Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                            The John A. Wilson Building

                           1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, nw

                              Washington, D.C. 20004

 Christina Henderson                                             Committee Member

 Councilmember, At-Large                                         Hospital and Health Equity

 Chairperson, Committee on Health                                Judiciary and Public Safety

                                                                 Transportation and the Environment

                                Statement of Introduction

          Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024

                                   September 16, 2024

Today, I am proud to introduce the Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment

Act of 2024 along with Councilmembers Brooke Pinto and Matthew Frumin. This legislation

would exempt Class C and D alcohol license holders from being required to accept cash as a

form of payment for goods or services. Class C license holders are establishments such as

restaurants, hotels, taverns, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues, allowing them to serve

spirits, beer, and wine. Class D licenses cover the same establishments but restrict service to beer

and wine only.

The Cashless Retailers Prohibition Act, passed in 2020 and funded in the Fiscal Year 2023

budget, prohibited retail establishments from discriminating against cash as a form of payment.

However, due to public safety concerns, a provision was included in the Secure DC Omnibus

Amendment Act of 2024 to temporarily pause implementation of this law. This pause is set to

expire on January 1, 2025, at which the cashless retailer prohibition will go into effect.

Many businesses, particularly those that sell alcohol, are concerned for their employees’ safety

and have shared multiple stories about successful and attempted robberies and burglaries.

Businesses that are cashless are not at risk of robbery in the same way as businesses with cash on

hand. By exempting the requirement to accept cash payments, this legislation will allow Class C

and D alcohol license holders the option to operate as cashless establishments if they feel it is

necessary for the safety of their employees and patrons. The primary reason establishments

choose to avoid cash payments is to reduce the risk of robbery and burglary, followed by the

availability of non-cash payment options and to reduce the risk of internal theft. It is important to

note that while this bill grants flexibility, all establishments have the option to accept cash as a

form of payment.

I look forward to continue working with my Council colleagues to balance the safety of workers

in these establishments and ensuring cash remains a payment option in most businesses.

 1   _________________________                                       ______________________________

 2   Councilmember Brooke Pinto                                      Councilmember Christina Henderson

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 7   Councilmember Matthew Frumin

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11                                                  A BILL

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16                        IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

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20   To amend Section 28-5404 of the District of Columbia Official Code to allow retail

21         establishments with a valid on-premises Class C and Class D retailer license to refuse

22         cash as a form of payment.

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24            BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

25   act may be cited as the “Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment Act of

26   2024.”

27            Sec. 2. Section 28-5404 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows:

28            (a) Paragraph (3)(c) is amended by striking the phrase “; or” and inserting a semicolon in

29   its place.

30            (b) Paragraph (4) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phase “; or” in its

31   place.

32            (c) A new paragraph (5) is added to read as follows:

33            “(5) To any retail establishment with a valid on-premises Class C or Class D retailer

34   license.”.

35            Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

36          The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal

37   impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975,

38   approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

39          Sec. 4. Effective date.

40          This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the

41   Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and a 30-day period of congressional review

42   as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December

43   24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).