There is established an Office on African Affairs ("Office"). The Office shall ensure that a full range of health, education, employment, and social services are available to the African communities in the District, monitor service delivery to those communities, and make recommendations to the Mayor to promote the welfare of those communities.
(June 8, 2006, D.C. Law 16-111, § 2, 53 DCR 2532.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
Law 16-111, the "Office and Commission on African Affairs Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-430 which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on February 7, 2006, and March 7, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on March 23, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-313 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-111 became effective on June 8, 2006.
(a) The Office shall be headed by an Executive Director ("Director") who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. The Director shall be a full-time position, for which annual compensation shall be fixed in accordance with subchapter X-A of Chapter 6 of Title 1.
(b) The Office shall have staff as approved by appropriations and federal or private grants.
(c) The Director shall:
(1) Serve as an advocate for African communities in the District;
(2) Assist community organizations in developing and submitting grant applications;
(3) Provide information and technical assistance on programs and services to the African communities to the Mayor, the Council, other District agencies and departments, and the community;
(4) Respond to recommendations and policy statements from the Commission on African Affairs ("Commission");
(5) File an annual report on the operations of the Office with the Mayor and the Council;
(6) Identify areas for service improvement and bring these areas to the attention of the Mayor and the Commission, with recommendations for meeting these needs, including conducting or funding research and demonstration projects to test the recommendations;
(7) Ensure the necessary control, evaluation, audit, and reporting on programs funded through the Office;
(8) Accept volunteer services and funds from the public and private sectors to supplement the budget of the Office in carrying out its planning duties and responsibilities; and
(9) Apply for, receive, and expend gifts or grants of money to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Office.
(June 8, 2006, D.C. Law 16-111, § 3, 53 DCR 2532.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-111, see notes following § 2-1391.
There is established a Commission on African Affairs ("Commission") to advise the Mayor, the Council, the Director of the Office on African Affairs, and the public on the views and needs of the African communities in the District.
(June 8, 2006, D.C. Law 16-111, § 4, 53 DCR 2532.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-111, see notes following § 2-1391.
(a) The Commission shall consist of 15 public voting members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council. Members shall be appointed with due consideration for representation from established public, nonprofit, and volunteer community organizations concerned with the African communities, and members of the public who have shown dedication to and knowledge of the needs of the African communities.
(b) Voting members shall serve terms of 3 years; except, that of the initial members, 5 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, 5 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, and 5 shall be appointed for a term of one year. Members may be reappointed, but may serve no more than 2 consecutive full terms. Terms for the initial Commission members shall begin on the date a majority of the members are sworn in, which shall become the anniversary date for all subsequent appointments. When a vacancy develops on the Commission, the Mayor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Council, a successor to fill the unexpired portion of the term.
(c) There shall be 11 ex-officio nonvoting members, including the following Directors or their designees:
(1) Department of Employment Services;
(2) Department of Human Services;
(3) Department of Health;
(4) Department of Housing and Community Development;
(5) Department of Public Works;
(6) Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs;
(7) Emergency Management Agency;
(8) Department of Parks and Recreation;
(9) Superintendent of Education of the District of Columbia;
(10) Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department; and
(11) Chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.
(d) Ex-officio members shall develop and implement policies and programs in their agencies to ensure that the purposes of this chapter are fulfilled. They shall meet with the Director at least quarterly each year to assist the Director in coordinating plans and policies which are beneficial to the African communities of the District.
(e) The Mayor shall appoint the chairperson of the Commission from among the voting members. All members shall serve without compensation. Expenses incurred by the Commission or its members shall be authorized by the Chairperson and become an obligation against District appropriations and other federal funds designated for that purpose.
(f) The Commission shall develop its own rules of procedure.
(g) The Commission shall meet at least every other month. The meetings shall be held in the District and shall be open to the public. A quorum to transact business shall consist of a majority plus one of the voting members.
(June 8, 2006, D.C. Law 16-111, § 5, 53 DCR 2532; Mar. 25, 2009, D.C. Law 17-353, § 104, 56 DCR 1117.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 17-353 validated a previously made technical correction in subsec. (d).
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-111, see notes following § 2-1391.
For Law 17-353, see notes following § 2-218.42.
The Commission shall:
(a) Serve as an advocate for African persons in the District;
(b) Review and submit to the Mayor, the Council, and the Office, and make available to the public, an annual report that includes an analysis of the needs of the African communities in the District;
(c) Cooperate with federal, state and private agencies concerned with activities pertaining to the African communities;
(d) Conduct or participate in public hearings and other forums to determine views of the African communities and other members of the public on matters affecting health, safety and welfare of those communities;
(e) Bring to the attention of the Mayor and the Office cases of neglect, abuse and incidents of bias against members of the African communities in the administration of District and federal laws;
(f) Review and comment on proposed District and federal legislation, regulations, policies, and programs and make policy recommendations on issues affecting the health, safety, and welfare of the African communities;
(g) Develop policy and provide continuing review of the planning undertaken by the Office; and
(h) Make reasonable requests for information necessary to aid the Commission in the discharge of its responsibilities.
(June 8, 2006, D.C. Law 16-111, § 6, 53 DCR 2532.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Temporary Addition of Section
For temporary (225 day) addition, see § 6a of Office and Commission on African Affairs Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Law 16-215, March 6, 2007, law notification 54 DCR 2762).
Section 3 of D.C. Law 16-215 added a section to read as follows:
"Sec. 6a. Transition provisions.
"(a) The Mayor's Advisory Commission on African Community Affairs, established pursuant to Mayor's Order 2003-114, dated August 11, 2003, shall be abolished as of the earlier of the following dates:
"(1) The date that a majority of the 15 public members of the Commission on African Affairs are sworn in; or
"(2) December 31, 2006.
"(b) All records of the Mayor's Advisory Commission on African Community Affairs, established pursuant to Mayor's Order 2003-114, dated August 11, 2003, shall be transferred to the Commission on African Affairs, as of the date established in subsection (a) of this section."
Section 5(b) of D.C. Law 16-215 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 3 of Office and Commission on African Affairs Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-501, October 23, 2006, 53 DCR 9051).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 3 of Office and Commission on African Affairs Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-5, January 16, 2007, 54 DCR 1448).
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-111, see notes following § 2-1391.
(June 8, 2006, D.C. Law 16-111, § 7, 53 DCR 2532; Aug. 16, 2008, D.C. Law 17-219, § 7074, 55 DCR 7598.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-111, see notes following § 2-1391.
For Law 17-219, see notes following § 2-218.75.
