director, Education for 98
Programs and Case Management, Deputy Director for Operations, and other agency leadership 99
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responsible for receipt, tracking, and resolution of grievances, as well as the Corrections 100
Information Council and Council Committee with oversight of the Department; 101
“(B) Information regarding the number of service requests, grievances, or 102
complaints to staff made by the individual in the Department’s custody, including those related to 103
Council proceedings, available resources, and access to the ANC Commissioner; 104
“(C) A list of the rights of each individual residing in the correctional 105
facility; and 106
“(D) Instructions on how individuals in the department’s custody may 107
submit a service request, grievance, or complaint and track the service request, grievance, or 108
complaint in the tracking system, including viewing real-time updates posted by the agency to the 109
tracking system. 110
“(b)(1) By July 1, 2027, the Department shall assign each service request, grievance, or 111
complaint submitted to the tracking system a unique ticket number. 112
“(2) Each ticket shall be searchable through the tracking system described in 113
subsection (a) of this section by ticket number, date of submission, status, and the nature of the 114
service request, grievance, or complaint. 115
“(3) The public-facing portal shall allow members of the public to search and view 116
aggregate ticket data including the number of the ticket, date of submission, status and nature of 117
the service request, grievance, or complaint, but shall not allow the public to access personally 118
identifiable information or to submit, alter, or interact with any ticket. 119
“(4) The tracking system shall provide for each submission: 120
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“(A) The nature of the service request, grievance, or complaint; 121
“(B) The date of submission; 122
“(C) The current status of the service request, grievance, or complaint; 123
“(D) Whether or not the service request, grievance, or complaint is open or 124
closed; and 125
“(E) Information on how the individual or their family member may contact 126
the Department of Corrections to receive additional information on the status or resolution of the 127
service request, grievance, or complaint. 128
“(5) The Department may prescribe the format in which submissions to the tracking 129
system are to be made; provided, that the Department shall at least accept submissions made by 130
individuals in the Department’s custody in writing and via oral communication. 131
“(c) Within 30 days after the launch of the tracking system pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of 132
this section, the Department shall input into the tracking system all service requests, grievances, and 133
complaints received by the Department in the preceding 6 months that are open. 134
“Sec. 11c. Definitions. 135
“For the purposes of this act, the term: 136
“(1) “Free appropriate public education” shall have the same meaning as provided 137
in section 101(3) of the Placement of Students with Disabilities in Nonpublic Schools 138
Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 14, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-269; D.C. Official Code § 38-139
2561.01(3)). 140
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“(2) “IDEA” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 101(4) of the 141
Placement of Students with Disabilities in Nonpublic Schools Amendment Act of 2006, effective 142
March 14, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-269; D.C. Official Code § 38-2561.01(4)). 143
“(3) “Individualized education program” means a written plan that specifies the 144
special education programs and services to be provided to meet the unique educational needs of a 145
child with a disability, as required under section 614(d) of the IDEA. 146
Sec. 3. Section 3001 of Subtitle A of Title 5 of the District of Columbia Municipal 147
Regulations (5-A DCMR § 3001), is amended as follows: 148
(a) Subsection 3001.16 is repealed. 149
(b) Subsection 3001.17 is repealed. 150
Sec. 4. Chapter 3 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended 151
as follows: 152
(a) Section 14-310(b)(4) is amended as follows: 153
(1) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase “whom the victim has” 154
and inserting the phrase “whom a victim under 18 years of age has” in its place. 155
(2) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the phrase “the victim” and inserting 156
the phrase “a victim who is under 18 years of age” in its place. 157
(b) Section 14-311(b)(4) is amended as follows: 158
(1) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase “with whom the victim 159
has” and inserting the phrase “with whom a victim under 18 years of age has” in its place. 160
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(2) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the phrase “the victim” and inserting 161
the phrase “a victim who is under 18 years of age” in its place. 162
(c) Section 14-312(b)(5) is amended as follows: 163
(1) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase “with whom the sexual 164
assault victim has” and inserting the phrase “with whom a sexual assault victim under 18 years 165
of age has” in its place. 166
(2) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the phrase “the sexual assault 167
victim” and inserting the phrase “a sexual assault victim who is under 18 years of age” in its 168
place. 169
Sec. 5. Title 20 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows: 170
(a) Section 20-311 is amended to read as follows: 171
Ҥ 20-311. Nature of proceeding. 172
“(a) An abbreviated probate proceeding is a proceeding for probate of a will or a 173
determination of a decedent’s intestacy and for the appointment of a personal representative. 174
This proceeding is instituted when an interested person files a petition for an abbreviated probate 175
proceeding with the Court in accordance with the provisions of § 20304. This proceeding may be 176
conducted without the prior notice required for formal probate under § 20-323. 177
“(b) The finality of abbreviated probate shall be governed by § 20331.”. 178
(b) Section 20-312 is amended to read as follows: 179
Ҥ 20-312. Action on petition. 180
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“(a) General. — Upon a request for abbreviated probate filed in accordance § 20-304, the 181
Court or the Register of Wills shall appoint one or more personal representatives, except as 182
provided in § 20-322. The appointment of a personal representative shall constitute an Order for 183
unsupervised administration, unless the Order specifically provides for supervised administration 184
as provided in § 20-402. In no event, however, shall the appointment of a personal representative 185
be delayed pending the Court’s decision with regard to whether the administration will be 186
supervised or unsupervised. 187
“(b) Wills. — In the case of a petition to admit a will to abbreviated probate, due 188
execution of the will shall be presumed and the Court or the Register of Wills may admit a will 189
to probate either: (1) if the will appears to have been duly executed and contains a recital by 190
attesting witnesses of facts constituting due execution; or (2) upon the verified statement of any 191
person with personal knowledge of the circumstances of execution, whether or not the person 192
was in fact an attesting witness, reciting facts showing due execution of the will. 193
