COUNCIL
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Chairperson
Kathy Patterson, Committee on Government Operations
Councilmember Sharon Ambrose
Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis
Councilmember David Catania
Councilmember Carol Schwartz
A RESOLUTION IN THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS
To authorize an investigation by the Committee
on Government Operations, jointly with the Committee on Human Services, into the
circumstances surrounding the status of the Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities Administration.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Committee on Government
Operations’ Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration Investigation
Authorization Resolution of 2000".
Sec. 2. The Committee on Government Operations
finds that the circumstances surrounding the status of the Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities Administration ("MRDDA") warrant the conduct of an
investigation, jointly with the Committee on Human Services, including the use of
subpoenas issued by the Chairperson of either Committee, pursuant to the authority
provided in section 413 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24,
1973 (87 Stat. 789; D.C. Code §1-234(a)), and section 601 of the Rules of Organization
and Procedure for the Council of the District of Columbia, Council Period XIII.
Sec. 3. This investigation will examine the:
(1) Extent of knowledge of officials within
MRDDA, the Department of Human Services, other Departments of government, and the senior
staff of the Williams Administration, on the threat to life and safety of wards of the
District;
(2) Manner and timing in which information has
been transmitted and the chain of command within the Executive Branch concerning threat to
life and safety; and
(3) Actions taken during the course of 1999
and 2000 to date to address such issues by entities of the Executive Branch including the
Office of the Inspector General.
Sec. 4. The Committee recommends that the
Council of the District of Columbia adopt this joint Committee investigation as a
"special project" warranting funding for staff from FY 2000 Council funds for a
period not to exceed 90 days.
Sec. 5. The Committee Clerk of the Committee
on Government Operations shall file this resolution, upon its adoption, with the Office of
the Secretary, in accordance with section 601(b) of the Rules.
Sec. 6. This resolution shall take effect
immediately.