Citizens’ Public Safety Advisory Commission Act of 1998
Bill 12-580

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmember Sharon Ambrose introduced the following bill, which was referred to the Committee on ______

To establish a Citizens' Public Safety Advisory Commission to work with citizens and officials to decrease crime and violent behavior as well as promote citizen education and involvement in improving the conditions of neighborhoods; to monitor and report on services and programs operating in the community that affect and provide for public safety; to advise officials making policy and administrative decisions affecting public safety in the District of Columbia; to maintain a channel of communication as well as promote cooperation and collaboration between citizens and those officials policy and administrative decisions affecting public safety in the District of Columbia; to act as a clearinghouse on problem solving and community outreach; and to advise the legislative entities impacting public safety in the District of Columbia.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Citizens' Public Safety Advisory Commission Act of 1998".

Sec. 2. Definitions.

For the purpose of this act, the term:

(1) "Police Service Area" or "PSA" means the Metropolitan Police Department's division of the District into distinct geographic areas that are served by a specific group of officers assigned to the area.

Sec. 3. Citizens' Public Safety Advisory Committee.

(a) There is hereby established a Citizens' Public Safety Advisory Committee ("CPSAC") to be comprised of no more than 7 voting members. The CPSAC shall be comprised as follows:

(1) The chairs of each Metropolitan Police Districts' Citizen Advisory Councils, which chairs are duly elected by the members of those advisory councils;

(2) Members of other designated groups, including governmental entities affecting public safety, who shall be invited to join in a non-voting capacity by the CPSAC's members. Such a non-voting member shall be selected, upon nomination by one of the voting CPSAC members, by a 2/3rd vote of the CPSAC and a report to the Council for approval if not disapproved in 45 days.

(b) Members of the CPSAC shall serve for terms of 2 years. No member shall serve for more than 4 years in any 6-year period. The Police Districts' Citizen Advisory Councils, as set out in subsection (a)(l ) and (2) of this section, shall identify their CPSAC representatives within 45 days after the effective date of this act. To create staggered terms, the initial members shall determine by lot that half shall serve for one year.

(c) All members of the CPSAC shall serve without compensation.

(d) Each member of the CPSAC, voting or non-voting, shall reside within the boundaries of the District of Columbia.

(e) The members of the CPSAC shall meet no later than 90 days of the effective date of this act and shall establish suitable bylaws governing its operations, including provisions for the election of a Chair. Vice-Chair and other offices as deemed necessary, and to consider selection of the non-voting member(s), as identified in subsection (a)(2) of this section.

(f) The CPSAC shall have the following responsibilities:

(1)(A) The CPSAC shall work with citizens and officials to decrease crime and violent behavior as well as to promote citizen education and involvement in improving the conditions of their neighborhoods.

(B) The CPSAC shall monitor and report on services and programs operating in the community that affect public safety.

(2) The CPSAC shall advise officials making policy and administrative decisions affecting public safety and crime in the District of Columbia.

(3) The CPSAC shall receive, review and comment on crime data, crime prevention, and related matters.

(4) The CPSAC shall maintain a channel of communication as well as promote cooperation and collaboration between citizens and the officials making policy and administrative decisions affecting public safety in the District of Columbia.

(5) The CPSAC shall act as a clearinghouse on problem solving and community outreach.

(6) The CPSAC shall advise the legislative entities affecting public safety in the District of Columbia.

(7) The CPSAC shall meet at least quarterly.

Sec. 4. Police District Public Safety Advisory Committees.

(a) Each Police District shall have Public Safety Advisory Committee ("PDPSAC") which shall be comprised of:

(1) An officer and an alternate selected from each Police Service Area (PSA) that the District serves;

(2) Other members selected by the PDPSAC Committee who represent business and other communities served by the police district, provided that no PDPSAC shall have more than 21 voting members.

(b) The PDPSACs shall have the following responsibilities:

(l) Each PDPSAC shall develop a mission statement, establish bylaws and elect officers that include a chair, vice chair and secretary.

(2) Each PDPSAC shall meet monthly.

(3) The Chief of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD") shall provide each PDPSAC at least monthly information, in writing, detailing:

(i) Part I criminal reporting code (detailing Federal Bureau of Investigation violent crime reports) by PSA boundaries;

(ii) Part II criminal reporting code of drug and quality of life crime against property and persons; and

(iii) Number 251 reports providing monthly arrest data for Part I and Part II crimes indicating perpetrators, their home addresses and location and type of crime and all vice arrests report data indicating perpetrators, their home addresses and location and type of crime.

(4) By December 31, 1999, the information referred to in subsection (b)(3) of this section shall be available to the public electronically, either through a web site or by electronic mail. It shall be kept current electronically on a daily basis.

(5) A minimum of 2 MPD officers shall be assigned by each District Commander to serve as liaison to the PDPSAC.

Sec. 5. Fiscal authority.

(a) Except as specified in this section, the CPSAC is not entitled to financial support from the District of Columbia.

(b) The Chief of Police for the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department shall provide the CPSAC with adequate meeting and office space, secretarial support of at least one full time staff person, and adequate copying services.

(c) The CPSAC is authorized to apply for and receive grants from government, not-for- profit, and private sector entities or otherwise raise funds and may create a not-for-profit subsidiary to receive and administer such funds. All such funds shall be used for the sole purpose of carrying out the statutory goals of this act.

(d) The CPSAC shall prepare and submit to the Council by September 30th of each year an annual audited financial report.

Sec. 6. Fiscal Impact.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Self-Governmental Reorganization Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(3)).

Sec. 7.

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), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-3392.3(a)), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.