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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-334
INTHE COUNCILOF THE DISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA
MAY 29, 2026
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,theSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentandAssistanceActof2005torequireabusinessapplyingforcertificationasalocalbusinessenterprisetobeindependentlyownedandoperated,toamendminimumcertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformancerequirementsinacertifiedjointventure,andtoestablishuniformhearingproceduresforenforcementactions.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“CertifiedBusinessEnterpriseProgramComplianceandEnforcementSupportEmergencyAmendmentActof2026”.
Sec,2.The Small and CertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopment and AssistanceAct of
2005, effectiveOctober20,2005 (D.C. Law 16-33;D.C. OfficialCode § 2-218.01etseq.),is
amended as follows:
(a)Section2302 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-218.02)isamended as follows:
(1)Paragraph(7)isamendedtoreadasfollows:tur
“(7)“Economicallydisadvantagedindividual”means an individualwho owns at
leasta 51% interestina businessenterpriseand whose personalnetworth does notexceed the
limitssetbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofTransportation,pursuantto49C.F.R.§26.68.”.(2)Paragraph(8A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(8A)“Equityimpactenterprise”meansabusinessenterprisethatisaresident-
owned business,smallbusinessenterprise,and disadvantagedbusinessenterprise.”
(3)Paragraph(9)isredesignatedasparagraph(8B).
(4)A new paragraph(9)isadded toreadas follows:
“(9)“Formal complaint”means a complaintthatissubmittedto theDepartmentin
writing,sworn toby thecomplainant,and notarized.”.
(5)A newparagraph(10A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(L0A)“Informalcomplaint”meansacomplaintotherthanaformalcomplaintand
includescomplaintssubmittedinperson,byemail,bytelephone,orthroughtheDepartment’s
complainthotline.”
(6)A new paragraph(10B) isadded toreadas follows:
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(0B)“Independentlyownedandoperated”meansthatthebusinessenterprise‘managesandcontrolsitsday-to-dayoperationswithoutbeingsubjecttocontrol,restriction,modification,orlimitationbyanotherbusinessenterpriseornot-for-profitbusinessthathasanownershiporotherfinancialinterestinthebusinessenterprise.”.
(7)A new paragraph(13A-i)isadded toreadas follows:
“(13A-i)“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§2218.31)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph
(1A)toreadasfollows:
“(LA)(A)Is:
“())Independentlyownedandoperated;
“(ii)Morethan50%owned,operated,andcontrolledbyaDistrict-basedenterpriseornot-for-profitbusiness;or
“(ii)Ownedbyanon-District-basedbusinessenterprisethatismore
than50% owned by Districtresidents;".
(c)Section2346(b)(2)(A)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.46(b)(2)(A))isamendedbystriking
thephrase“thecertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformatleast35%ofthecontractingeffortwithits
own organizationand resourcesand,ifitsubcontracts,35% of thesubcontractedeffortshallbe
withcertifiedbusinessenterprises.”and insertingthephrase“each certifiedbusinessenterprise
holdinga majorityor minorityinterestinthecertifiedjointventureshall,with itsown organization
and resources,performa percentageof thework equaltoorgreaterthanitspercentageinterestin
the jointventure,and,ifthecertifiedjointventuresubcontracts,atleast35% ofthesubcontracted
effortshallbe withcertifiedbusinessenterprises.”initsplace.
(d)Section2363 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-218.63)isamended as follows:
(1)Subsection(c)isamended by strikingthephrase“,inaccordancewith
proceduressetforthinsubsection(¢)of this section,that”and insertingtheword “that”inits
place.
(2)Subsection(e)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraphs(1),(2),and(3)areamendedtoreadasfollows:“(e)(1)(A)AnypersonmayfilewiththeDepartmentaformalorinformalcomplaintallegingaviolationofthisact.
“(B)TheDepartmentshallmaintainahotlineforthefilingofinformalcomplaints.
(2)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,theDepartmentshallinvestigateeachformalorinformalcomplaintfiledwithit.
“(3)TheDepartmentmaydismissacomplaintwithoutconductinganinvestigation
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
if theDepartment determinesthecomplaintisfrivolousor otherwisewithoutmerit.Ifthe
Department dismissesa formalcomplaintas frivolousorotherwisewithoutmerit,theDepartment
shallprepareareportthatincludes:
“(A) A statementdetailingtheformalcomplaint,includingthename,
address,andtelephonenumberofthepersonfilingthecomplaint;
“(B)Thenameofthepersonorcertifiedjointventureallegedtobein
violationofthis act;
“(C)The factsand law consideredinrenderingthedetermination;and
“(D) Any otherinformationconsideredinrenderingthedetermination.”.
(B)Paragraph(4)isrepealed.
(C)New paragraphs(5)and(6)areaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(5)Afterthecompletionofaninvestigationconductedpursuanttothissubsection,
theDepartmentshalltakesuchenforcementaction,ifany,itdeemsappropriate.
