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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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A BILL
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Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To amend 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 providing health or human services to facilitate the
determination of eligibility for federal and District health and human service programs
and benefits, to enhance the coordination of such programs and benefits, and for other
purposes; and to amend the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act
of 2010 to clarify the definition of the term "agency" and to clarify the intent of the 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 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 for the purposes
of and 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.
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(b) Section 12(12) (D.C. Official Code § 4-754.21(12)) is amended by striking the phrase 34
“consistent with the confidentiality requirements of District and federal law” and inserting the 35
phrase “consistent with the confidentiality requirements of District and federal law, subject to the 36
authorized uses and mandatory disclosures of such records and information for the purposes of 37
and in accordance with Title I of the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment 38
Act of 2010, effective December 4, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-273; D.C. Official Code § 7-241 et 39
seq.)” in its place. 40
Sec. 3. The Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010, 41
effective December 4, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-273; D.C. Official Code § 7-241 et seq. ), is amended 42
as follows: 43
(a) Section 101 (1) (D.C. Official Code § 7-241(1)) is amended by striking the phrase 44
“or instrumentality of the District of Columbia government.” and inserting the phrase “authority, 45
or instrumentality of the District of Columbia government, or any subdivision of such agency, 46
department, unit, authority, or instrumentality.” in its place. 47
(b) The lead-in language of section 102(a) (D.C. Official Code § 7-242(a)) is amended by 48
striking the phrase “In accordance with section 103 and without” and inserting the word 49
“Without” in its place. 50
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 51
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer as the fiscal 52
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 53
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 54
Sec. 5. Effective date. 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), a 30-day period of congressional review as 57
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 58
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 59
Columbia Register. 60
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