Public Works & Operations & Executive Administration & Labor Joint Public Hearing

Council of the District of Columbia COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND OPERATIONS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004 REVISED COUNCILMEMBER BRIANNE K. NADEAU, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND OPERATIONS AND COUNCILMEMBER ANITA BONDS, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION AND LABOR ANNOUNCE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON B25-0319 - “FAIRNESS IN HUMAN RIGHTS ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2023”; B25-0351 – “SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION INTEGRITY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2023”; B25-0330 – “OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS JURISDICTION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2023”; AND B25-0432 – “SELF STORAGE LIEN ENFORCEMENT MODERNIZATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2023” ON Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 9:30 a.m. Hybrid in Room 123 and Virtual via Zoom The John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004 Watch live at: https://www.brianneknadeau.com/live On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Works and Operations and Councilmember Anita Bonds, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor will convene a public hearing to consider B25-0319, the “Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2023,” B25-0351, the “Sexual Harassment Investigation Integrity Amendment Act of 2023,” B25-0330, the “Office of the Administrative Hearings Jurisdiction Amendment Act of 2023,” and B25-0432, the “Self Storage Lien Enforcement Modernization Amendment Act of 2023.” The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. B25-0319, the “Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2023” would allow withdrawal without prejudice of certain administrative complaints of unlawful discrimination by the District government. The bill would also allow withdrawal without prejudice against private parties at any time. The bill would provide that injured parties are entitled to compensatory damages and reasonable attorney’s fees and would permit the Commission on Human rights to award punitive damages. The bill also seeks to permit civil actions in D.C. Superior Court even after a finding of probable cause is issued by the Office of Human Rights or Commission on Human Rights. The Committee also invites testimony on additional possible statutory changes to the DC Human Rights Act, such as: changes to awards and damages, expanding the definition of sexual harassment, and expanding the statute of limitations in sexual harassment cases from one year to three years. B25-0351, the “Sexual Harassment Investigation Integrity Amendment Act of 2023” would require that allegations of sexual harassment made against executive branch employees in positions of power be referred to an independent investigator with experience in investigating sexual harassment allegations. B25-0330, the “Office of the Administrative Hearings Jurisdiction Amendment Act of 2023” would permanently transfer the authority to hear certain concealed pistol licensing appeals from the Concealed Pistol Licensing Review Board (“CPLRB”) to the Office of Administrative Hearings and would dissolve the CPLRB. B25-0432, the “Self Storage Lien Enforcement Modernization Amendment Act of 2023” would modernize certain aspects of self storage operations. The proposed changes include allowing the operator of a self-service storage facility to enforce the lien on a stored vehicle, watercraft, or trailer by having it towed from the self-service storage facility by a licensed tow truck business; allowing the operator of a self-service storage facility to send a second notice of default to the occupant at the occupant’s last known address by U.S. mail with a certificate of mailing; and, allowing the operator of a self-service storage facility to advertise the time, place, and terms of a lien sale on a publicly accessible website that regularly advertises or conducts property sales, and allowing the lien sale to be conducted online. The hearing will have a hybrid format, with the government appearing in person, and public witnesses appearing virtually via the Zoom platform. Those who wish to testify must register using the Council’s Hearing Management System at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings by 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Representatives of organizations will be allowed a maximum of five minutes for oral testimony, and individuals (and any subsequent representatives of the same organizations) will be allowed a maximum of three 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 publicworks@dccouncil.gov. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests. Witnesses will receive instructions on how to participate by Zoom prior to the hearing. If you have additional questions, please email publicworks@dccouncil.gov or contact Sabrin Qadi, Legislative Aide, at (202) 834-8093. 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. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. This hearing notice was revised to reflect that the hearing is now a joint hearing being held by the Committee on Public Works and Operations and the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor.