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2 Chairman Phil Mendelson
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6 Cmincilmember Elissa Silverman ranctlmember Carles Allen
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10 Councilrnember Brandon Todd Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
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14 Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Vincent C. Gray
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18 Councilmemt/e r Trayon White Councilmember David Grosso
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27 A BILL
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32 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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37 To amend the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to provide employees with up to 2
38 hours of paid leave in order to vote in District of Columbia elections.
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40 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
41 act may be cited as the "Paid Leave to Vote Amendment Act of 2019".
42 Sec. 2. The District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, approved August 12, 1955 (69
43 Stat. 699; D.C. Official Code 1-1001.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:
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44 (a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code 1-1001.02) is amended by adding a new paragraph
45 (31) to read as follows:
46 "(31) The term "employer" shall have the same meaning as provided in section
47 2(2) of the Employment Services Licensing and Regulation Act of 1984, effective May 9,2000
48 (D.C. Law 13-105; D.C. Official Code 32-401(2)).".
49 (b) Section 9 (D.C. Official Code 1-1001.09) is amended by adding a new subsection
50 (m) to read as follows:
51 "(m)(l) A qualified elector shall be entitled to at least 2 hours of paid leave on the day of
52 any District-wide election in order to vote, subject to the following conditions:
53 "(A) The qualified elector shall request leave before election day; and
54 "(B) The employer may specify the hours during which the qualified
55 elector may take leave to vote, except that if the qualified elector requests leave at the beginning
56 or end of the work shift, the employer shall grant that request.
57 "(2) The employer may not deduct from the qualified elector's salary, wages, or
58 accrued leave for leave taken under this subsection.
59 "(3) It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny any
60 attempt to exercise the right to take leave under this section, or to discriminate against a qualified
61 elector in any manner for taking leave under this subsection.".
62 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
63 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
64 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975,
65 approved October 16,2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code l-30L47a).
66 Sec. 4. Effective date.
67 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
68 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as
69 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
70 24,1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of
71 Columbia Register.
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