Councilmember Kathy Patterson
A BILL IN THE
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Councilmember Kathy Patterson introduced the following bill, which was referred to the
Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation and the Committee of the Whole.
To amend Section 495 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973
to adopt a system in which the members of the District of Columbia Board of Education are
appointed by the Mayor, from a list of names provided by a Nominating Committee, and
confirmed by the Council for a term of 4 years.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act
may be cited as the "Board of Education Charter Reform Amendment Act of 1999."
Sec. 2. Section 495 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
effective December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 820; D.C. Code §31-101(a)), is emended to read as
follows:
"(a) [Charter Provision]. The control of the District of Columbia
public schools is vested in a Board of Education to consist of 5 members appointed by the
Mayor, from a list of names provided by a Nominating Committee, and confirmed by the
Council for a term of 4 years. The appointment of the members of the Board of Education
shall be conducted on a nonpartisan basis and in accordance with the provisions of Section
2 of An Act To fix and regulate the salaries of teachers, school officers, and employees
of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia, approved June 20, 1906 (34 Stat.
316; D.C. Code §31-101(b)).
"(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall expire upon the adoption
of a charter amendment submitted and adopted in a referendum by a majority of the
electorate that restores the language of section 495 as originally adopted in 1973 in the
District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report
as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia
Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(3)).
Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect as provided in section 303 of the
District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 784; D.C. Code
§1-205).