D.C. Act 24-627. Attorney General Transition Emergency Act of 2022.
AN ACT
To promote the orderly transfer of duties and responsibilities upon the expiration of the term of office of the current Attorney General and the assumption of duties and responsibilities of a new Attorney General.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Attorney General Transition Emergency Act of 2022".
Sec. 2. Purpose; transition activities.
(a) This act authorizes the Attorney General to take appropriate action to assure continuity in the conduct of all law business on behalf of the District of Columbia. The purpose of this act is to provide for the orderly transfer of the legal duties and responsibilities of the Attorney General upon the expiration of the term of office of the current Attorney General and the assumption of those duties and responsibilities by a new Attorney General.
(b) The Attorney General, in the discharge of his duties pursuant to the Attorney General for the District of Columbia Clarification and Elected Term Amendment Act of 2010, effective October 22, 2015 (D.C. Law 21-36; D.C. Official Code §§ 1-301.81 et seq.), may make available to the Attorney General-elect, from November 9, 2022, through the 15th day following the date of the swearing-in of the Attorney General-elect:
(1) Office space, furniture, furnishings, office machines, and supplies, at whatever place or places within the District the Attorney General shall designate, at no cost to the Attorney General-elect and his or her transition staff;
(2) Compensation for the transition staff of the Attorney General-elect at a rate that does not exceed the rate prescribed pursuant to the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3,1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 1-601.01 et seq.); provided, that any person who receives compensation as a member of the transition staff under this section does not hold a position in, or is considered to be an employee of, the District government;
(3) Reasonable expenses for the procurement by the Attorney General-elect of services of any expert or consultant, or organization thereof;
(4) Reasonable expenses incurred by the Attorney General-elect for printing, binding, and duplicating;
(5) Reasonable postage or mailing expenses incurred by the Attorney General-elect consistent with the Official Correspondence Regulations, effective April 7, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-118; D.C. Official Code § 2-701 et seq.); and
(6) Reasonable expenses for communications equipment and services.
(c) For purposes of this act, the term "Attorney General-elect" means the person who is certified as the successful candidate for the office of Attorney General by the Board of Elections following the 2022 general election held to determine the Attorney General or, for the period of time between the general election and certification, the person announced and published by the Board of Elections as the unofficial winner of the general election for Attorney General with a margin of victory of at least 2% of the votes cast.
Sec. 3. Transition costs.
Upon certification by the Chief Financial Officer that appropriated funds are available, there is authorized up to $150,000 to be made available for transition costs for the transition of the Attorney General-elect.
Sec. 4. Reporting requirements.
(a) The Attorney General-elect shall file a report, to be prepared with appropriate supporting documentation, accounting for the expenditure of funds pursuant to this act.
(b) Reports prepared pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be submitted to the Council and the Chief Financial Officer by March 31, 2023.
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer 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 § 1-204.12(a)).
