1 ______________________________
2 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.
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5 A BILL
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10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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12 ________________________
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14 To establish an act to require the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to
15 provide enhanced safeguards for securing staff identification badges and stipulate
16 enhanced penalties for detained youth who commit the act of stealing a staff
17 identification badge.
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19 BE IT ENACTED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
20 act may be cited as the “Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Badge Identification Theft
21 Act of 2024”.
22 Section 2: Definitions
23 For the purposes of this Act:
24 (1) "DYRS" refers to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.
25 Section 2: Elevated Charge for Theft of DYRS Identification Cards
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27 (a) Any individual under the age of 18 who steals an identification card issued by the
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29 Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services from a DYRS security officer or staff member shall
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31 be subject to an elevated charge of identity theft.
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33 (b) Identity theft, as defined in §22-3221 of the District of Columbia Official Code,
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35 shall include the unauthorized acquisition, possession, or use of another person's identification
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37 card with the intent to deceive, defraud, or harm the individual or others.
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39 Section 3: Penalties and Sentencing Guidelines
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41 (a) Individuals found guilty of identity theft under this Act shall be subject to
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43 penalties and sentencing guidelines as prescribed by the District of Columbia Official Code,
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45 including but not limited to fines, restitution, probation, community service, and incarceration.
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47 (b) The District of Columbia Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate
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49 cases involving charges of identity theft under this Act and shall apply appropriate legal remedies
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51 and sanctions in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
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53 Section 4: Notification and Reporting Requirements
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55 (a) The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services shall promptly report incidents
56 of identification card theft occurring in DYRS facilities to the appropriate law enforcement
57 authorities for investigation and prosecution.
58 (b) The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) shall maintain
59 records of identity theft offenses involving DYRS identification cards and shall provide regular
60 updates to DYRS on the status of investigations, arrests, and outcomes of criminal proceedings.
61 Section 5: Prevention and Security Measures
62 (a) DYRS shall implement and maintain robust security measures, protocols, and
63 procedures to prevent theft and unauthorized access to identification cards issued to residents in
64 its custody, including but not limited to enhanced monitoring, surveillance, and access controls.
65 (b) DYRS shall provide education, training, and awareness programs to staff and
66 residents on the importance of safeguarding personal information and identification
67 documents, as well as reporting any suspected incidents of theft or misuse.
68 Section 6. Fiscal impact statement.
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70 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
71 impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
72 approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).
73 Section 7. Effective date.
74 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
75 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as
76 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
77 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813: D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)) and publication in the District of
78 Columbia Register.
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