“(c) Additional Proof. — The Register of Wills may require additional verified proof, 194
which shall be filed in the proceeding. If the Register of Wills requires additional proof, the 195
matter may be referred to the Court to determine if one or more personal representatives shall be 196
appointed and whether the will should be admitted to probate.”. 197
(c) Section 20-323(a) is amended by striking the phrase “legal periodical of general 198
circulation in the District” and inserting the phrase “legal periodical or newspaper of general 199
circulation in the District” in its place. 200
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(d) Section 20-343(a) is amended by striking the phrase “legal periodical of general 201
circulation in the District” and inserting the phrase “legal periodical or newspaper of general 202
circulation in the District” in its place. 203
(e) Section 20-361(a)(4) is repealed. 204
(f) Section 20-704(a) is amended by striking the phrase “legal periodical of general 205
circulation in the District” and inserting the phrase “legal periodical or newspaper of general 206
circulation in the District” in its place. 207
Sec. 6. Section 7 of the Strengthening Probate Administration Amendment Act of 2024, 208
effective March 21, 2025 (D.C. Law 25-302; 72 DCR 780), is amended by adding a new 209
subsection (d) to read as follows: 210
“(d) This act shall apply to estates of decedents who died on or after March 21, 2025.”. 211
Sec. 7. Section 3 of the Volunteers Services Act of 1977, effective June 28, 1977 (D.C. 212
Law 2-12; D.C. Official Code § 1-319.02), is amended by striking the phrase “District of 213
Columbia Board of Education” and inserting the phrase “Office of the State Superintendent of 214
Education, Attorney General for the District of Columbia,” in its place. 215
Sec. 8. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for the District of Columbia 216
Establishment Act of 2001, effective October 3, 2001 (D.C. Law 14-28; D.C. Official Code § 22-217
4231 et seq.), is amended as follows: 218
(a) Section 1505 (D.C. Official Code § 22-4234) is amended as follows: 219
(1) Subsection (b-9) is amended as follows: 220
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(A) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase “no later than 221
180 days after the applicability date of section 30(f), (g), and (h) of the Secure DC Omnibus 222
Amendment Act of 2024, passed on 2nd reading on March 5, 2024 (Enrolled version of Bill 24-223
345) (“Secure DC Omnibus”)” and inserting the phrase “no later than September 30, 2026” in its 224
place. 225
(B) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 226
effective date of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the effective date of 227
the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the Secure DC 228
Omnibus” in its place. 229
(C) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 230
effective date of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the effective date of 231
the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the Secure DC 232
Omnibus” in its place. 233
(D) Paragraph (4) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 234
effective date of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the effective date of 235
the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the Secure DC 236
Omnibus” in its place. 237
(2) Subsection (b-10) is amended as follows: 238
(A) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase “for juveniles” 239
and inserting the phrase “for juveniles, no later than September 30, 2026” in its place. 240
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(B) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 241
applicability date of section 28 of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “after the 242
effective date of the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the 243
Secure DC Omnibus” in its place. 244
(C) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 245
applicability date of section 28 of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “after the 246
effective date of the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the 247
Secure DC Omnibus” in its place. 248
(D) Paragraph (4) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 249
applicability date of section 28 of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the 250
effective date of the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the 251
Secure DC Omnibus” in its place. 252
(E) Paragraph (5) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 253
applicability date of section 28 of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the 254
effective date of the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the 255
Secure DC Omnibus” in its place. 256
(F) Paragraph (6) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 257
applicability date of section 28 of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the 258
effective date of the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the 259
Secure DC Omnibus” in its place. 260
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(G) Paragraph (7) is amended by striking the phrase “and after the 261
applicability date of section 28 of the Secure DC Omnibus” and inserting the phrase “, after the 262
effective date of the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency, and after the effective date of the 263
Secure DC Omnibus” in its place. 264
(b) Section 1507 (D.C. Official Code § 22-4237) is amended as follows: 265
(1) Subsection (g) is amended by striking the phrase “Within 3 months after 266
the applicability date of section 29 of the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, passed 267
on 2nd reading on March 5, 2024 (Enrolled version of Bill 25-345),” and inserting the phrase 268
“No later than June 2025,” in its place. 269
(2) Subsection (h) is amended by striking the phrase “Within one year after 270
the applicability date of section 29 of the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, passed 271
on 2nd reading on March 5, 2024 (Enrolled version of Bill 25-345),” and inserting the phrase 272
“No later than July 31, 2026,” in its place. 273
Sec. 9. Section 3 of the Safe Passage Training and School Engagement Amendment Act 274
of 2025, effective September 10, 2025 (D.C. Law 26-40; 72 DCR 8170), is repealed. 275
Sec. 10. Applicability. 276
(a) Sections 2 and 3 shall apply upon the date of inclusion of their fiscal effect in an 277
approved budget and financial plan. 278
(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in 279
an approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council 280
of the certification. 281
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(c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in 282
the District of Columbia Register. 283
(2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the 284
applicability of the provisions identified in subsection (a) of this section. 285
(d) Section 8(a) shall apply as of January 1, 2025. 286
Sec. 11. Fiscal impact statement. 287
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact 288
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 289
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a) 290
Sec. 12. Effective date. 291
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 292
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 60-day period of congressional review 293
as provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 294
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code§ 1-206.02(c)(2)). 295