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MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
July 9, 2026
Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
Enclosed for consideration and adoption by th e Council of th e D istrict of Columbia are the
“Health and Human Serv ice Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing
Clarifications Amendment Act of 2026,” th e “Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits
Eligibility and Del ivery Data-Sharing C larifications Temporary Amendment Act of 2026,” the
“Health and Human Serv ice Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing
Clarifications Emergency A mendment Act of 2026,” and the “Health and Human Serv ice
Programs and Benefits El igibility and Delivery Data-Sharing C larifications Emergency
Declaration Resolution of 2026.”
If enacted, the legislation would clarify the auth orization to share certain data within the
Department of Human Services (DHS) and between DHS and other District agencies providing
health or human services to f acilitate the determination of eligibility for federal and District
health and human service programs and benefits, to enhance the co ordination of s uch programs
and benefits, an d for other purp oses. Most immediately, it would allow DHS to share client
information between the DHS Family Services Adminis tration and the D HS Economic Secu rity
Administration, pu rsuant to the requirements and procedures of the Data-Sharing an d
Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010, to efficiently facilitate time limit exemption
determinations for the District’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.
The District was unable to renew its SNAP Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)
Waiver due to changes in federal law. This legislation will lessen the burden o n SNAP ABAWD
customers who must now comply with new screening requirements.
I urge the Council to take prompt and favorable action on the enclosed legislation.
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~z~
Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
A BILL
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To amend, on an emergency basis, the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to clarify the
authorization to share certain data within the Department of Human Services and between
the Department of Human Services and other District agencies to facilitate the
determination of eligibility for federal and District health and human service programs;
and to amend the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010 to
clarify the definition of the term "agency" and the intent of the grant of data system
authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act may be cited as the "Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery
Data-Sharing Clarifications Emergency Amendment Act of 2026".
Sec. 2. The Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22, 2005 (D.C. Law
16-35; D.C . Official Code§ 4-751.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:
(a) Section 9(a)(7) (D.C. Official Code§ 4-754.l l(a)(7)) is amended by striking the phrase
"consistent with the confidentiality requirements of District and federal law;" and inserting the
phrase "consistent with the confidentiality requirements of District and federal law, subject to the
authorized uses and mandatory disclosures of such records and information in accordance with
Title I of the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010, effective
December 4, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-273; D.C. Official Code§ 7-241 et seq.);" in its place.
(b) Section 12(12) (D.C. Official Code§ 4-754.21(12)) is amended by striking the phrase
"consistent with the confidentiality requirements of District and federal law;" and inserting the
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phrase “consistent with the confidentiality requirements of District and federal law, subject to the 34
authorized uses and mandatory disclosures of such records and information in accordance with 35
Title I of the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010, effective 36
December 4, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-273; D.C. Official Code § 7-241 et seq.);” in its place. 37
Sec. 3. The Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010, effective 38
December 4, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-273; D.C. Official Code § 7-241 et seq.), is amended as follows: 39
(a) Section 101(1) (D.C. Official Code § 7-241(1)) is amended by striking the phrase “or 40
instrumentality of the District of Columbia government” and inserting the phrase “authority, or 41
instrumentality of the District of Columbia government, or any subdivision of such agency, 42
department, unit, authority, or instrumentality” in its place. 43
(b) Section 102(a) (D.C. Official Code § 7-242(a)) is amended by striking the phrase “In 44
accordance with section 103 and without” and insert the word “Without” in its place. 45
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 46
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer as the fiscal 47
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 48
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 49
Sec. 5. Effective date. 50
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 51
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 52
90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 53
412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; 54
D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)). 55
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This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 56
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 57
90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 58
412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; 59
D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)). 60
Government of the District of Columbia
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Glen Lee
Chief Financial Officer
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 203, Washington, DC 20004 (202)727 -2476
www.cfo.dc.gov
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
FROM: Glen Lee
Chief Financial Officer
DATE: July 8, 2026
SUBJECT: Fiscal Impact Statement – Health and Human Service Programs and
Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Emergency
Amendment Act of 2026
REFERENCE: Draft bill as provided to the Office of Revenue Analysis on July 1, 2026
Conclusion
Funds are sufficient in the proposed revised fiscal year 2026 budget and proposed fiscal year 2027
through fiscal year 2030 budget and financial plan to implement the bill.
Background
Current law 1 requires confidential treatment of the personal records of individuals and families
served by the District’s Continuum of Care2, which is the comprehensive system of services for those
who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and designed to serve clients based on their individual
level of need. Examples include crisis intervention, outreach and assessment services, shelter,
transitional housing, permanent housing programs , and supportive services. Personal, social, legal,
financial, educational, and medical records related to a client or a client’s family are covered by the
law’s confidentiality requirements.
The subtitle authorizes disclosure of these records to other District departments or agencies in
accordance with the Data -Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010 3. The
purpose behind this authorization is to allow the Department of Human Services (DHS) to proactively
assist Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (AB AWD) in determining if they are eligible for
1 D.C. Official Code § 4-754.11(a)(7).
2 D.C. Official Code § 4–751.01(8).
3 D.C. Law 18-273; D.C. Official Code § 7-241 et seq.
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
FIS: “Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data -Sharing Clarifications
Emergency Amendment Act of 2026,” Draft bill as provided to the Office of Revenue Analysis on July 1, 2026.
Page 2 of 2
available exemptions to time limits on receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP). A general waiver to time limits is no longer allowed in the District due to changes
in federal law. DHS intends to use information maintained by the DHS Family Services Administration
to determine if certain ABAWDs receiving services may qualify for exemptions. It is anticipated that
the bill may also be used to facilitate finding exemptions for Medicaid requirements set to go into
effect in 2027.
Financial Plan Impact
Funds are sufficient in the proposed revised fiscal year 2026 budget and proposed fiscal year 2027
through fiscal year 2030 budget and financial plan to implement the bill. DHS is already working with
clients on application screenings and renewals , and the change does not affect agency resource
requirements. DHS anticipates that by identifying exemptions proactively for clients, it could limit
disruptions in benefits for some.
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 409, Washington, D.C. 20004
Phone (202) 262-6402 Email: adele.el-khouri@dc.gov
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BRIAN L. SCHWALB PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION
LEGAL COUNSEL DIVISION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Tomás Talamante
Director
Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs
FROM: Adele El-Khouri
Deputy Attorney General
Legal Counsel Division
DATE: July 2, 2026
SUBJECT: Legal Sufficiency Review of Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits
Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Amendment Act of 2026,
Emergency, Temporary, and Permanent Versions
(AE-26-343-B)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
This is to Certify that the Office of the Attorney General has reviewed the
above-referenced legislation and found it to be legally sufficient. If you have any questions in this
regard, please do not hesitate to call me at (202) 262-6402.
_________________________________
Adele El-Khouri