D.C. Law 24-118. Grandparent and Close Relative Caregivers Program Amendment Act of 2022.

AN ACT

To amend the Grandparent Caregivers Pilot Program Establishment Act of 2005 to modify the eligibility requirements for subsidy payments; and to amend the Close Relative Caregiver Subsidy Pilot Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2019 to expand subsidy payment eligibility to godparents and to otherwise modify the eligibility requirements for subsidy payments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Grandparent and Close Relative Caregivers Program Amendment Act of 2022".

Sec. 2. Section 103 of the Grandparent Caregivers Pilot Program Establishment Act of 2005, effective March 8, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-69; D.C. Official Code § 4-251.03), is amended as follows:

(a) Subsection (a) is amended as follows:

(1) Paragraphs (1) and (2) are repealed;

(2) Paragraph (3) is amended as follows:

(A) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase "; or" and adding a semicolon in its place.

(B) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase "; or" in its place.

(C) A new subparagraph (D) is added to read as follows:

"(D) The parent is 18 years of age or older and has a medically verifiable disability under criteria prescribed by the Mayor pursuant to section 106 that prevents the parent from caring for the child;".

(3) Paragraph (6) is amended to read as follows:

"(6) At least one of the following residency requirements is met; provided that no grandparent residing outside of the District at the time of application for a subsidy may receive payments for more than one year without establishing that they have become a resident of the District as defined by section 503 of the District of Columbia Public Assistance Act of 1982, effective April 6, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-101; D.C. Official Code § 4-205.03) ("section 503"):

"(A) The grandparent is a resident of the District as defined by section 503;

"(B) The child resided in the District within the 6 months preceding the filing of the application for subsidy payments and the child's parent resides in the District at the time of the application for subsidy payments; or

"(C) The child resided in the District within the 6 months preceding the filing of the application for subsidy payments, the child is currently enrolled in school in the District, and the child's parent has a medically verifiable disability under criteria prescribed by the Mayor pursuant to section 106 that prevents the parent from caring for the child, regardless of the parent's place of residence.".

(b) Subsection (a-1) is repealed.

Sec. 3. The Close Relative Caregiver Subsidy Pilot Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2019, effective November 26, 2019 (D.C. Law 23-32; D.C. Official Code § 4-251.21 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 101 (D.C. Official Code § 4-251.21) is amended as follows:

(1) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase ", or is a godparent of the child." in its place.

(2) A new paragraph (3A) is added to read as follows:

"(3A) "Godparent" means an individual with close personal or emotional ties with the child or the child's family that pre-date the child's placement with the individual.".

(b) Section 103 (D.C. Official Code § 4-251.23) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended as follows:

(A) Paragraphs (1) and (2) are repealed.

(B) Paragraph (3) is amended as follows:

(i) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase "; or" and inserting a semicolon in its place.

(ii) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the semicolon and inserting the phrase "; or" in its place.

(iii) A new subparagraph (D) is added to read as follows:

"(D) The parent is 18 years of age or older and has a medically verifiable disability under criteria prescribed by the Mayor pursuant to section 106 that prevents the parent from caring for the child;".

(C) Paragraph (6) is amended to read as follows:

"(6) At least one of the following residency requirements is met; provided that no close relative residing outside of the District at the time of application may receive subsidy payments for more than one year without establishing that they have become a resident of the District as defined by section 503 of the District of Columbia Public Assistance Act of 1982, effective April 6, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-101; D.C. Official Code § 4-205.03) ("section 503"):

"(A) The close relative is a resident of the District as defined by section 503;

"(B) The child resided in the District within the 6 months preceding the filing of the application for subsidy payments and the child's parent resides in the District at the time of the application for subsidy payments; or

"(C) The child resided in the District within the 6 months preceding the filing of the application for subsidy payments, the child is currently enrolled in school in the District, and the child's parent has a medically verifiable disability under criteria prescribed by the Mayor pursuant to section 106 that prevents the parent from caring for the child, regardless of the parent's place of residence;".

(2) Subsection (b) is repealed.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as 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. 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 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.