As used in the chapter:
(1) "Administrator" means a person in charge of a public or private hospital or his delegate;
(1A) "Chief clinical officer" means the psychiatrist or qualified psychologist for the Department who is responsible for coordinating the treatment of persons receiving mental health supports or mental health services from the Department;
(2) "Chief of service" means the physician or qualified psychologist charged with overall responsibility for the professional program of care and treatment in the particular administrative unit of the hospital to which the patient has been admitted or such other member of the medical staff as the chief of service designates;
(3) "Commission" means the Commission on Mental Health;
(3A) "Core services agency" means a community-based provider of mental health services and mental health supports that is certified by the Department and that acts as a clinical home for consumers of mental health services by providing a single point of access and accountability for diagnostic assessment, medication-somatic treatment, counseling and psychotherapy, community support services, and access to other needed services;
(4) "Court" means the Superior Court of the District of Columbia;
(4A) "Department" means the Department of Mental Health;
(4A-i) "Domestic partner" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 32- 701(3).
(4B) "Mental health services" means the services funded or regulated by the Department for the purpose of addressing mental illness or mental health problems;
(4C) "Mental health supports" means the supports funded or regulated by the Department for the purpose of addressing mental illness or mental health problems;
(5) "Mental illness" means a psychosis or other disease which substantially impairs the mental health of a person;
(6) Repealed.
(7) "Physician" means a person licensed under the laws of the District of Columbia to practice medicine, or a person who practices medicine in the employment of the Government of the United States or of the District of Columbia;
(8) "Private hospital" means a nongovernmental hospital or institution, or part thereof, in the District of Columbia, equipped and qualified to provide inpatient care and treatment for a person with a physical or mental illness;
(8A) "Provider" means an individual or entity that:
(A) Is duly licensed or certified by the Department to provide mental health services or mental health supports; or
(B) Has entered into an agreement with the Department to provide mental health services or mental health supports;
(8B) "Psychiatrist" means a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in the District of Columbia, or is employed by the federal government, and has completed a residency in psychiatry;
(9) "Public hospital" means a hospital or institution, or part thereof, in the District of Columbia, owned and operated by the Government of the United States or of the District of Columbia, equipped and qualified to provide inpatient care and treatment for persons with physical or mental illness;
(9A) "Qualified physician" means a person licensed under the laws of the District of Columbia to practice medicine who is board-certified in emergency medicine and certified by the Department to examine persons and prepare admission certificates pursuant to section 21-522; and
(10) "Qualified psychologist" means a person who is licensed pursuant to section 501 of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3- 1205.01), and has (1) one year of formal training within a hospital setting; or (2) two years of supervised clinical experience in an organized health care setting, one of which must be post-doctoral.
(Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 751, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1, July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 567, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 150(c)(1); Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48, § 11(a)(4), (b), 30 DCR 5778; Apr. 30, 1988, D.C. Law 7-104, § 6(c), 35 DCR 147; Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-255, § 20(b), 44 DCR 1271; Apr. 4, 2003, D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(b), 50 DCR 917; Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 35(a)(1), 53 DCR 6198; Sept. 12, 2008, D.C. Law 17-231, § 22(a), 55 DCR 6758; Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-169, § 21(c)(2), 59 DCR 5567.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 21-501.
1973 Ed., § 21-501.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 14-283 added pars. (1A), (3A), (4A), (4B), (4C), (8A), (8B), and (9A); and repealed par. (6) which had read as follows:
"(6) 'Mentally ill person' means a person who has a mental illness, but does not include a person committed to a private or public hospital in the District of Columbia by order of the court in a criminal proceeding;"
D.C. Law 16-305, in par. (8), substituted "with" for "suffering from".
D.C. Law 17-231 added par. (4A-i).
D.C. Law 19-169, in par. (9), substituted "with" for "suffering from".
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2(b)(1) of D.C. Law 14-131 added pars. (1A), (3A), (4A), (4B), (4C), (8A), (8B), and (9A) to read as follows:
"(1A) 'Chief clinical officer' means the psychiatrist or qualified psychologist for the Department who is responsible for coordinating the treatment of persons receiving mental health supports or mental health services from the Department;"
"(3A) 'Core services agency' means a community-based provider of mental health services and mental health supports that is certified by the Department and that acts as a clinical home for consumers of mental health services by providing a single point of access and accountability for diagnostic assessment, medication-somatic treatment, counseling and psychotherapy, community support services, and access to other needed services;"
"(4A) 'Department' means the Department of Mental Health;
"(4B) 'Mental health services' means the services funded or regulated by the Department for the purpose of addressing mental illness or mental health problems;
"(4C) 'Mental health supports' means the supports funded or regulated by the Department for the purpose of addressing mental illness or mental health problems;"
"(8A) 'Provider' means an individual or entity that:
"(A) Is duly licensed or certified by the Department to provide mental health services or mental health supports; or
"(B) Has entered into an agreement with the Department to provide mental health services or mental health supports;
"(8B) 'Psychiatrist' means a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in the District of Columbia and has completed a residency in psychiatry; and"
"(9A) 'Qualified physician' means a person licensed under the laws of the District of Columbia to practice medicine who is board-certified in emergency medicine and certified by the Department to examine persons and prepare admission certificates pursuant to section 21-522."
