District of Columbia PR 25-0091: District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Norma Hutcheson Confirmation Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2023

Bill Text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

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A RESOLUTION

25-63

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

February 7, 2023

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to confirm the appointment of
Ms. Norma Hutcheson to the District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Government
Accountability.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Government
Accountability Norma Hutcheson Confirmation Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2023”.

Sec. 2. (a) The Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (“BEGA”) investigates
alleged ethics law violations by District government employees and public officials, provides
binding ethics advice, and conducts mandatory training on the District government’s Code of
Conduct. The Office of Open Government is an independent office within BEGA that enforces
the Open Meetings Act, monitors the District’s Freedom of Information Act compliance, and
assists agencies with implementing open government practices.
(b) Section 203 of the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and
Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011, effective April 27, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-
124; D.C. Official Code § 1-1162.03), provides that members shall be appointed for 6-year terms
with the advice and consent of the Council.
(c) On October 21, 2022, Chairman Mendelson introduced, at the request of the Mayor,
the District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Norma Hutcheson
Confirmation Resolution of 2022 (PR24-998, reintroduced in Council Period 25 as PR25-10), to
confirm Norma Hutcheson to BEGA for a 6-year term, which started the 90-day clock, ending
February 8, 2023, for Council review. On January 30, 2023, the Committee on Executive
Administration and Labor held a public roundtable on PR25-10.
(d) If Ms. Hutcheson is not confirmed by February 8, 2023, her nomination will be
deemed disapproved.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

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Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute
emergency circumstances making it necessary that the District of Columbia Board of Ethics and
Government Accountability Norma Hutcheson Emergency Confirmation Resolution of 2023 be
adopted on an emergency basis.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.