Committee of the Whole Public Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING on Bill 25-35, Universal School Meals Amendment Act of 2023, Bill 25-317, Extended Students’ Right to Home and Hospital Instruction Amendment Act of 2023 Bill 25-436, Institution of Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resource Accessibility Act of 2023 Bill 25-501, Universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid Graduation Requirement Act of 2023 on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Hearing Room 412 (Track B) John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW DC Council Website (www.dccouncil.gov) Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing before the Committee of the Whole on Bill 25-35, the “Universal School Meals Amendment Act of 2023,” Bill 25-317, Extended Students’ Right to Home and Hospital Instruction Amendment Act of 2023,” Bill 25-436, Institution of Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resource Accessibility Act of 2023, and Bill 25-501, Universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid Graduation Requirement Act of 2023.” The hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The stated purpose of Bill 25-35 is to provide free universal school breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snacks to students in public, charter, and participating private schools in the District of Columbia. Bill 25-317 will add pre-birth complications, childbirth, and postpartum recovery to the list of health conditions which render students eligible for home or hospital instruction under the Students’ Right to Home or Hospital Instruction Act of 2020. The stated purpose of Bill 25-436 is to address sexual misconduct at institutions of higher education in the District. The Bill would: establish minimum criteria for institutions’ sexual misconduct policies; require annual training for certain personnel; require retention of a confidential resource advisor to support reporting parties; require amnesty protections for reporting parties; allow institutions to grant waivers from academic requirements; require annual reports; and establish penalties up to $59,000. Bill 25-501 will require that each District of Columbia public high school student file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the United States Department of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Those who wish to testify must register using the Council’s Hearing Management System at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Testimony is limited to four minutes. Witnesses who anticipate needing spoken language interpretation, or require sign language interpretation, are requested to inform the Committee office of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before the proceeding by emailing cow@dccouncil.gov. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, although alternatives may be offered. Requests received in less than five business days may not be fulfilled. Witnesses will receive instructions on how to participate by Zoom prior to the hearing. If you have additional questions, please contact LeKisha Jordan, Senior Policy Advisor, at (202) 724-8137 or ljordan@dccouncil.gov. Public witnesses will participate virtually via the Internet on the Zoom Video Conference platform. Testimony should be submitted through the Council’s Hearing Management System (https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings) in advance of the hearing. Testimony will be publicly accessible upon Committee review. If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Statements for the record should be submitted through the Hearing Management System or left by voicemail by calling (202) 430-6948 (up to 3 minutes which will be transcribed). The record will close at 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 14, 2023.