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 25-914, the “Safe and Supported Pregnancy and Delivery for Incarcerated Individuals Amendment Act of 2024”; Bill 25-955, the “Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024”; and Bill 25-960, the “Firearm Suicide Prevention (Donna’s Law) Amendment Act of 2024” Monday, October 21, 2024, at 11:00 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 Monday, October 21, 2024, at 11:00 am, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, will hold a public hearing on Bill 25-914, the “Safe and Supported Pregnancy and Delivery for Incarcerated Individuals Amendment Act of 2024”, Bill 25-955, the “Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024”, and Bill 25- 960, the “Firearm Suicide Prevention (Donna’s Law) Amendment Act of 2024”. The hearing will be held in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building. The purpose of Bill 25-914, the “Safe and Supported Pregnancy and Delivery for Incarcerated Individuals Amendment Act of 2024”, is to improve the resources and supports available to incarcerated individuals who are pregnant and in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Among other things, the bill would establish a process for a pregnant individual to request the presence of a support person during labor, delivery, a cesarean section, a pregnancy termination, and during postpartum recovery. The purpose of Bill 25-955, the “Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024” is to require that the age of marital consent in the District be 18 years of age with no exceptions, and to prohibit the issuance of a marriage license to any person who is under the age of 18. The purpose of Bill 25-960, the “Firearm Suicide Prevention (Donna’s Law) Amendment Act of 2024” is create a Voluntary Firearms Suspension Registry and to allow individuals to voluntarily suspend their ability to receive, possess, or transfer a firearm, to require the Metropolitan Police Department, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, to develop literature about firearm safety, suicide prevention, and conflict resolution, and to require any business in the District engaging in the selling, purchasing, or repairing of firearms or ammunition to display and distribute the literature to patrons and interested purchasers. 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 Thursday, October 17. Witnesses who represent organizations will have 5 minutes to speak. All others will have 3 minutes to speak. 1 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 e-mail at judiciary@dccouncil.gov. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received less than 5 business days before the proceeding. 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 e-mail 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 review by Committee staff. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4, 2024. 1 If there is a large number of witnesses, the Committee may allow less time for each witness in order to ensure all witnesses have an opportunity to testify.