D.C. Law 23-278. Helping Children Impacted by Parental Incarceration Amendment Act of 2020.
AN ACT
To amend the Office on Ex-Offender Affairs and the Commission on Re-Entry and Ex-Offender Affairs Establishment Act of 2006 to require the Office on Returning Citizen Affairs to assess the needs of children in the District of Columbia whose parents are incarcerated.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Helping Children Impacted by Parental Incarceration Amendment Act of 2020".
Sec. 2. Section 3(b)(2) of the Office on Ex-Offender Affairs and the Commission on Re-Entry and Ex-Offender Affairs Establishment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-243; D.C. Official Code § 24-1302(b)(2)), is amended by adding new subparagraphs (N) and (O) to read as follows:
"(N) By December 1, 2021, coordinate with youth-serving government agencies, non-government entities, and individuals to conduct and submit to the Council a comprehensive needs assessment for children in the District who have experienced the incarceration of a parent. The assessment shall:
"(i) Examine the impact on children resulting from parental incarceration;
"(ii) Identify the social, emotional, economic, educational, housing, health, mental health, and other needs of children impacted by parental incarceration;
"(iii) Estimate the number of children who are currently, or have been, impacted by parental incarceration in total and by ward; and
"(iv) Specify the gaps between existing services available in the community and the identified needs of children impacted by parental incarceration.
"(O) By March 1, 2022, coordinate with youth-serving government agencies, non-government entities, and individuals to submit a strategic plan to the Council that outlines how the District can specifically meet the social, emotional, economic, educational, housing, health, mental health, and other needs of children whose parents are incarcerated. The strategic plan shall include:
"(i) The timeline and resources necessary to meet the identified needs; and
"(ii) Recommendations for any policy or legislative reforms necessary to meet the needs of children impacted by parental incarceration.".
Sec. 3. Applicability.
(a) This act shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan.
(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council of the certification.
(c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in the District of Columbia Register.
(2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the applicability of this act.
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 5. 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), a 60-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.
