District of Columbia Advocacy

LeadingAge DC provides members with timely legislative and advocacy updates, bill-status summaries, legislative hearing and committee meeting outcomes, and grassroots initiatives through monthly DC Member updates, special alerts and other member communications.

2018 Assisted Living Update:

  • Regulatory Update:
    • Emergency and Proposed Regulations were published in August 2018. Comments were submitted in September. We are currently awaiting a response to all of the comments submitted to DC Health.
  • Legislative Update:
    • B22-0689 - Omnibus Assisted Living Residence Improvement and Quality Long Term Care Act of 2018
      • This bill, introduced in February, 2018 will not proceed through a committee mark-up in the current legislative session.
      • LeadingAge DC worked tirelessly in 2018 to ensure DC Council heard from all stakeholders. Consumers, providers, and industry experts testified, emailed, and met with Councilmembers to share critical concerns with the legislation. With this valuable input, the Council made a clear decision to allow the rule making process to proceed before determining if any legislation would be necessary.

LeadingAge DC Testimony - December 2017

LeadingAge DC submitted testimony regarding:

  • Bill 22-0448 - Senior Tenants and Residents with Disabilities Rental Assistance Program Amendment Act of 2017
  • Bill 22-0505 - Reverse Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2017

To read the testimony click Testimony in Support of B22-0448 and B22-0505 - LeadingAge DC

Council Period 22 Begins

On January 2nd, 2017, the 22nd period of the DC Council began the swearing in Councilmembers and with an organizational meeting. This two-year session will last from January 2, 2017 until January 2, 2019. The organizational meeting confirmed Committee Chairperson Assignments which includes:

  • Committee on Business Development and Regulatory Affairs: Kenyan McDuffie
  • Committee on Education: David Grosso
  • Committee on Finance and Revenue: Jack Evans
  • Committee on Government Relations: Brandon Todd
  • Committee on Health: Vincent Gray
  • Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization: Anita Bonds
  • Committee on Human Services: Briana Nadeau
  • Committee on Judiciary: Charles Allen
  • Committee on Labor and Workforce Development: Elissa Silverman
  • Committee on Transportation and the Environment: Mary Cheh

Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015

On December 20th, the "Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015" was passed by a vote of 9 to 4 by the DC Council. This Act provides three major benefits to private sector employees in the District of Columbia including:

  1. eight weeks paid time off to new parents;
  2. six weeks paid time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition; and
  3. two weeks paid time off for personal illness.

A 0.62% payroll tax on DC employers will fund the "The Universal Paid Leave Fund." This Fund will pay employees directly at a rate of 90% of the employee’s first $900 in weekly salary and 50% of the employee’s remaining weekly salary, capped at $1,000 a week.

The Act is awaiting approval by Mayor Muriel Bowser and if approved it will move to Congress for Congressional approval.

Continuing Care Retirement Community Exemption Amendment Act of 2016

On December 6th, the DC Council conducted its initial vote on the Continuing Care Retirement Community Exemption Act of 2016 and conducted its final vote December 20th, with unanimous support from all of the council members. Read more

 

2016 Updates

 

FY 17 Budget

The DC Council Budget hearings concluded in April. On May 11, 2016 the Council held a budget discussion. On May 17, 2016 a first vote on the Budget Request Act and Budget Support Act for FY 2017 was scheduled.

LeadingAge actively advocated for the not for profit aging services providers and seniors through council member visits as well as providing testimony. In all of the testimony and meetings, LeadingAge DC emphasized the not-for-profit difference of LeadingAge DC members and their importance to the District of Columbia seniors and community. Highlights of these FY2017 position papers include:

  • Increasing reimbursement provided to Assisted Living organizations through the EPD Waiver
  • Reinstating the Inflation Factor for Skilled Nursing Homes in the FY2017 budget.
  • Maintaining the proposed $100 million a year for the Housing Production Trust Fund.
  • Ensuring the Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP) can provide operating subsidies for extremely low-income seniors.
  • Restoring the 2.9% reduction to Lead Agency’s local funds in the DC Office on Aging FY2017 budget.
  • Retaining Funds for Transportation Services in the DC Office on Aging FY 2017 Budget.
  • LeadingAge Submitted Testimony

Fair Shot Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2016

As introduced, this bill increases the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour in 2020 and increase the minimum wage during each successive year starting in 2021 in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. It also increases the minimum wage for employees who receive gratuities to $7.50 an hour in 2022 and to 50% of the minimum wage in each year thereafter.

Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act of 2015

Signed on May 4, 2016 with Act Number A21-0385. Transmitted to Congress, Projected Law Date is Jul 11, 2016

As introduced, this bill requires hospitals to provide patients or their legal guardian an opportunity to select a caregiver within twenty-four hours of admission to the hospital. The hospital must record the contact information for the caregiver and consult with the caregiver at least twenty-four hours before discharging the patient.

The Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults Amendment Act of 2015.

On April 21, 2016, the Committee of the Judiciary recommended for approval by the Council. The Committee Report is available here.

“The stated purpose of Bill 21-0326 is to amend the District of Columbia Theft and White Collar Crimes Act of 1982 and the Criminal Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults Act of 2000 to criminalize the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; to redefine vulnerable adults to include persons aged 65 and over; and to conform the enhanced protections for persons aged 65 and over.”

Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2015

This bill provides real property tax relief for Lots 802 and 809 in Square 2287, owned by Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. for property located at 3050 Military Road, N.W. It also requires that all real property taxes, interest, penalties, fees and other related charges assessed against the property owned, be forgiven for a period beginning with tax year 2015 through the effective date of this act. Read More

Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care Licensure Amendment Act of 2016

This bill requires health profession employers, health care providers, facilities, or other health agencies to report certain changes in an employee's employment status due to alleged or actual misconduct within five days of the occurrence or be subject to a fine of not less than $10,000.

Health Care Decisions Act of 2015

This bill creates a Medical Orders for Scopes of Treatment Form (MOST) to document patients' wishes for medical intervention. The bill also outlines who is authorized to give consent to a MOST. It requires that the Department of Health (DOH) establish a MOST Advisory Committee. It requires that the MOST form be designed to provide information regarding the patient's care and medical condition. The MOST form must be kept in a prominent manner in a patient's records in paper and electronic form.

  • Act Number: A21-0247
  • Effective from February 27, 2016

LGBTQ Cultural Competency Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2015

Continuing- education requirements for the practice of any health occupation licensed, registered, or certified now requires 2 credits of instruction on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender 26 nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression 27 (“LGBTQ”).

  • LeadingAge DC is working to develop a program to meet this requirement to be held in the fall of 2016.