D.C. Law 22-59. Office on African American Affairs Establishment Act of 2017.

AN ACT

To establish an Office on African American Affairs to monitor the delivery of services and make policy recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding housing, health, education, employment, social services, public safety, and business opportunities that aid the District's African American community, to assist community organizations aiding the African American community, and to apply for and issue grants that will assist African Americans.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Office on African American Affairs Establishment Act of 2017".

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Office on African American Affairs.

(a) There is established an Office on African American Affairs ("OAAA"), which shall monitor the delivery of services and make policy recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding housing, health, education, employment, social services, public safety, and business opportunities for the District's African American community.

(b) OAAA shall be headed by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council pursuant to section 2(a) of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01(a)). The Executive Director shall be a full-time position, for which annual compensation shall be fixed in accordance with Title X-A of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective June 10, 1998 (D.C. Law 12-124; D.C. Official Code § 1-610.51 et seq.). The Executive Director shall have such staff as is appropriated in an approved budget or provided through federal or private grants.

Sec. 3. Duties of the Executive Director.

(a) The Executive Director shall:

(1) Serve as an advocate for the needs of the District's African American community, as those needs relate to housing, health, education, employment, social services, public safety, and expanding business opportunities;

(2) Assist community organizations in developing and submitting grant applications;

(3) Provide information and technical assistance on programs and services for the African American community to the Mayor, the Council, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, other District government agencies, and the community;

(4) Respond to recommendations and policy statements from the Commission on African American Affairs ("CAAA"), established by the Commission on African-American Affairs Establishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-106; D.C. Official Code § 3-1441 et seq.);

(5) File with the Mayor and Council, no later than December 31 annually, an annual report on the operations of OAAA based on the previous fiscal year;

(6) Identify areas for service improvement and bring these areas to the attention of the Mayor and CAAA, with recommendations for how to meet any needs, including conducting or funding research and demonstration projects to test the recommendations; and

(7) Ensure the necessary control, evaluation, audit, and reporting on programs funded through OAAA.

(b) The Executive Director may:

(1) Accept volunteer services and funds from the public and private sectors to supplement the budget of OAAA in carrying out its planning duties and responsibilities;

(2) Apply for, receive, and expend gifts or grants of money to carry out the duties and responsibilities of OAAA; and

(3) Issue grants to organizations that provide housing, education, health, workforce development, employment, criminal justice reform, and economic opportunity-related services to the District's African American residents; provided, that grants shall be administered pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Grant Administration Act of 2013, effective December 24, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-61; D.C. Official Code § 1-328.11 et seq.).

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

The act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.