ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A RESOLUTION
25-551
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
July 9, 2024
To declare the existence of an emergency basis, due to congressional review, with respect to the
need to amend the Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance
Act of 2005 to establish uniform hearing procedures for enforcement actions.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and
Enforcement Support Emergency Congressional Review Declaration Resolution of 2024”.
Sec. 2. (a) A Certified Business Enterprise (“CBE”) is a business enterprise certified by
the Department of Small and Local Business Development (“DSLBD”) as a local business
enterprise.
(b) Businesses with CBE certification may receive preference when submitting bids or
proposals for procurement and contracting opportunities.
(c) There are currently over 2,000 businesses participating in the District’s CBE
program.
(d) Following a recent revocation hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings,
DSLBD determined that there existed a need uniform hearing procedures for complaints needed
to be established expeditiously to ensure procedural consistency and fairness for these
businesses, as well as to increase effectiveness and efficiency in departmental compliance and
enforcement procedures.
(e) Emergency legislation was needed to clarify and update enforcement actions under
the Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005.
(f) In April 2024, the Council enacted the Certified Business Enterprise Program
Compliance and Enforcement Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2024, effective April 15,
2024 (D.C. Act 25-444; 71 DCR 4625), (“emergency legislation”) and B25-769, the Certified
Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act
of 2024, enacted on May 29, 2024 (D.C. Act 25-484; 71 DCR 6756), (“temporary legislation”) to
address the above-referenced needs.
(g) The emergency legislation expires on July 14, 2024. The temporary legislation must
still complete the 30-day review period required by section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia
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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-
206.02(c)(1)), and will not become law until after the emergency legislation has expired.
(h) It is necessary that the provisions of the emergency legislation continue in effect,
without interruption, until the temporary legislation is in effect.
Sec. 3. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute
emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Certified Business Enterprise Program
Compliance and Enforcement Support Emergency Congressional Review Amendment Act of
2024 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
.
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