1 1 _____________________________ 2 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 3 4 5 A BILL 6 7 _________________________ 8 9 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10 11 _________________________ 12 13 14 To require, on an emergency basis, the Inspector General for the District of Columbia to hire 15 outside counsel for the purposes of reviewing previous investigations of sexual 16 harassment complaints against the former Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic 17 Development and Chief of Staff to the Mayor and to produce a report of findings within 18 90 days. 19 20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 21 act may be cited as the “Sexual Harassment Investigation Review Emergency Act of 2023”. 22 Sec. 2. (a) The Inspector General for the District of Columbia shall hire and direct 23 independent counsel to: 24 (1) Review investigations of complaints of sexual harassment and violations of 25 Mayor’s Order 2017-313, effective December 18, 2017 against the Deputy Mayor for Planning 26 and Economic Development and Chief of Staff to the Mayor as of January 1, 2023; 27 (2) Investigate other findings and items outside of the scope of prior 28 investigations pursuant to paragraph (1), including but not limited to hiring and promotion 29 practices, workplace culture, and allegations of retaliation against complainants; and, 30 (3) Review and make recommendations on sexual harassment complaint and 31 investigation procedures for the District government. 32 2 (b) The Inspector General shall provide findings and recommendations to the Mayor and 33 Council no later than 90 days after the effective date of this act. 34 (c) Independent counsel hired by the Inspector General pursuant to subsection (a) of th 35 section shall have experience in confidentiality and sexual harassment law, including litigation 36 and mediation. 37 (d) Any subsequent formal or informal complaints received related to the individual 38 investigated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be investigated by independent 39 counsel under the direction of the Inspector General. 40 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 41 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 42 statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 43 October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 44 Sec. 5. Effective date. 45 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 46 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 47 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 48 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; 49 D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)). 50