B 26-0334 — Housing Authority Resident Empowerment Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

2ENGROSSED CouncilmemberORIGINAL RobertABILL C.3 26-334 6 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9 ___________ To amend, on an emergency basis, the District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999 to revise the structure of the board of the Authority, provide flexibility for board and executive director training, and update the public housing resident bill of rights;

White, Jr.

4 6 A BILL 8 ________ IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ________________ To amend, on a temporary basis, the District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999 to revise the structure of the board of the Authority, provide flexibility for board and executive director training, and update the public housing resident bill of rights;

provided, that for the purposes of sections 10(h), 12(r), and 21(b), the term “Board” shall include any prior form in which the Board existed, since the establishment of the Authority pursuant to ENGROSSED ORIGINAL this act.”.

ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(b) Residents of Housing Properties shall elect 2 Commissioners accordingin toaccordance with section 12(k)12(k). of this Act.

The Authority shall conduct elections for 1one such Commissioner positionto take office no later than December 31, 2025, and every 3 years thereafter, and for the other elected Commissioner to take office no later than December 31, 2026, and every 3 years thereafter.

“(c) The Mayor shall appoint 7 Commissioners with the advice and consent of the CouncilCouncil, pursuantin toaccordance with section 2(e) of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C.

“(A) One member who has professional experience in federal housing lawlaws and regulation;regulations;

and “(B) One member who has professional experience providing legal assistance in housing matters to low-income District residents.”residents. “(3) No later than October 1, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, the Mayor shall nominate:

“(3) No later than October 1, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, the Mayor shall ENGROSSED ORIGINAL nominate:

“(d) No person shall be elected, appointed or reappointed to the Board if the person has served 9 years or longer, either in consecutive or non-consecutive terms, as a member of the Board of the Authority, in any form in which the Board existed, since the establishment of the 81 Authority pursuant to this act.”.

“(a) Each individual who servedserves as a voting or non-voting member of the temporary Stabilization and Reform Board of the Authority prioras toof the effective date of the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025, as approved by the Committee on Housing July 9, 2025 (Committee print of Bill 26-164), shall continueserve as a voting interim Commissioner by virtue of theirthe pastBoard appointment,established immediatelyby andsection 4a without need for furtherconfirmation appointment or swearingappointment, in, until replaced,he reconfirmed,or she is replaced or retiredreappointed in accordance with this section.

Section 12(c)(2)ENGROSSED andORIGINAL 12(d) shall not apply to individuals named in this section for purposes of the special initial terms prescribed in this section.

“(b) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate foran ainterim 2-yearCommissioner termwith a designee of the Chiefqualifications Financialidentified Officerin whosection is4a(c)(3)(C) anfor employeea of2-year theterm; Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Leroyprovided, Claythat IIInotwithstanding shallsection serve12(c)(2), asthe aMayor votingmay Commissionernominate untilthe reconfirmedChief Financial Officer or replacedtheir inDesignee, thiswho manner.shall be an employee of the Chief Financial Officer, for such initial 2-year term;

Theprovided, 2-yearfurther termthat ofLeroy theClay CommissionerIII appointed pursuant to this subsection shall expireserve whenas thean firstinterim Commissioner appointeduntil pursuantreconfirmed toor sectionreplaced 4a(c)(3)(C)in takesthis office.manner.

“(c) The President2-year term of the City-WideCommissioner Residentappointed Advisorypursuant Boardto shallthis servesubsection asshall aexpire votingwhen Commissioner until the first Commissioner electedidentified pursuantin to section 4a(b)4a(c)(3)(C) takesis office.appointed.

“(d)“(c) NoThe laterPresident thanof Octoberthe 1,City-Wide 2025,Resident theAdvisory MayorBoard shall nominateserve 2as Commissionersan withinterim Commissioner until the qualificationsfirst listedCommissioner indescribed under section 4a(c)(2)(A)4a(b) foris 1-yearelected terms.and takes office.

Raymond“(d) A.No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate 2 interim Commissioners with the qualifications listed in section 4a(c)(2)(A) for one-year terms;

provided, that Raymond A.

Dickerson shall serve as Commissioners until reconfirmedthey are reappointed or replaced in this manner,manner; and Raymond A.

