The government relations staff tracks both legislative and regulatory activity in the District of Columbia. Listed below are bills introduced before the D.C. City Council and actions taken by the Mayor and his executive agencies that may have an effect on universities and their operations in the District.

For more information, contact Sally Kram at kram@consortium.org.

Campus Planning Process

The Consortium carefully tracks and testifies on legislation and regulatory activity that affects zoning and land use by universities in the District of Columbia. The Zoning Commission has been considering an overhaul of the zoning regulations as they affect colleges and universities. The Office of Planning is advocating an entirely new process for the review of campus, which, if adopted by the Zoning Commission, would impose far more burdensome review processes and requirements. The Consortium is playing an active role in trying to suggest ways in which the zoning regulations can be fair for all, without placing excessive obstacles in the way of university and college growth.

College Savings Program

This D.C. program allows people to save for college and related expenses in accounts whose contributions and earnings are exempt from both D.C. and federal tax making the program very attractive to D.C. residents. The program's investments are supervised by the Calvert Group.

Status

The program's regulations and advisory board have been issued. The contact for the program is Brenda Mathis who is the Finance and Treasury Pensions Manager (202-727-0780). The Consortium supports the program and will offer assistance and guidance to the Mayor, CFO and Council as they implement this measure.

District of Columbia College Access Act

This program is a federal program which is administered by the District government. It is called the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (D.C. TAG). It provides federal dollars to qualified District residents who seek to attend college or university. (See fuller discussion under the Federal Legislation and Regulatory Issues page.)

Status

Recently, the Mayor transferred administration of the program from the Office of Policy and Planning to the newly created State Education Office.

District of Columbia Scholarship Fund Act of 1999

The Consortium supports the creation of a District-funded tuition assistance program to complement the D.C. TAG program. The fund would provide financial assistance to D.C. students seeking to attend college in the District of Columbia in order to encourage District students to stay in their hometown.

Status

The Consortium will seek introduction of such legislation before the D.C. City Council this year.

Postsecondary Education Assistance Trust Fund Tax Check-Off

The Consortium supported legislation introduced last session before the D.C. City Council that would have established an additional tax check-off on D.C. tax returns enabling District residents to designate no less than one dollar from their refund or increased tax burden to a fund to assist needy residents with the cost of postsecondary education. An 11-member volunteer board appointed by the Mayor would administer the fund.

Status

The Consortium supports reintroduction of this legislation in the new council session.

Postsecondary Education Requirements for Metropolitan Police Officers

The Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD") has asked the Consortium for assistance in developing training curriculum for college credit at its police academy. In addition, the MPD has suggested interest in collaborating with Consortium schools on research projects and a possible internship program.

Status

The Consortium is in support of MPD's efforts to enhance police training. John B. Childers, President and CEO of the Consortium, has been appointed a member of the D.C. Police Training and Standards Board.

State Education Office (SEO)

The Council created this office in 2000 to regulate education policy and planning in the District of Columbia. Its focus is mainly K-12, however, the District's financial aid programs, including the LEAP program and the Tuition Assistance Grant Program, have been placed under the SEO's purview.

Status

The Consortium will continue to monitor and work with this office.

All Terrain Vehicle and Dirt Bike Prohibition Amendment Act of 2003

Arts Funding Improvement and Task Force Establishment Act of 2003

Campus Plans

American University The Catholic University of America Gallaudet University The George Washington University Georgetown University

Educational Licensure Commission

Installation of Automated External Defibrillators Amendment Act of 2004

Rent Control Amendment Act of 2003

State Education Office Amendment Act of 2003

Smokefree Workplaces Act of 2003 and Attendant Referendum

The Terrorism Prevention and Safety in Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 2003

Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002 Regulations