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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
ACT 26-349
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
JUNE 25, 2026
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentand
AssistanceActof2005torequireabusinessapplyingforcertificationasalocalbusiness
enterprisetobe independentlyowned and operated,toamend minimum certifiedbusiness
enterpriseperformancerequirementsina certifiedjointventure,and toestablishuniform
hearingproceduresforenforcementactions.
BEITENACTEDBY THECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“CertifiedBusinessEnterpriseProgramComplianceandEnforcementSupport‘TemporaryAmendmentActof2026”.
Sec.2.TheSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentandAssistanceActof2005,effectiveOctober20,2005(D.C.Law16-33;D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.01erseq.),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Section2302(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.02)isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(7)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(7)“Economicallydisadvantagedindividual”meansanindividualwhoownsatleasta$1%interestinabusinessenterpriseandwhosepersonalnetworthdoesnotexceedthelimitssetbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofTransportation,pursuantto49CFR§ 26.68.”.(2)Paragraph(8A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(8A)“Equityimpactenterprise”meansabusinessenterprisethatisaresident-‘ownedbusiness,smallbusinessenterprise,anddisadvantagedbusinessenterprise.”.(3)Paragraph(9)isredesignatedasparagraph(8B).(4)A newparagraph(9)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(9)“Formalcomplaint”meansacomplaintthatissubmittedtotheDepartmentinwriting,sworntobythecomplainant,andnotarized.”.
(5)A newparagraph(10A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(10A)“Informalcomplaint”meansacomplaintotherthanaformalcomplaintandincludescomplaintssubmittedinperson,byemail,bytelephone,orthroughtheDepartment’scomplainthotline.”.(6)A newparagraph(10B)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(1OB)“Independentlyownedandoperated”meansthatthebusinessenterprisemanagesandcontrolsitsday-to-dayoperationswithoutbeingsubjecttocontrol,restriction,modification,orlimitationbyanotherbusinessenterpriseornot-for-profitbusinessthathasanownershiporotherfinancialinterestinthebusinessenterprise.”.
(8)A newparagraph(13A-i)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(13A-i)“Person”meansanyindividual,firm,partnership,jointventure,general
partnerofa partnership,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)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph
(1A)toreadasfollows:
“(LA)(A)Is:
“(i)Independentlyownedandoperated;
“Gi)Morethan50%owned,operated,andcontrolledbyaDistrict-
basedenterpriseornot-for-profitbusiness;or
“(iii)Owned by a non-District-basedbusinessenterprisethatismore
than50% owned by Districtresidents;”.
(©)Section2346(b)(2)(A)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.46(b)(2)(A))isamendedbystriking
thephrase“thecertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformatleast35% of thecontractingeffortwithits
own organizationand resourcesand,ifitsubcontracts,35% of thesubcontractedeffortshallbe
with certifiedbusinessenterprises.”and insertingthephrase“each certifiedbusinessenterprise
holdinga majorityor minorityinterestinthecertifiedjointventureshall,withitsown organization
andresources,performa percentageofthework equaltoorgreaterthanitspercentageinterestin
the joint venture,and,ifthe certifiedjointventuresubcontracts,atleast35%of the subcontracted
effortshallbewithcertifiedbusinessenterprises.”initsplace.(d)Section2363 (D.C.OfficialCode § 2-218.63)isamended as follows:
(1)Subsection(c)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“,inaccordancewith
proceduressetforthinsubsection(e)of thissection,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
iftheDepartmentdeterminesthecomplaintisfrivolousorotherwisewithoutmerit.IftheDepartmentdismissesaformalcomplaintasfrivolousorotherwisewithoutmerit,theDepartmentshallprepareareportthatincludes:“(A)A statementdetailingtheformalcomplaint,includingthename,address,andtelephonenumberofthepersonfilingthecomplaint;“(B)Thenameofthepersonorcertifiedjointventureallegedtobeinviolationofthisact;
“(C)Thefactsandlawconsideredinrenderingthedetermination;and“(D)Anyotherinformationconsideredinrenderingthedetermination.”.(B)Paragraph(4)isrepealed.(C)Newparagraphs(5)and(6)areaddedtoreadasfollows:“(5)Afterthecompletionofan investigationconductedpursuanttothissubsection,theDepartmentshalltakesuchenforcementaction,ifany,itdeemsappropriate.”.(6)TheDepartmentshallmaintainarecordlistingallformalcomplaints,which
