Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety

DRAFT Report on PR 20-491Page 1 of 6

TO:All Councilmembers

FROM:Councilmember Tommy Wells, Chairperson

Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety

DATE:July 7, 2014

SUBJECT:Report on PR20-491, “Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Dianne M. Hampton Confirmation Resolution of 2014”[1]

The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, to which Proposed Resolution20-491, the “Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Dianne M. Hampton Confirmation Resolution of 2014”was referred, reports favorably thereon, and recommends approval by the Council.

CONTENTS

I.Background and Need

II.Legislative Chronology

III.Position of the Executive

IV.Comments of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions

V.Summary of Testimony and Statements

VI.Impact on Existing Law

VII.Fiscal Impact

VIII.Section-by-Section Analysis

IX.Committee Action

X.Attachments

I.Background and Need

The purpose of PR 20-491is to confirm the Mayor's nomination of Dianne M. Hampton to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, for a term to end July 20, 2016.

The purpose of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board (“Board”) is to prevent domestic violence fatalities by improving the response of individuals, the community, and government agencies to domestic violence. The Board is charged with the review and evaluation of domestic violence fatalities in the District. In evaluating domestic violence fatalities, the Board is expected to observe data, trends, and patterns. In doing so, it is expected to better understand the scope and nature of domestic violence in the District. The Board makes policy and programmatic recommendations for combating domestic violence and publishes an annual report of its findings.

The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board was established by D. C. Law 14-296, effective April 11, 2003. The Board is comprised of 23 members:

  • 9 designated by statute from specific District government agencies
  • 2 designated by statute from federal agencies
  • 4 appointed by the Mayor from organizational groups (hospitals, shelters, legal clinics, and domestic violence advocacy groups)
  • 8 appointed by the Mayor as community representatives, and confirmed by the Council

All members serve at will except for the eight community representatives, who serve three-year terms.

Table A: Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee Membership

DC Institutional Representatives[2]

Agency / Agency Representative / Appointment Authority / Appointment Date
Metropolitan Police Department / Lt. Michelle Robinson / 16-1053(a)(1) / N/A
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner / Dr. Robert Mitchell / 16-1053(a)(2) / N/A
Office of the Attorney General / Janese M. Bechtol, Esq. (Chair) / 16-1053(a)(3) / Mayor’s Order 2005-72 April 27, 2005
Department of Corrections / Maria Amato / 16-1053(a)(4) / N/A
Fire & Emergency Medical Services / Rafael Sa’adah / 16-1053(a)(5) / N/A
Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration / Vacant / 16-1053(a)(6)
Department of Health / Vacant / 16-1053(a)(7)
Child and Family Services Agency / Sylvia Pauling / 16-1053(a)(8) / Mayor’s Order 2005-72 April 27, 2005
Mayor’s Commission on Violence Against Women / Vacant / 16-1053(a)(9)

Table B: Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee Membership

Federal, Judicial, Private, or Public Entity Representatives[3]

Agency / Agency Representative / Appointment Authority / Appointment Date
Superior Court of the District of Columbia / Blanche Watson / 16-1053(b)(1) / N/A
United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia / Marcia Rinker / 16-1053(b)(2) / N/A
District of Columbia hospitals / Vacant / 16-1053(b)(3)
University legal clinics / Lisa Martin / 16-1053(b)(4) / Mayor’s Order 2009-52, April 14, 2009; to end July 20, 2010
Domestic violence shelters / Vacant / 16-1053(b)(5)
Domestic violence advocacy organizations / Jennifer Wesberry, DC SAFE / 16-1053(b)(6) / N/A

Table C: Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Membership

Community Representatives[4]