Section 2(b)(2) of D.C. Law 14-131 repealed par. (6).
Section 5(b) of D.C. Law 14-131 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Mental Health Commitment Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-265, January 30, 2002, 49 DCR 1450).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Mental Health Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-350, April 24, 2002, 49 DCR 4417).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-546, December 12, 2002, 50 DCR 199).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-41, March 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2784).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 5-48, the "Health-Care and Community Residence Facility Hospice and Home Care Licensure Act of 1983," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 5- 166, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on September 20, 1983, and October 4, 1983, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on October 28, 1983, it was assigned Act No. 5-74 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 7-104, the "Technical Amendments Act of 1987," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-346, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 24, 1987, and December 8, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 22, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-124 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 11-255, the "Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 11-905, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 7, 1996, and December 3, 1996, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 24, 1996, it was assigned Act No. 11-519 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 11-255 became effective on April 9, 1997.
Law 14-131, the "Mental Health Commitment Temporary Act of 2002", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 14-502, which was retained by council. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on January 8, 2002, and February 5, 2002, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on February 25, 2002, it was assigned Act No. 14-292 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 14-131 became effective on May 2, 2002.
Law 14-283, the "Mental Health Civil Commitment Act of 2002", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 14-605, which was referred to Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 3, 2002, and December 17, 2002, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 22, 2003, it was assigned Act No. 14-617 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 14-283 became effective on April 4, 2003.
Law 16-305, the "People First Respectful Language Modernization Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-664, which was referred to Committee on the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 20, 2006, and July 11, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 17, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-437 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-305 became effective on April 24, 2007.
Law 17-231, the "Omnibus Domestic Partnership Equality Amendment Act of 2008", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 17-135, which was referred to the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 1, 2008, and May 6, 2008, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 6, 2008, it was assigned Act No. 17-403 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 17-231 became effective on September 12, 2008.
Law 19-169, the "People First Respectful Language Modernization Amendment Act of 2012", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 19-189, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 6, 2012, and April 17, 2012, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on May 15, 2012, it was assigned Act No. 19-361 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 19-169 became effective on September 26, 2012.
(a) Qualified psychologists are subject to the restrictions and qualifications for practice contained in the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1201.01 et seq.).
(b) Whenever a qualified psychologist has the responsibility for the voluntary, nonprotesting, emergency, or court-ordered admission or hospitalization of a person who is mentally ill, that qualified psychologist or the provider shall, prior to or at the time of admission or commitment, identify a psychiatrist or other appropriate physician who shall be responsible for the medical evaluation and medical management of the person who is mentally ill during the period in which the person is receiving treatment from that provider. The qualified psychologist may be responsible for all other evaluation and management of the mental health services or mental health services or supports for the person who is mentally ill.
(Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48, § 11(c), 30 DCR 5778; Apr. 30, 1988, D.C. Law 7-104, § 6(d), 35 DCR 147; Apr. 4, 2003, D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(c), 50 DCR 917.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 21-501.1.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 14-283 rewrote subsec. (b) which had read as follows:
"(b) Whenever a qualified psychologist may have the responsibility for the voluntary, nonprotesting, emergency, or court-ordered hospitalization of a mentally ill patient, that qualified psychologist or the hospital shall, prior to or at the time of hospital admission, identify a psychiatrist or other appropriate physician with admitting privileges at the hospital who shall be responsible for the medical evaluation and medical management of the patient for the duration of the patient's hospitalization. The qualified psychologist shall be responsible for all other evaluation and management of the patient.
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2(c) of D.C. Law 14-131 amended subsec. (b) to read as follows:
"(b) Whenever a qualified psychologist may have the responsibility for the voluntary, nonprotesting, emergency, or court-ordered admission or hospitalization of a person who is mentally ill, that qualified psychologist or the provider shall, prior to or at the time of admission or commitment, identify a psychiatrist or other appropriate physician who shall be responsible for the medical evaluation and medical management of the person who is mentally ill during the period in which the person is receiving treatment from that provider. The qualified psychologist shall be responsible for all other evaluation and management of the mental health services or mental health supports for the person who is mentally ill."
Section 5(b) of D.C. Law 14-131 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(c) of Mental Health Commitment Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-265, January 30, 2002, 49 DCR 1450).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(c) of Mental Health Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-350, April 24, 2002, 49 DCR 4417).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(c) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-546, December 12, 2002, 50 DCR 199).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(c) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-41, March 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2784).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 5-48, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 21-501.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 7-104, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 21-501.
