Judiciary & Public Safety Public Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY BROOKE PINTO, CHAIR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING on Bill 25-555, the “Addressing Crime Trends (ACT) Now Amendment Act of 2023” Wednesday, November 29, 2023 9:00 a.m. In the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500 and virtually via Zoom To watch live: Councilmember Pinto’s YouTube Page (www.youtube.com/@cmbrookepinto) DC Council Website (dccouncil.gov) Council Channel 13 (Cable Television Providers) Office of Cable Television Website (entertainment.dc.gov) On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, will hold a hearing on Bill 25-555, the “Addressing Crime Trends (ACT) Now Amendment Act of 2023”. Bill 25-555 includes a number of provisions aimed at improving public safety in the District. These include proposals focused on addressing recent crime trends, including: • Prohibiting wearing hoods and masks on public property or during demonstrations for the purpose of committing crimes, intimidating, and threatening other people, or causing fear. • Establishing a felony offense of “directing organized retail theft,” which would make it unlawful for an individual to act as the organizer of a theft-for-profit scheme by recruiting or directing individuals to commit retail theft. • Authorizing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to declare temporary drug-free zones, which would allow MPD to limit loitering in those zones. The bill also includes proposals focused on clarifying limitations on law enforcement officers. These include: • Clarifying restrictions on police officers’ use of neck restraints. • Allowing officers to review their body-worn camera footage prior to writing their initial police report, except in certain circumstances. • Limiting the amount of information that is required to be publicly posted regarding officer discipline. • Limiting the Office of Police Complaints’ access to MPD files. • Making permanent a clarification regarding officers’ ability to engage in vehicular pursuits. The Committee invites the public to testify. Those who wish to do so must register using the Council’s Hearing Management System at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023. Witnesses who represent organizations will have 5 minutes to speak. All others will have 3 minutes to speak. Witnesses will have the option to testify in person or virtually; witnesses should specify which option they are electing at the time they sign up to testify. Witnesses who anticipate needing spoken language interpretation, or who require sign language interpretation, are requested to inform the Committee office of the need as soon as possible, but no later than 5 business days before the proceeding. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, although alternatives may be offered. Requests may be submitted via the Hearing Management System during registration or by contacting Ms. Aukima Benjamin, Committee Manager to the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, at (202) 724-8058 or via email at judiciary@dccouncil.gov. Requests received less than 5 business days before the proceeding 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 Ms. Benjamin at the phone number or email listed above. If you are unable to testify at the public hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record; written testimony should be submitted through the Council’s Hearing Management System at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings. Testimony will be publicly accessible following Committee review. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. 2