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B26-0735 • 2025

Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2026-07-14
Official status
Under Council Review
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill is currently under Council review and has not yet taken effect.

Temporary Special Education for Young Adults in D.C. Corrections Custody

This bill temporarily requires the Department of Corrections to provide special education services to young adults with disabilities held in its secure facilities during two specific school years.

What This Bill Does

  • Designates the Department of Corrections as the agency responsible for providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under federal and District law.
  • Requires this service for individuals aged 18 through the end of their eligibility while they are in custody and detained in secure facilities.
  • Applies only during school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
  • Amends existing laws to add these new duties as a temporary measure.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The District of Columbia Department of Corrections
  • Individuals with disabilities aged 18 or older who are in custody and detained in D.C. secure facilities

Terms To Know

FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)
Special education provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and District law.
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law referenced in this bill regarding special education rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act expires automatically after 225 days from when it takes effect.
  • It only covers two specific school years: 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  2. 2026-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  3. 2026-07-09 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0735 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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_______________________ 3
Councilmember Brooke Pinto 4
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A BILL 7
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________ 9
10
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 11
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________________ 13
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To amend, on a temporary basis, An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of 16
Columbia and the Corrections Oversight Improvement Omnibus Amendment Act of 2022 17
to designate the Department of Corrections as the District agency to provide a free 18
appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and 19
District law to certain individuals in its custody and detained in its secure facilities. 20
21
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 22
act may be cited as the “Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of 23
Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026”. 24
Sec. 2. Section 2(b) of An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of 25
Columbia, approved June 27, 1946 (60 Stat. 320; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.02(b)), is 26
amended as follows: 27
(a) Paragraph (9) is amended by striking the phrase “; and” and inserting a semicolon in 28
its place. 29
(b) The first paragraph (10) is amended by striking the period and inserting a semicolon 30
in its place. 31
(c) The second paragraph is redesignated as paragraph (11). 32
(d) The newly redesignated paragraph (11) is amended by striking the period and 33
inserting the phrase “; and” in its place. 34
2
(e) A new paragraph (12) is added to read as follows: 35
“(12) During school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, provide a free appropriate 36
public education (“FAPE”) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, approved 37
April 13, 1970 (84 Stat. 175; 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) (“IDEA”), and District law, to individuals 38
with disabilities who are in its custody and detained in its secure facilities from the age of 18 39
through the end of the individual’s eligibility for FAPE under the IDEA and District law.”. 40
Sec. 3. Amendatory section 2 within section 10(a) of the Corrections Oversight 41
Improvement Omnibus Amendment Act of 2022, effective April 21, 2023 (D.C. Law 24-344; 70 42
DCR 635), is amended as follows: 43
(a) Paragraph (12) is amended by striking the phrase “; and” and inserting a semicolon in 44
its place. 45
(b) Paragraph (13) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase “; and” in 46
its place. 47
(c) A new paragraph (14) is added to read as follows: 48
“(14) During school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, provide a free appropriate 49
public education (“FAPE”) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, approved 50
April 13, 1970 (84 Stat. 175; 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) (“IDEA”), and District law, to individuals 51
with disabilities who are in its custody and detained in its secure facilities from the age of 18 52
through the end of the individual’s eligibility for FAPE under the IDEA and District law.”. 53
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 54
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 55
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 56
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 57
3
Sec. 5. Effective date. 58
(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 59
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 60-day period of congressional review as 60
provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 61
1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)). 62
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 63