“(6)TheDepartmentshallmaintainarecordlistingallformalcomplaints,which
shallcontain:
“(A) The nameof the personallegedtobe inviolationof thisact;
“(B)ThedatetheformalcomplaintwasmadetotheDepartment;and“(C)A descriptionof theformalcomplaint.”
(3)Subsection(g)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(g)(1)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(8)ofthissubsection,beforeissuingacivilpenalty
to,ordenying,suspending,changing,orrevokingacertification,apersonoracertifiedjoint
venture,theDepartmentshallissuea noticeofdeterminationtothepersonorcertifiedjoint
venture.The noticeof determinationshalldescribethe:
“(A) BasisfortheDepartment’sdetermination;
“(B)Proposedpenalty,ifany;and
“(C)Processandtimelinebywhichthepersonorcertifiedjointventuremay
requestahearing.“()Pursuanttoparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,aperson,oradesignated
representativeonbehalfofa certifiedjointventure,mayrequestahearingbeforetheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingswithin10daysafterreceivingthenotice.Ifthepersonorcertifiedjointventuredoesnotrequestahearingwithinthattime,thecivilpenalty,denial,suspension,change,orrevocationshallbecomefinal,andthepersonorcertifiedjointventureshallbedeemedtohavewaivedtheopportunityforjudicialreview.“@)Ifahearingisrequested,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconsidersuchhearingpursuanttotheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsEstablishmentActof2001,effectiveMarch6,2002(D.C.Law14-76;D.C.OfficialCode§2-1831.01efseg.)andtherules
issuedpursuanttoit.TheDepartmentshallbeartheburdenofestablishingtheviolationbyapreponderanceoftheevidence.
“(4)TheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductsuchhearingbasedontherecorddevelopedbytheDepartment.‘ThedecisionoftheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshall
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
be thefinaladministrativedecisionforthepurposeof judicialreview.
“(5)Noticeofa finalsuspensionor revocationofa certificationshallbe published
ontheDepartment'swebsite.
“(6)A businessenterpriseor jointventurewhose certificationhas been revoked shall
not be eligibleto apply fora new certificationfrom theDepartment until36 months afterthe date
thattherevocationbecame final.
“(7)(A)TheDepartmentmayatanytime,uponmotionbyabusinessenterpriseor
jointventurewhosecertificationhasbeensuspendedorrevoked,removethesuspensionorreissue
a certificationiftheDepartment determinesthatitisintheDistrictgovernment’sinteresttoremove
thesuspensionor reissuethecertificationbeforetheendof the36-month periodand theremoval or
reissuancewillnotendangerthehealth,safety,orwelfareofthegeneralpublic.
“(B)In determiningwhethertoremove a suspensionor reissuea certification,
theDepartmentshallconsiderwhetherthebusinessenterpriseorjointventuresubmittedsatisfactory
proofthatconditionswithin,oractionsby,thebusinessenterpriseorjointventurethatledtothe
suspensionorrevocationhavebeencorrected.
“(C)A businessenterpriseor jointventurewhose certificationisreissued
shallceasetobesubjecttothe36-monthwaitingperiodestablishedinparagraph(6)ofthis
subsection.
“(8)(A)If,afieraninvestigation,theDepartmentdeterminesthatabusiness
enterpriseorjointventurecertifiedunderthisacthasviolatedanyprovisionofthisactinsucha
manner as topresentan imminent dangertothehealth,safety,or welfareof any personor the
generalpublic,theDepartmentmaysummarilysuspendthecertificationofthebusinessenterprise
orjointventureuponissuingthenoticeofdeterminationdescribedinparagraph(1)ofthis
subsection.
“(B)(i)The noticeof determinationshallinformthebusinessenterpriseor
jointventureofthereasonforthesummarysuspensionandtherighttorequestahearingbeforethe
Officeof AdministrativeHearingspursuanttothissubsection.
“Gi)Ifabusinessenterpriseorjointventuretimelyrequestsahearing
onasummarysuspension,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductthehearingwithin
14daysafterreceivingtherequest,unlessalongerperiodoftimeisagreedtobythebusiness
enterpriseorjoint venture,and theOfficeof AdministrativeHearingsshallissuea decisionwithin
14 days aftertherecordofthe hearingcloses.”.
See.3.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofMarch29,2026.
Sec.4.Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof theBudget Directoras thefiscalimpact
statementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
Sec.5.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
Chai
CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia
MAY 29, 2026
COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA.
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
DocketNo,826-0664
[JITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
Dacrion
FinalReading
[UX]VOTEDATE May5,2026
[x1VoIcevoTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE~Result
CouncilMember [aye[Nay[Nv[AB[Rec|Counci!Member|Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec[CouncilMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Ree
ChairmanMendelson]X Frumin x Pinto
Allen x Henderson x R White
Bonds x LewisGeorge| x T.White
Grawtord x Nadeau x
Felder x Patker x
X-IndicateVoto AB Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Roc -Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
SecretaryTotheCouncil