DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOME RULE ACT Public Law 93-198; 87 Stat. 774 D.C. Official Code ' 1-201.01 et seq. Approved December 24, 1973 Prepared by Office of the General Counsel Council of the District of Columbia Suite 4 1350 Pennsylvania Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 (202) 724-8026 This document depicts the District of Columbia Home Rule Act as enacted by the Congress in December, 1973, and amended through July 18, 2012, the date of the last congressional amendment before the printing of this document. The text of the Act is in the original format as en- acted and amended. Where the Office of the General Counsel has added brief annotations to the text, those annotations appear in brackets. Provisions of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act that amend other acts are not included in this document except for those amendatory provisions found in Title IV (The District Charter). This document has been updated for printing on: January 14, 2014 November 12, 2013 July 5, 2013 January 7, 2013 February 18, 2010 July 17, 2009 November 3, 2008 June 6, 2007 April 1, 2005 July 7, 2004 October 5, 2001 January 28, 1999 February 24, 1998 2.11.14 This printing includes amendments made by: An Act To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to revise the timing of special elections for local office in the District of Columbia, approved July 18, 2012 (Pub. L. 112-145; 126 Stat. 1133). District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Vacancy Act, approved May 1, 2013 (Pub. L. 113-8; 127 Stat. 441). The Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act of 2012, effective July 25, 2013 (D.C. Law 19-321; 60 DCR 1724, 20 DCSTAT 1743). Title IV of the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011, effective July 31, 2013 (D.C. Law 19-124A; 60 DCR 12134; 20 DCSTAT 1741). An Act To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to clarify the rules regarding the determination of the compensation of the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia, approved December 26, 2013 (Pub.L. 113-71; 127 Stat. 1209). COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Phil Mendelson, Chairman Yvette M. Alexander Jack Evans Marion Barry Jim Graham Anita Bonds David Grosso Muriel Bowser Kenyan McDuffie David A. Catania Vincent B. Orange, Sr. Mary M. Cheh Tommy Wells OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL Under Whose Direction This Document Has Been Prepared V. David Zvenyach, General Counsel John Hoellen, Legislative Counsel Benjamin Bryant, Codification Counsel Katherine Westcott, Assistant General Counsel Melissa C. Tucker, Assistant General Counsel Manasi Venkatesh, Assistant General Counsel Rebecca Katz, Assistant General Counsel Rosalyn Steward, Assistant General Counsel Karen R. Barbour, Legislative Assistant Ada Arrington, Secretary 1.7.13 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE I - SHORT TITLE, PURPOSES, AND DEFINITIONS Sec. 101. Short Title.............................................................................................................1 Sec. 102. Statement of Purposes ..........................................................................................1 Sec. 103. Definitions ............................................................................................................1 TITLE II -- GOVERNMENTAL REORGANIZATION Sec. 201. Redevelopment Land Agency ..............................................................................2 Sec. 202. National Capital Housing Authority ....................................................................3 Sec. 203. National Capital Planning Commission and Municipal Planning [Amendment to another law].......................................3 Sec. 204. District of Columbia Manpower Administration .................................................3 TITLE III -- DISTRICT CHARTER PREAMBLE, LEGISLATIVEPOWER, AND CHARTER AMENDING PROCEDURE Sec. 301. District Charter Preamble .....................................................................................4 Sec. 302. Legislative Power .................................................................................................4 Sec. 303. Charter Amending Procedure ...............................................................................4 TITLE IV -- THE DISTRICT CHARTER PART A -- THE COUNCIL Subpart 1 -- Creation of the Council Sec. 401. Creation and Membership ....................................................................................5 Sec. 402. Qualifications for Holding Office ........................................................................7 Sec. 403. Compensation .......................................................................................................7 Sec. 404. Powers of the Council ..........................................................................................8 Subpart 2 -- Organization and Procedure of the Council Sec. 411. The Chairman .......................................................................................................9 Sec. 412. Acts, Resolutions, and Requirements for Quorum ...............................................9 Sec. 413. Investigations by the Council .............................................................................10 PART B -- THE MAYOR Sec. 421. Election, Qualifications, Vacancy, and Compensation ......................................10 Sec. 422. Powers and Duties ..............................................................................................11 Sec. 423. Municipal Planning ............................................................................................13 Sec. 424. Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia ..........................................14 i Sec. 424a. Authority of Chief Financial Officer over Personnel of Office and Other Financial Personnel ...............................................................................20 Sec. 424b. Procurement Authority of the Chief Financial Officer ....................................21 PART C -- THE JUDICIARY Sec. 431. Judicial Powers...................................................................................................22 Sec. 432. Removal, Suspension, and Involuntary Retirement ...........................................24 Sec. 433. Nomination and Appointment of Judges............................................................25 Sec. 434. District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission ....................................26 PART C-I – THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Se. 435. Election of the Attorney General......................................................................27 PART D -- DISTRICT BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Subpart 1 -- Budget and Financial Management Sec. 441. Fiscal Year .........................................................................................................28 Sec. 442. Submission of Annual Budget ...........................................................................28 Sec. 443. Multiyear Plan ....................................................................................................29 Sec. 444. Multiyear Capital Improvement Plan .................................................................30 Sec. 445. District of Columbia Courts' Budget ..................................................................30 Sec. 445A. Water and Sewer Authority Budget ................................................................31 Sec. 446. Enactment of local budget by Council ...............................................................31 Sec. 446A. Permitting Increase in Amount Appropriated as Local Funds During a Fiscal Year ......................................................................................................................32 Sec. 446B. Acceptance of Grant Amounts Not Included in Annual Budget .....................32 Sec. 447. Consistency of Budget, Accounting, and Personnel Systems ............................33 Sec. 448. Financial Duties of the Mayor............................................................................34 Sec. 449. Accounting Supervision and Control .................................................................35 Sec. 450. General and Special Funds .................................................................................35 Sec. 450A. Reserve Funds .................................................................................................36 Sec. 450B. Comprehensive Financial Management ..........................................................38 Sec. 451. Special Rules Regarding Certain Contracts .......................................................39 Sec. 452. Annual Budget for the Board of Education [Repealed] .....................................40 Sec. 453. Reductions in Budgets of Independent Agencies ...............................................40 Subpart 2 -- Audit Sec. 455. District of Columbia Auditor .............................................................................41 Sec. 456. Performance and Financial Accountability ........................................................42 ii PART E -- BORROWING Subpart 1 -- Borrowing Sec. 461. District's Authority to Issue and Redeem General Obligation Bonds for Capital Projects ....................................................................................45 Sec. 462. Contents of Borrowing Legislation and Elections on Issuing General Obligation Bonds .......................................................................................45 Sec. 463. Publication of Borrowing Legislation ................................................................46 Sec. 464.