Linda W. Cropp at the Request of the Mayor
A
PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To declare the existence of an emergency, with respect to the need to amend the
District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to authorize
during Fiscal Year 1998 the submission to the Council by the Mayor proposed compensation
system changes for all non-union career and excepted service employees of the District of
Columbia Department of Corrections.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "Department of Corrections Pay Increase Emergency Declaration Resolution of
1998".
Sec. 2. There exists an immediate crisis regarding the ability of the
Department of Corrections to ensure the safety and security of the community and a safe
and secure system for housing District of Columbia Code felons during the phased closure
of the Lorton Correctional Complex. Since the enactment of the National Capital
Revitalization Act of 1997, the Department of Corrections has been unable to attract and
retain sufficient staff and has experienced an unprecedented increase in its attrition
rate.
(a) The unprecedented attrition rate has substantially increased overtime and has
adversely impacted court ordered staffing mandates.
(b) Stabilization of the workforce is a critical priority in order to maintain public
and institutional safety and security through out the Lorton Closure transition.
(c) The Compensation System Change will be phased in over Fiscal Year 1998 and Fiscal
Year 1999 and will modify Department of Corrections pay schedules for career and excepted
service non-union employees to reflect comparable federal pay rates. This should improve
staff retention, afford the Department of Corrections the opportunity to recruit, reduce
court fines for staffing non-compliance, realize a cost savings from reduced overtime, and
improve morale and attendance.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the
circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it
necessary that the Department of Corrections Pay Increase Emergency Amendment Act of 1998,
be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.