§ 6–232. Public Housing Resident Bill of Rights.

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on January 16, 2025. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation affecting this section, click this link: Permanent Version.*

(a)(1)(A) Within 120 days after December 4, 2018, the Authority shall provide a written copy of the Public Housing Resident Bill of Rights ("Bill of Rights"), described in subsection (b) of this section, to the residents of each occupied unit in each Housing Property owned, operated, or managed by the Authority, and thereafter shall provide a copy of the Bill of Rights to new residents of a unit upon occupation of the unit.

(B) Copies of the Bill of Rights provided to residents shall be in a readily legible font and format.

(2) Within 30 days after December 4, 2018, the Authority shall make a copy of the Bill of Rights available on its website in at least 12-point font, and shall conspicuously post the Bill of Rights at each Housing Property owned, operated, or managed by the Authority.

(b)(1) The Bill of Rights shall reference existing rights of residents of Housing Properties that the Authority owns, operates, or manages, and shall explain that it may not be interpreted to expand upon or limit an existing right or to create a new right under District or federal laws or regulations.

(2) The Bill of Rights shall include descriptions of the following rights of residents:

(A) To organize a tenant association, convene meetings, distribute literature, post information, and provide building access to an outside tenant organizer, as provided in § 42-3505.06;

(B) To observe all meetings of the Board and to provide public comments, except for those meetings or portions of meetings lawfully closed to the public, and to inspect minutes recorded at meetings, as provided in § 6-211(w) and subchapter IV of Chapter 5 of Title 2;

(C) To stand for election as a resident commissioner;

(D) To be free from discrimination by reason of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, and place of residence or business, as provided in Unit A of Chapter 14 of Title 2;

(E) To file a complaint, no later than one year following the action to be grieved, which requests an administrative determination of the resident's rights when the resident believes that the resident has been aggrieved or adversely affected by an act or a failure to act by an Authority official, as provided in section 6301 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 6301), and subject to section 6113.8(c) of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 6113.8(c));

(F) To reasonable accommodations for a resident's disability that may be necessary to afford the resident equal opportunity to use and enjoy the housing, and to reasonable modifications of the resident's housing and related facilities at the expense of the resident that may be necessary to afford the resident full enjoyment of the housing, as provided in § 2-1402.21(d) and section 804 of An Act To prescribe penalties for certain acts of violence or intimidation, and for other purposes, approved April 11, 1968 (82 Stat. 83; 42 U.S.C. § 3604);

(G) To have a lease terminated only for serious or repeated violations of the material terms of the lease, as provided in section 6404 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 6404);

(H) To 30 days' notice of any action to correct, cure, or vacate for violation of a lease, except where the Authority has determined that the head of household responsible for the dwelling unit under the lease is deceased and there are no remaining household members, as provided in section 6404 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 6404);

(I) To be relocated away from living conditions that represent an emergency or a threat to life, health, or safety as determined by the Authority, another governmental entity, or as a result of a judicial proceeding; to alleviate threat of attack by criminal elements as verified and documented by the Authority Police Department or any other police department or law enforcement agency authorized to operate in the District; and in certain other circumstances, as provided in section 6401 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 6401);

(J) To be provided with a copy of an Environmental Protection Agency-approved lead hazard information pamphlet, for residents living in Housing Properties constructed before 1978, as provided in 24 C.F.R. Part 35, Subpart A.

(K) To have the housing provider or designee inspect any unit or common area containing mold or suspected mold, upon written notice from a resident of such condition, and to remediation within 30 days of inspection, as provided in § 8-241.04;

(L) To safe and sanitary residential units and common areas in good repair, as provided in Chapter 4 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR § 400 et seq.), and 24 C.F.R.§ 902.21; and

(M) To request a unit inspection from the Department of Buildings with respect to compliance with the District of Columbia Housing Code, found at chapters 5 through 9 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

(b-1) The Bill of Rights shall also include the voter registration packet developed by the District of Columbia Board of Elections pursuant § 1-1001.05(a)(20).

(c) Nothing in this section may be interpreted as expanding or limiting existing rights or creating new rights under the District or federal laws cited herein.