Chapter 3D. Business Recovery Task Force.

§ 2–393.01. Business Recovery Task Force Establishment.

There is established the Business Recovery Task Force ("Task Force") to provide recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding the recovery of the District's businesses following the end of the COVID-19 emergency.

§ 2–393.02. Membership; appointment; staff; meetings.

(a) The Task Force shall be composed of:

(1) The following government members, or their designees:

(A) The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development;

(B) The Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development ("Department"); and

(2) Eight representatives of business enterprises, one from each Ward, all of whom shall be District residents, who collectively represent industries and geographical areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 emergency, with at least one representative being an owner of an equity impact enterprise as defined by § 2-218.02(8A).

(b) The business representatives shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Council after receiving recommendations made by the Chairperson of the Council Committee on Business and Economic Development and shall serve without compensation.

(c) The Chairperson of the Task Force shall be designated by the Chairperson of the Council's Committee on Business and Economic Development from among the business representatives.

(d) The Department shall provide administrative support for the Task Force.

(e) If, when all the members have been appointed and the Task Force is functioning, the COVID-19 emergency is still in effect, the Task Force shall convene monthly. After the COVID-19 emergency has been lifted, the Task Force shall meet not less frequently than quarterly until dissolved.

§ 2–393.03. Reporting requirement.

Within 180 days after the appointment of the appointed members, the Task Force shall submit a report to the Mayor and the Council that addresses the following:

(1) Recommendations to identify and access available technical and financial assistance opportunities, including the Small Business Administration Disaster Relief funds and other federal funds as they become available;

(2) Support for outreach and educational efforts to small businesses; and

(3) Long-term policy recommendations for economic recovery of small businesses following the COVID-19 emergency.

§ 2–393.04. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, [the] term:

(1) "COVID-19 emergency" means the public health emergencies declared in the Declaration of Public Emergency (Mayor's Order 2020-045) together with the Declaration of Public Health Emergency (Mayor's Order 2020-046), declared on March 11, 2020, including any extension of those declared emergencies.

(2) "Small business enterprise" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 2-218.02(16).

§ 2–393.05. Sunset.

The Task Force shall dissolve, and this chapter shall expire as of the date the Task Force submits the report required by § 2-393.03.