For Law 14-131, see notes following § 21-501.
For Law 14-283, see notes following § 21-501.
Miscellaneous Notes
Section 33(b) of D.C. Law 15-354 provides that the section designation of § 21-501.1 of the District of Columbia Official Code is redesignated as § 21- 501.01.
(a) The Commission on Mental Health is continued. The Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall appoint the members of the Commission, and the Commission shall be composed of 9 members and an alternate chairperson. One member shall be a magistrate judge of the Court appointed pursuant to title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, who shall be a member of the bar of the Court and has engaged in active practice of law in the District of Columbia for a period of at least 5 years prior to his or her appointment. The magistrate judge shall be the Chairperson of the Commission and act as the administrative head of the Commission. The Chairperson shall preside at all hearings and direct all of the proceedings before the Commission. Eight members of the Commission shall be psychiatrists or qualified psychologists, as those terms are defined in section 21-501, who have not had less than 5 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
(b)(1) Appointment of members of the Commission shall be for terms of 4 years.
(2) The initial appointment of a psychiatrist or a qualified psychologist shall be for a probationary period of one year. After the initial one-year probationary appointment, subsequent appointments of the psychiatrist or qualified psychologist shall be for terms of 4 years.
(c) The psychiatrist or qualified psychologist members of the Commission shall serve on a part-time basis and shall be rotated by assignment of the Chief Judge of the Court, so that at any one time the Commission shall consist of the Chairperson and 2 members, each of whom is either a psychiatrist or a qualified psychologist. Members of the Commission who are psychiatrists or qualified psychologists may practice their professions during their tenures of office, but may not participate in the disposition of a case of a person in which they have rendered professional service or advice.
(d) The Chief Judge of the Court shall appoint a magistrate judge of the Court to serve as an alternate Chairperson of the Commission. The alternate Chairperson shall serve on a part time basis and act as Chairperson in the absence of the permanent Chairperson.
(e) The rate of compensation for the members of the Commission who are psychiatrists or qualified psychologists shall be fixed by the Executive Officer of the Court.
(Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 751, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1; July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 567, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 150(c)(1); Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99- 591, title I, § 154, 100 Stat. 3341-356; Apr. 4, 2003 (Dec. 10, 2004), D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(d), 50 DCR 917; Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3472, Pub. L. 108-450, § 2(a).)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 21-502.
1973 Ed., § 21-502.
Effect of Amendments
Pub. L. 99-591, in subsec. (a), rewrote the last sentence which read: "Eight members of the Commission shall be physicians who have been practicing medicine in the District of Columbia and who have had not less than five years' experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses."; and rewrote subsec. (c) which had read:
"(c) The physician-members of the Commission shall serve on a part-time basis and shall be rotated by assignment of the Chief Judge of the court, so that at any one time the Commission shall consist of the Chairman and two physician-members. Physician-members of the Commission may practice their profession during their tenure of office, but may not participate in the disposition of the case of a person in which they have rendered professional service or advice."
Pub. L. 108-450 rewrote the section which had read as follows:
"(a) The Commission on Mental Health is continued. The Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall appoint the members of the Commission, and the Commission shall be composed of nine members. One member shall be a member of the bar of the court, who has engaged in active practice of law in the District of Columbia for a period of at least five years prior to his appointment. He shall be the Chairman of the Commission and act as the administrative head of the Commission and its staff. He shall preside at all hearings and direct all of the proceedings before the Commission. He shall devote his entire time to the work of the Commission. Eight members of the Commission shall be health care professionals who are psychiatrists, or doctoral level psychologists, practicing in the District of Columbia who have had not less than five years' experience in the treatment of mental illnesses.
"(b) Appointment of members of the Commission shall be for terms of four years each, which shall be staggered as provided by section 2 of the Act approved June 8, 1938 (chapter 326, 52 Stat. 625), under which, except for the original four-year term of the lawyer-member, staggered terms of one year for two members, two years for two members, three years for two members, and four years for two members, were made.
"(c) Members of the Commission who are health care professionals shall serve on a part-time basis and shall be rotated by assignment of the Chief Judge of the court, so that at any one time the Commission shall consist of the chairman and two members who are health care professionals. Members of the Commission who are health care professionals may practice their profession during their tenure of office, but may not participate in the disposition of a case in which they have rendered professional service or advice.
"(d) The court shall also appoint an alternate lawyer-member of the Commission who shall have the same qualifications as the lawyer-member of the Commission and who shall serve on a part-time basis and act as Chairman in the absence of the permanent Chairman.
"(e) The salaries of the members of the Commission and its employees shall be fixed in accordance with the provisions of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. The alternate Chairman shall be paid on a per diem basis at the same rate of compensation as fixed for the permanent Chairman."
