Councilmember Kathleen Patterson
A PROPOSED
RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To declare the existence of an emergency, due to Congressional review, with respect to
the changes in the District of Columbia’s sentencing laws mandated by Congress in the
National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 that took
effect on August 5, 2000.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "Sentencing Reform Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of
2001".
Sec.2.(a) There exists an immediate crisis regarding the need to implement the changes
in the District of Columbia’s sentencing laws mandated by Congress in the National Capital
Revitalization and Self-Government Act of 1997 that took effect on August 5, 2000.
(b) The Council approved permanent legislation, D.C. 13-406, that was signed by the
Mayor on August 2, 2000 and is pending Congressional review.
(c) Emergency legislation, D.C. Act 13-462, currently in effect, is expected to expire
on February 5, 2001.
(d) Enactment of this Congressional review emergency legislation is necessary to
prevent similar defendants in the District of Columbia’s criminal justice system from
being sentenced under two different systems, one following February 5, 2001 but prior to
the effective date of the Sentencing Reform Amendment Act of 2000, and one following the
effective date of the Sentencing Reform Amendment Act of 2000.
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
Sentencing Reform Congressional Review Emergency Amendment of 2001 be adopted after a
single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of
publication in the District of Columbia Register.