Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

 ___________________________                                  ______________________________

 Councilmember Brooke Pinto                                   Councilmember Anita Bonds

 3

 4

 ___________________________                                  ______________________________

 Councilmember Charles Allen                                  Councilmember Matthew Frumin

 7

 8

                                                              ______________________________

                                                              Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau

11

12

13

14

                                                A BILL

16

                                            _____________

18

                     IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

20

                                      ______________________

22

 To establish a Wheel-Lock Help Incentive Program ("WHIP"), to be administered by the Mayor,

        to encourage the purchase and installation of steering wheel locks or lug nut locks on a

        vehicle owned or leased by an individual, and to require registration of the locks with the

        Metropolitan Police Department.

27

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

 act may be cited as the “Wheel-Lock Help Incentive Program Act of 2023”.

        Sec. 2. Definitions.

        Subsection (a). For the purposes of this act, the term:

                (1) "Lug nut lock" means a theft protector lug nut which has a cut out that

 requires a key to be removed from a vehicle.

                (2) "Lug nut lock set" means a set of theft protector lug nuts which has a cut out

 that requires a key to be removed from a vehicle.

                (3) “Steering wheel lock” means a theft protector that is mounted on the steering

 wheel area, to prevent to prevent theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle.

                 (4) “Wheel lock” means a theft protector that is mounted or built physically on the

 steering wheel area of a vehicle.

          Sec. 3. Establishment; purpose and duties.

          (a) The Mayor shall establish a Wheel-Lock Help Incentive Program ("Program"), to be

 administered by the Mayor, and to require registration of the locks with the Metropolitan Police

 Department.

          (b) This Program is both a voucher and rebate program. The purpose of the Program is to

 encourage the purchase and installation of steering wheel locks or lug nut locks on a vehicle

 owned or leased by an individual, to prevent car theft and property theft. District of Columbia

 residents are eligible for a rebate of the cost to procure any combination of a lug nut lock, lug nut

 lock set, steering wheel lock, and a wheel lock, totaling $100 per address.

          (c) To be eligible for the rebate provided for in this section, a vehicle owner or lessee

 shall:

                 (1) After April 1, 2023, purchase and install the locks on their vehicle;

                 (2) Register the system with the Metropolitan Police Department;

                 (3) Submit a rebate claim in accordance with Program rules promulgated pursuant

 to subsection (f) of this section; and

                 (4) Meet all additional requirements and criteria provided for in Program rules

 promulgated pursuant to subsection (f) of this section.

          (d) Upon approval of a rebate claim submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section,

 the Program shall provide a rebate as follows; provided, that the amount of the rebate shall not be

 more than the purchase price of the lock:

                 (1) Up to $100 per steering wheel lock or lug nut lock set installed on the vehicle

 owned or leased by an individual, with a maximum rebate of up to $100 per address.

                 (2) Rebates shall be contingent upon the availability of funds.

                 (3) No rebates shall be issued until the Mayor promulgates rules pursuant to

 subsection (f) of this section.

          (e) To be eligible for the voucher provided for in this section, a vehicle owner or lessee

 shall:

                 (1) Provide proof of receipt of public assistance under the District of Columbia

 Public Assistance Act of 1982, effective April 6, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-101; D.C. Official Code § 4-

 202.01 et seq.);

                 (2) Submit an application to the Mayor for the installation of the lock[s]; and;

                 (3) Meet all additional requirements and criteria provided for in Program rules

 promulgated pursuant to subsection (f) of this section.

          (f) Upon approval of a voucher application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this

 section, the Program shall provide vouchers as follows:

                 (1) Vouchers shall not exceed $100 for a rebate claim.

                 (2) Vouchers shall be contingent upon the availability of funds.

                 (3) No vouchers shall be issued until the Mayor promulgates rules pursuant to

 subsection (g) of this section.

          (g) The Mayor, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure

 Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.), shall issue

 rules to implement the provisions of this act, including:

                 (1) Requirements for proof of purchase and wheel lock verification;

                  (2) Identification of priority areas for Program eligibility; provided, that the

 priority areas include at least one area in each ward identified by crime levels and other public

 safety indicators in the corresponding police service area; and

                  (3) Requirements and procedures for participating in the voucher option under

 subsection (d) of this section.

           (h) Any rebate or voucher issued under this section shall not be considered income for

 purposes of District of Columbia income tax.

           (i) From the inception of funding, to the issuance of the final rebate or voucher under this

 Program, the Mayor shall provide an annual report to the Council by January 15 of each year and

 a monthly update on the website of the District government agency that administers the Program

 that includes the following information:

                  (1) The total number of rebates and vouchers issued;

                  (2) The total number of steering wheel locks or lug nut lock sets paid for by the

 Program;

                  (3) The number of rebates and vouchers issued in each police service area;

                  (4) The number of rebates issued pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A) of this section;

                  (5) The number of rebates and vouchers issued in each priority area identified

 pursuant to subsection (d)(2) of this section; and

                  (6) An analysis of the Program’s implementation and plans for future expansion,

 if any.

           Sec. 4. Applicability.

           (a) This act shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved

 budget and financial plan.

         (b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in

 an approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council

 of the certification.

         (c) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in the

 District of Columbia Register.

         (d) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the

 applicability of this act.

         Sec. 5. Fiscal Impact Statement.

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

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

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

         Sec. 6. Effective date.

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

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

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

 21, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of

 Columbia Register.