District Of Columbia 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0382 Introduced / Bill

Filed 07/10/2023

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  Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 3 
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A BILL 6 
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10 
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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 
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 21 
act may be cited as the “Sexual Harassment Investigation Review Temporary 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. 4.  Effective date. 45 
(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 46 
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review 47 
as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 48 
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 49 
Columbia Register. 50 
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 51