District Of Columbia 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0867 Enrolled / Bill

Filed 07/09/2024

                      	ENROLLED ORIGINAL 
 
 
 
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AN ACT 
 
__________  
  
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
 
____________________  
  
 
To amend the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Support Act of 2024, the Fiscal Year 2024 Revised Local 
Budget Act of 2024, and the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2024 to 
amend the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to establish grounds for an extension 
to the Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program, and, subject to available funding, to 
require the Department of Human Services, or its designee, to thoroughly consider the 
totality of a participant's circumstances, including the participant’s progress and 
eligibility for affordable housing.  
  
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 
act may be cited as the “Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program Protection Emergency 
Amendment Act of 2024”.   
Sec. 2. Section 5062(a) of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Support Act of 2024, passed on 
2nd reading on June 25, 2024 (Enrolled version of B25-784), is amended to read as follows:   
 “(a) Section 7(b)(4)(B) of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 
22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4–753.01(b)(4)(B)), is amended as follows:   
“(1)  The existing text is designated as sub-subparagraph (i).   
“(2)  New sub-subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) are added to read as follows:   
“(ii) Notwithstanding any other law; provided, that funding is  
available within the Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program (“FRSP”) to implement this sub-
subparagraph and sub-subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) of this subparagraph, the Department, or the 
Department’s designee, shall consider requests for FRSP assistance extending past 12 months if:  
“(I) The participant has requested an extension in  
writing;   
“(II) The participant has made a good faith effort  
towards the achievement of goals set forth in an individualized plan with the aim of a targeted 
progression towards exit from the supports of FRSP, as observed by the service provider at 
consistent intervals, but cannot yet sustain housing stability independently of FRSP; and    
      “(III) The participant has not yet been approved for  
permanently affordable housing.     	ENROLLED ORIGINAL 
 
 
 
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  “(iii) When making a determination of whether to grant a 
participant in FRSP an extension beyond 12 months, the Department, or the Department's 
designee, shall:   
“(I) Consider the totality of the circumstances; and   
“(II) Grant extensions of time in increments not greater  
than 6 months with regular formal reviews every 3 months to ensure that participants are given 
the support necessary to exit FRSP with stable housing.  
     “(iv) If a requested extension of FRSP assistance by a  
participant is denied, the participant shall be given 30 days written notice prior to the final 
subsidy payment explicitly setting forth the reason for the denial of additional assistance and 
inform the participant that the participant has a right to:  
       “(I) Appeal the determination through a fair hearing 
and administrative review, including deadlines for requesting an appeal; and  
  “(II) The continuation of FRSP services pending the 
outcome of any fair hearing requested within 15 days of receipt of a written notice of a 
termination.”.  
Sec. 3. Section 11(a) of the Fiscal Year 2024 Revised Local Budget Adjustment 
Emergency Act of 2024, enacted on July 8, 2024 (D.C. Act 25-499; 71 DCR ___), is amended to 
read as follows:  
  “(a) Section 7(b)(4)(B) of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 
22, 2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4–753.01(b)(4)(B)), is amended as follows:   
“(1) The existing text is designated as sub-subparagraph (i).   
“(2) New sub-subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) are added to read as follows:   
“(ii) Notwithstanding any other law; provided, that funding is  
available within the Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program (“FRSP”) to implement this sub-
subparagraph and sub-subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) of this subparagraph, the Department, or the 
Department’s designee, shall consider requests for FRSP assistance extending past 12 months if:  
     “(I) The participant has requested an extension in writing;  
 “(II) The participant has made a good faith effort towards 
the achievement of goals set forth in an individualized plan with the aim of a targeted  
progression towards exit from the supports of FRSP, as observed by the service provider at 
consistent intervals, but cannot yet sustain housing stability independently of FRSP; and    
      “(III) The participant has not yet been approved for  
permanently affordable housing.  
“(iii) When making a determination of whether to grant a  
participant in FRSP an extension beyond 12 months, the Department, or the Department's 
designee, shall:   
“(I) Consider the totality of the circumstances; and      	ENROLLED ORIGINAL 
 
 
 
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  “(II) Grant extensions of time in increments not greater 
than 6 months with regular formal reviews every 3 months to ensure that participants are 
given the support necessary to exit the program with stable housing.  
     “(iv) If a requested extension of FRSP assistance by a participant is  
denied, the participant shall be given 30 days written notice prior to the final subsidy payment 
explicitly setting forth the reason for the denial of additional assistance and inform the 
participant that the participant has a right to:  
     “(I) Appeal the determination through a fair hearing and 
administrative review, including deadlines for requesting an appeal; and  
“(II) The continuation of FRSP services pending the 
outcome of any fair hearing requested within 15 days of receipt of a written notice of a 
termination.”.  
 
Sec. 4. Sec. 5062(a) of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2024, 
passed on emergency basis June 25, 2024 (Enrolled version of B25-875), is amended to read as 
follows:    
“(a) Section 7(b)(4)(B) of the Homeless Services Reform Act, effective October 22,  
2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4–753.01(b)(4)(B)), is amended as follows:   
  “(1) The existing text is designated as sub-subparagraph (i).    
  “(2) New sub-subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) are added to read as follows:   
  “(ii) Notwithstanding any other law; provided, that funding is 
available within the Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program (“FRSP”) to implement this 
sub-subparagraph and sub-subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) of this subparagraph, the Department of 
Human Services, or the Department’s designee, shall consider requests for FRSP assistance 
extending past 12 months if:  
“(I) The participant has requested an extension in  
writing;   
“(II) The participant has made a good faith effort  
towards the achievement of goals set forth in an individualized plan with the aim of a targeted 
progression towards exit from the supports of FRSP, as observed by the service provider at 
consistent intervals, but cannot yet sustain housing stability independently of FRSP; and    
      “(III) The participant has not yet been approved for  
permanently affordable housing.  
“(iii) When making a determination of whether to grant a  
participant in FRSP an extension beyond 12 months, the Department, or the Department's 
designee, shall:   
“(I) Consider the totality of the circumstances; and   
“(II) Grant extensions of time in increments not greater  
than 6 months with regular formal reviews every 3 months to ensure that participants are given 
the support necessary to exit FRSP with stable housing.  
                   “(iv) If a requested extension of FRSP assistance by a     	ENROLLED ORIGINAL 
 
 
 
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participant is denied, the participant shall be given 30 days written notice prior to the final 
subsidy payment explicitly setting forth the reason for the denial of additional assistance and 
inform the participant that the participant has a right to:  
  “(I) Appeal the determination through a fair hearing 
and administrative review, including deadlines for requesting an appeal; and  
  “(II) The continuation of FRSP services pending the 
outcome of any fair hearing requested within 15 days of receipt of a written notice of a 
termination.”.  
 
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.    
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director 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. 6. Effective date.  
This 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), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 
90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section  
412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; 
D.C. Official Code § 1150 204.12(a)).   
 
 
______________________________ 
Chairman 
Council of the District of Columbia 
 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________ 
Mayor 
District of Columbia   	ENROLLED ORIGINAL 
 
 
 
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