shallcontain: “(A)Thenameofthepersonallegedtobeinviolationofthisact;“(B)ThedatetheformalcomplaintwasmadetotheDepartment;and“(C)A descriptionoftheformalcomplaint.”.(3)Subsection(g)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(g)(1)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(8)ofthissubsection,beforeissuingacivilpenaltyto,ordenying,suspending,changing,orrevokingacertification,apersonoracertifiedjointventure,theDepartmentshallissueanoticeofdeterminationtothepersonorcertifiedjoint
venture,Thenoticeofdeterminationshalldescribethe:
(A)BasisfortheDepartment'sdetermination;“(B)Proposedpenalty,ifany;and“(C)Processandtimelinebywhichthepersonorcertifiedjointventuremayrequestahearing.(2)Pursuanttoparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,aperson,oradesignated
representativeonbehalfofa certifiedjointventure,mayrequestahearingbeforetheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingswithin10daysafterreceivingthenotice.Ifthepersonorcertifiedjointventuredoesnotrequestahearingwithinthattime,thecivilpenalty,denial,suspension,change,orrevocationshallbecomefinal,andthepersonorcertifiedjointventureshallbedeemedtohavewaivedtheopportunityforjudicialreview.“@3)Ifahearingisrequested,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconsidersuchheatingpursuanttotheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsEstablishmentActof2001,effectiveMarch6,2002(D.C.Law14-76;D.C.OfficialCode§2-1831.01efseq.),andtherules
issuedpursuanttoit,TheDepartmentshallbeartheburdenofestablishingtheviolationbyapreponderanceoftheevidence.“(4)TheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductsuchhearingbasedontherecorddevelopedbytheDepartment.ThedecisionoftheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshall
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
bethefinaladministrativedecisionforthepurposeofjudicialreview.
“(5)Noticeof a finalsuspensionorrevocationofa certificationshallbe published
ontheDepartment’swebsite.
“(6)A businessenterpriseor jointventurewhose certificationhas been revokedshall
not be eligibleto apply fora new certificationfrom the Department until36 months afterthedate
thattherevocationbecame final.
“(7)(A)TheDepartmentmayatanytime,uponmotionbyabusinessenterpriseor
jointventurewhosecertificationhasbeensuspendedorrevoked,removethesuspensionorreissue
a certificationiftheDepartment determinesthatitisintheDistrictgovernment'sinteresttoremove
thesuspensionor reissuethecertificationbeforetheend of the36-month periodand theremoval or
reissuancewillnotendangerthehealth,safety,orwelfareof thegeneralpublic.
“(B)Indeterminingwhethertoremoveasuspensionorreissueacertification,
theDepartmentshallconsiderwhetherthe businessenterpriseorjoint venturesubmittedsatisfactory
proof thatconditionswithin,or actionsby, the businessenterpriseor jointventurethatledto the
suspensionorrevocationhavebeencorrected.
“(C)A businessenterpriseorjointventurewhosecertificationisreissued
shallceasetobesubjecttothe36-monthwaitingperiodestablishedinparagraph(6)ofthis
subsection.
“(8)(A)If,afteraninvestigation,theDepartmentdeterminesthatabusiness
enterpriseorjointventurecertifiedunder thisacthas violatedany provisionof thisactinsuch a
mannerastopresentanimminentdangertothehealth,safety,orwelfareofanypersonorthe
generalpublic,theDepartmentmaysummarilysuspendthecertificationofthe businessenterprise
orjointventureuponissuingthenoticeofdeterminationdescribedinparagraph(1)ofthis
subsection,
“(B)(j)Thenoticeofdeterminationshallinformthebusinessenterpriseor
jointventureofthereasonforthesummarysuspensionandtherighttorequestahearingbeforethe
(OfficeofAdministrativeHearingspursuanttothissubsection.
“(i)Ifa businessenterpriseorjointventuretimelyrequestsahearing
‘onasummarysuspension,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductthehearingwithin
14daysafierreceivingtherequest,unlessalongerperiodoftimeisagreedtobythebusiness
enterpriseor jointventure,and theOfficeof AdministrativeHearingsshallissuea decisionwithin
14daysaftertherecordofthehearingcloses.”.
Sec.3.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofMarch29,2026.
Sec.4,Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§ 1-301.47a).
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec. 5.Effectivedate.
(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
eptbe—
‘hairman
CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia
MayorDistrictofColumbiaAPPROVEDJUNE 25, 2026
DocketNo,826-0865
COUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
[ ]ITEMON CONSENT CALENDAR:
LX]ACTION, First Reading
[X}VOTE DATE May 5,2026
(x1votcevore ApprovedRECORDEDVOTEONREQUESTassent[ROLLCALLVOTE- Result
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[X]ITEM ON CONSENT CALENDAR:
LXIACTION FinalReading,CC
[X]VOTEDATE June2, 2026
[X]VOICE VOTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUESTassent{TROLLCALLVOTERest
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