Skinnerprovided, shallfurther bethat ChairpersonRaymond untilA. the Board selects a Chairperson pursuant to section 12(m).

TheSkinner 2 Commissioners appointed pursuant to this subsection shall servebe asChairperson votingof Commissioners until the secondBoard Commissioneruntil elected pursuant to section 4a(b) and the firstBoard Commissionerselects appointeda Chairperson pursuant to section 4a(c)(2)(A)12(m). take office.

“(e)The Christopher2 MurphyCommissioners appointed pursuant to this subsection shall serve as aCommissioners votinguntil the second Commissioner untilidentified reconfirmedunder orsection replaced4a(b) is elected and takes office and the first ENGROSSED ORIGINAL Commissioner appointed pursuant to section 4a(c)(1)(A).4a(c)(2)(A) takes office.

“(f)“(e) NoChristopher laterMurphy thanshall Octoberserve 1,as 2025,an theinterim MayorCommissioner shalluntil nominatehe 1is Commissionerreappointed withas theor qualificationsreplaced listedby inthe sectionfirst 4a(c)(3)(B)Commissioner forappointed apursuant 2-yearto term.section 4a(c)(1)(A).

This“(f) CommissionerNo later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall servenominate untilone reconfirmedinterim orCommissioner replacedwith pursuantthe toqualifications listed in section 4a(c)(3)(B).4a(c)(3)(B) for a 2-year term.

“(g) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate 1one interim Commissioner with the qualifications listed in section 4a(c)(3)A)4a(c)(3)[(]A) for a 2-year term.term;

provided, that Denise Blackson shall serve as a voting Commissioner until reconfirmedshe is reappointed to such 2-year term or replaced inby thisthe manner.appointee to such 2-year term.

“(h) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate 1one interim Commissioner who has attained homeownership with the assistance of the Authority for a 1-yearone-year term.term;

provided, that Ronnie Harris shall serve as aan votinginterim Commissioner until reconfirmedshe is reappointed as or replaced inby such homeownership experience Commissioner pursuant to this manner.subsection.

The“(i) CommissionerNotwithstanding appointedsection pursuant12(c)(2), tothe thisMayor subsectionmay shallnominate servethe untilExecutive Director of the firstInteragency CommissionerCouncil appointedon pursuantHomelessness tofor sectionthe 4a(c)(2)(B)initial takes3-year office.term specified in section 4a(c)(1)(B).

“(i)Theresa TheSilla Mayor shall nominateserve theas Executivean Directorinterim ofCommissioner theuntil Interagencyreappointed Councilor onreplaced Homelessness for the initial 3-year term specified in sectionthis 4a(c)(1)(B).manner.

Theresa“(j) SillaJennifer Reed shall serve as a voting Commissioner until reconfirmeda inquorum thisof mannerCommissioners or,confirmed, inreconfirmed, theor eventelected thepursuant Councilto doesthis notsection confirmand hersection nomination,4a untiltake replacedoffice. by a Commissioner satisfying section 4a(c)(1)(B).

“(j)“(k) KatrinaNotwithstanding D.section 1108(c-2)(1) of the District of Columbia Government ENGROSSED ORIGINAL Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C.

Jones and Jennifer Reed shall serve as Commissioners until a quorum of Commissioners confirmed, reconfirmed, or elected pursuant to this section and section 4a take office.

“(k) Notwithstanding section 1108(c-2)(1) of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C.

“(l) This section shall sunset onceupon aall fullCommissioners complement of Commissionersthe servingBoard established pursuant to section 4a takestaking office.

“(d) The Authority shall seek and consider the input of the City-Wide Resident Advisory ENGROSSED ORIGINAL Board when a policy or program change affects residents.

“(b)(1) At least 60 days prior to submitting any nominating resolution to the Council after December 31, 2025, the Mayor shall publish a notice in the Register that states which of the Board positions in subsection (a) of this section 4a the Mayor is working to fill and that invites members of the public to identify and submit to the Mayor potential nominees for the Mayor to consider.consider;

Theprovided, noticethat the Mayor shall providenot instructionsbe asrequired to howselect membersa ofnominee thefrom publicamong can submit the name,list contactof information,individuals relevantidentified experience,by and such other relevant details as the Mayorpublic. sees fit to collect, regarding one or more potential nominees.