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2(d) of D.C. Law 14-131, in subsec. (a), in the last sentence, inserted "or qualified psychologists" after "Eight members of the Commission shall be physicians"; in subsec. (c), in the first sentence, substituted "The physician-members and psychologist-members" for "The physician-members", and substituted "2 members, each of whom is either a physician or a qualified psychologist" for "two physician-members", and in the last sentence, substituted " Physician-members and psychologist-members" for "Physician-members".
Section 4 of D.C. Law 14-131 provides:
"Sec. 4. Applicability.
"Section 2(d), (k)(2), (m), (q)(3) and (4), (s), and (t) shall apply upon the enactment of legislation by the United States Congress that states the following:
"Notwithstanding any other law, section 2(d), (k)(2), (q)(3) and (4), (s), and (t) of the Mental Health Commitment Temporary Act of 2002, adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia, is enacted into law."
Section 5(b) of D.C. Law 14-131 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) addition of applicability provision for § 2(d), (k)(2), (m), (q)(3) and (4), (s), and (t) of D.C. Act 14-265, see § 4 of Mental Health Commitment Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-265, January 30, 2002, 49 DCR 1450).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Mental Health Commitment Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-265, January 30, 2002, 49 DCR 1450).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Mental Health Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-350, April 24, 2002, 49 DCR 4417).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section applicable upon enactment of certain legislation by the United States Congress, see §§ 2(d) and 3 of Mental Health Civil Commitment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-546, December 12, 2002, 50 DCR 199).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2(d) and (3) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-41, March 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2784).
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 14-131, see notes following § 21-501.
References in Text
The Classification Act of 1949, as amended, referred to in the first sentence in subsection (e) of this section, was repealed by the Act of September 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 632, Pub. L. 89-554, § 8(a).
Miscellaneous Notes
Governing Body of the Commission on Mental Health Services established: See Mayor's Order 88-168, July 13, 1988.
Section 2(c) of Pub. L. 108-450, 118 Stat. 3472, the District of Columbia Mental Health Civil Commitment Modernization Act of 2004, provides:
"(c) Effective date; Transition for current members. -- The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, except nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section may be construed to affect the appointment or term of service of any individual who serves as a member or alternate member of the Commission on Mental Health (including an individual who serves as the Chairperson or alternate Chairperson of the Commission) on such date."
Applicability of §§ 2(d), (e), (l)(2), (n), (r)(3) and (4), (t), and (u) of Law 14-283: Section 3 of Law 14-283 provided that section 2(d), (e), (l)(2), (n), (r)(3) and (4), (t), and (u) shall apply upon the enactment of legislation by the United States Congress that states the following: "Notwithstanding any other law, section 2(d), (e), (l)(2), (r)(3) and (4), (t), and (u) of the Mental Health Civil Commitment Act of 2002, adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia, is enacted into law."
(a) The Commission shall examine alleged mentally ill persons, inquire into their affairs and the affairs of persons who may be legally liable for their support, and make reports and recommendations to the court.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the Commission may conduct its examinations and hearings either at the courthouse or elsewhere at its discretion. The court may issue subpoenas at the request of the Commission returnable before the Commission, for the appearance of the alleged mentally ill person, witnesses, and persons who may be liable for his support. Commission members who are psychiatrists or qualified psychologists, are competent and compellable witnesses at any trial, hearing or other proceeding conducted pursuant to this chapter and the physician- or psychologist-patient privilege is not applicable.
(Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 752, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1; Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48, § 11(a)(5), 30 DCR 5778; Apr. 30, 1988, D.C. Law 7-104, § 6(e), 35 DCR 147; Apr. 4, 2003 (Dec. 10, 2004), D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(e), 50 DCR 917; Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3473, Pub. L. 108-450, § 3.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 21-503.
1973 Ed., § 21-503.
Effect of Amendments
Pub. L. 108-450, in subsec. (b), substituted "Commission members who are psychiatrists or qualified psychologists" for "The Commission, or any of the members thereof,"
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section applicable upon enactment of certain legislation by the United States Congress, see §§ 2(e) and 3 of Mental Health Civil Commitment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-546, December 12, 2002, 50 DCR 199).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(e) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-41, March 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2784).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 5-48, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 21-501.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 7-104, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 21-501.
Miscellaneous Notes
Applicability of §§ 2(d), (e), (l)(2), (n), (r)(3) and (4), (t), and (u) of Law 14-283: Section 3 of Law 14-283 provided that section 2(d), (e), (l)(2), (n), (r)(3) and (4), (t), and (u) shall apply upon the enactment of legislation by the United States Congress that states the following: "Notwithstanding any other law, section 2(d), (e), (l)(2), (r)(3) and (4), (t), and (u) of the Mental Health Civil Commitment Act of 2002, adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia, is enacted into law."
