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Councilmember Anita Bonds
A RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute
Act of 2005 to modify the use of Department of Employment Services funds relating to
food and non-alcoholic beverage purchases for workforce development program
participants; to amend the Child and Youth, Safety and Health Omnibus Amendment Act
of 2004 to expand the definition of a covered child or youth services provider to include
employees or volunteers of host employers participating in summer youth programs
administered by the Department of Employment Services; and, to amend the Youth
Employment Act of 1979 to authorize the Department of Employment Services to
conduct background checks and motor vehicle record checks of employees or volunteers
of a host employer or grantee with direct contact or unsupervised access to youth
participating in the programs.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Youth Workforce Development Programs Emergency
Declaration Resolution of 2025”.
Sec. 2. (a) This measure addresses administrative concerns faced by the Department of
Employment Services (DOES) as they prepare for the 2025 versions of two youth programs: the
Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) and the Career Ready Early
Scholars Program (CRESP).
(b) Each year, DOES asks all host providers to complete background checks for anyone
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that will be directly supervising our youth (ages 9-16) at MBSYEP or CRESP host sites in
accordance with the Child and Youth, Safety and Health Omnibus Amendment Act of 2004
(CYSHA), effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353).
(c) In the past, the Department of Human Resources (DCHR) has conducted the
background checks for DOES. However, recent guidance from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) indicates that DCHR is no longer authorized to complete background checks
on behalf of DOES since the host site employees are not actual DC government employees.
(d) DOES needs the authority to go to the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department
(MPD) to get the background checks and ensure the safety of our youth participating in these
programs.
(e) The agency needs this language immediately because they will start conducting
background checks this month (February 2025) and will need to issue a solicitation for a
background check company to do the work. Emergency legislation is therefore necessary to
ensure the Department can conduct the background checks of those who be supervising youth
this summer.
(f) Moreover, the given that the FY2025 MBSYEP is already underway, it also necessary
to clarify the permissible use of DOES funds as it relates to food purchases for program
participants on an emergency basis. This measure makes it clear that DOES funds shall only be
used on food and beverages at those events attended by program participants.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Youth
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Workforce Development Programs Emergency Act of 2025 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.