Councilmember Christina Henderson

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing special education laws in the District of Columbia to ensure students with disabilities remain in their original school feeder patterns unless no suitable programs are available there. It requires local education agencies to consult with the student's IEP team and provide written explanations to parents and staff before moving a student outside their assigned school zone. Additionally, the legislation mandates that schools establish and follow specific staff-to-student ratios for self-contained special education classrooms. If a classroom exceeds these ratios, the school must promptly notify teachers, parents, and administrators about the additional resources being allocated to support student needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows private health insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations in the District of Columbia to count spending on specific social determinants of health toward their required medical loss ratio. By reclassifying these non-medical expenses as part of the 80% of premiums that must be spent on care, the law encourages insurers to invest in services like nutrition education, housing support, and reentry programs for justice-involved individuals. The legislation directly affects insurance companies and aims to improve health outcomes by addressing the non-clinical factors that significantly influence a person's well-being.

Maddy summaryThe Public Incentive Transparency and Accountability Act of 2024 requires District agencies to closely monitor recipients of public funds, such as grants, tax breaks, and contracts, to ensure they meet agreed-upon goals. If an entity fails to fulfill these terms, the bill establishes a process for the government to recover the unearned money and mandates that both the government and recipients keep detailed records for five years after the agreement ends. The legislation also creates a formal appeals system where recipients can challenge a decision to recapture funds through an administrative hearing. Additionally, the Mayor must submit regular reports to the Council detailing how much money has been recovered and from which organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the District of Columbia's personal property tax by raising the exemption threshold for business assets from $225,000 to $325,000 and linking future increases to inflation. It also removes the requirement for businesses with assets below this new threshold to file a tax return, reducing administrative work for small companies. The tax rate itself remains $3.40 per $100 of taxable value, but the amount subject to tax will only include property worth more than the adjusted exemption limit. These changes aim to simplify the filing process and lower costs for businesses while ensuring the tax exemption keeps pace with rising prices.

Maddy summaryThis emergency bill allows retired police officers and firefighters in Washington, D.C., to be rehired as temporary 911 call takers or dispatchers without risking their retirement benefits. The Director of the Office of Unified Communications has the authority to decide which retirees are eligible for these temporary full-time or part-time positions. Any time spent in these roles will not count toward future retirement credit, ensuring that the rehire does not affect their long-term pension eligibility. The law is designed to take effect immediately and will remain in force for no more than 90 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the District of Columbia's Certificate of Need process to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers while maintaining oversight of health equity and uncompensated care. It exempts digital telehealth platforms and standalone primary or specialist clinics from the standard review, requiring only a registration process instead. The legislation also updates the rules by mandating biennial threshold reviews for capital spending, extending project timelines for active construction, and raising the bed-count trigger for new certificates. Additionally, it clarifies definitions for group practices and excludes non-patient care projects like elevator or HVAC upgrades from the review process.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares an emergency to extend a temporary law allowing retired police officers and firefighters to be rehired as 911 call takers or dispatchers without losing their pension benefits. The measure enables the Office of Unified Communications to continue using these experienced professionals, who possess unique knowledge of emergency response, to fill staffing needs while permanent legislation is being considered. By exempting these rehired employees from standard pension offsets, the bill ensures they can apply their specialized skills in new roles without financial penalty. This action directly affects retired law enforcement and fire personnel who wish to return to service and the agency responsible for managing 911 communications.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues in Washington, D.C., that hold Class C or Class D alcohol licenses to choose not to accept cash payments. The legislation amends existing rules to exempt these specific businesses from a broader prohibition on cashless operations that is scheduled to take effect in January 2025. By permitting these establishments to operate without cash, the bill aims to reduce the risk of robberies and burglaries that often target venues holding large amounts of money. While the law grants this option to alcohol-serving businesses, it does not require them to stop accepting cash, and it does not apply to retail stores without on-premises alcohol licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the District of Columbia's existing law on home and hospital instruction to include pregnant students and new mothers. It specifically adds pre-birth complications, childbirth, and postpartum recovery to the list of health conditions that qualify a student for receiving education outside of a traditional school setting. By amending the definition of a "health condition," the legislation ensures that students who are unable to attend school due to pregnancy-related issues can still access their education from home or a hospital. The change applies to all students in the District of Columbia who meet these newly included criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program for middle school students aged 9 to 13 to participate in career exploration activities during the summer. The Department of Employment Services would organize these sessions to teach skills like teamwork, communication, and work readiness, while also offering meals and potential incentives to participants. The program is designed to fill a gap in current summer opportunities for this age group, which currently has limited options compared to those available for older youth. After the pilot concludes, the department must submit a report to the Council detailing how many students joined, their demographics, and feedback from the participants.