Representative / Ward / Resolution Number / First Term Appointment Date / Term End Date
SharleneKranz / 3 / PR20-525 / 2004-151 Sept 13, 2004 to end July 20, 2007 / July 20, 2016
Prof. Laurie Susan Kohn, Esq. / 4 / PR20-490 / 2004-151 Sept 13, 2004 to end July 20, 2007 / July 20, 2016
Dianne M. Hampton / 7 / PR20-491 / 2004-151 Sept 13, 2004 to end July 20, 2007 / July 20, 2016
Varina Jane Winder / 2 / PR20-488 / October 7, 2013 / July 20, 2016
Erin Sweeney Larkin, Esq. / MD / PR20-487 / October 7, 2013 / July 20, 2016
Jonathan Yinghwa O’Reilly / 5 / PR20-486 / October 7, 2013 / July 20, 2016
Elizabeth Odongo / MD / PR20-853
(pending) / TBD / July 20, 2016
Vacant

The Committee recommends the confirmation of Dianne M. Hamptonto the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Ms. Hamptonhas previously served as a community representative on the board and has extensive experience working with domestic violence victims in a variety of capacities. Asa certifiedDomestic Violence Counselor and former Director of the Family and Community Violence Prevention Project, Ms. Hamptonunderstands the experience of victims and has knowledge of the network of area service providers that will enable her to continue to contribute to the workings of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

II.Legislative Chronology

October 1, 2013PR20-491, “Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Dianne M. Hampton Confirmation Resolution of 2013,” is introduced by Chairman Phil Mendelson at the request of the Mayor.

October 15, 2013PR20-491is referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.

October 11, 2013Notice of Intent to act on PR20-491is published in the District of Columbia Register.

June 26, 2014The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety held a public hearing on PR 20-491.

July 7, 2014The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safetyconsiders and votes onPR20-491.

III.Position of the Executive

PR20-491was introduced at the request of the Mayor, whose comments relating to Ms. Hampton’s nomination are contained in the attached transmittal letter.

IV.Comments of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions

The Committee received no comments from Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

V.Summary of Statements

Dianne M. Hampton, MS, CDVC, Nominee submitted a statement on her own behalf, stating that she sought appointment to the Board because she has been a continuous partner of the Board over the course of four administrations. While working with the Board, Ms. Hampton also participated in trainings conducted by the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Program (NDVFRB) and has shared best practices with the Board and improved practices to ensure a successful andstructured investigative process.

The Committee received no testimony or comments in opposition of confirmation.

VI.Impact on Existing Law

The adoption ofPR20-491would have no impact on existing law. PR20-491 fulfills the Council’s statutory responsibility to confirm 8 community representative members of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

VII.Fiscal Impact

Pursuant to section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act, this confirmation resolution is exempt from the act’s fiscal impact statement requirement.[5]

VIII.Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1States the short title of PR20-491.

Section2Confirms the appointment of Dianne M. Hampton, MS, CVDCas a community representative member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

Section3Directs transmittal of the resolutionto the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.

Section4States the resolution shall take effect immediately.

IX.Committee Action

On DATE, the Committee met to consider PR 20-491. The meeting was called to order at and PR 20-491 was on the agenda. After ascertaining a quorum (Chairperson Wells and Councilmembers ______present), Chairperson Wells moved the print with leave for the staff and general counsel to make technical and conforming amendments. After an opportunity for discussion, the vote on the print was ______. Chairperson Wells then moved the report, with leave for staff to make technical, editorial, and conforming changes. After an opportunity for discussion, the vote to approve the report was ______. The meeting adjourned at .

.

X.Attachments

  1. PR20-491as introduced.
  2. Nominee’s response to Committee questions.
  3. Witness list.
  4. Legal sufficiency determination by the General Counsel.
  5. Committee Print for PR20-491.

[1] The resolution has been renamed to reflect the current year.

[2]Information provided March 21, 2014 by the Executive Office of the Mayor. The information provided by the Executive also included a representative from the Department of Human Services, which is not named in the statute. While having a representative from this agency may be appropriate, it is unclear under what legal authority this appointment was made.

[3] Information provided March 21, 2014 by the Executive Office of the Mayor.

[4]Id.

[5] General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, effective September 25, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-17; D.C. Code § 1-301.47a).