(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off 2019 by introducing legislation that will support the District’s efforts to build safer, stronger neighborhoods, expand opportunity, and give all residents a fair shot.
Sexual Assault Victim’s Rights Amendment Act of 2019
The Sexual Assault Victim’s Rights Amendment Act of 2019 builds on the Mayor’s 2017 legislative proposal by incorporating feedback from victims/survivors, advocates, and subject matter experts to strengthen the introduced policies and improve outcomes for victims/survivors of sexual assault. The updated SAVRAA 2019 creates a definition of sexual assault counselors that mirrors the definitions of domestic violence counselor and human trafficking counselors already in DC law; requires additional training for advocates working with youth who are victims of sexual assault; clarifies confidential communications between sexual assault counselors and sexual assault victims; creates the opportunity for the provision of coordinated SANE exams in other locations throughout the District; and expands membership of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to include all community-based organizations providing advocacy services.
Ghost Guns Prohibition Amendment Act of 2019
The Ghost Guns Prohibition Amendment Act of 2019 will prohibit the registration and possession of undetectable ghost guns in the District of Columbia. Specifically, the legislation defines a “ghost gun” as a firearm that, after the removal of all parts other than a receiver, cannot be detected by a metal detector; establishes the corresponding definition of a receiver; prohibits “ghost guns” from being registered; and prohibits the possession of a ghost gun.
Second Chance Amendment Act of 2019
Second Chance Amendment Act of 2019 will radically reform the District’s record sealing process by mandating automatic sealing for non-convictions, shortening the waiting periods before a person is eligible to seal their record, and expanding the eligibility of who can seal their record. For individuals who are arrested but not prosecuted, and for people who are charged but not convicted, the legislation would result in their records being automatically sealed within 90 days of the termination of the case. For those with convictions, the legislation mandates that a panel of legal experts review the types of convictions that should be eligible for sealing; it also reduces the waiting time to seal those records.
At today’s press conference, Mayor Bowser also announced a series of appointments in her Administration:
Hanseul Kang, reappointed as the State Superintendent of Education.
Ms. Kang has led the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the District of Columbia’s state education agency, since 2015. Under Kang’s leadership, the District of Columbia has continued to make major strides in student achievement outcomes and OSSE has taken important steps to sustain, accelerate, and deepen this progress across DC. Ms. Kang started her career as a high school social studies teacher in rural New Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
Lindsey Maxwell, to be the Director of the Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining.
Mr. Maxwell currently serves as the as the Supervisory Attorney of the Public Employee Relations Board. In this capacity, he oversees the legal operations of the Agency and litigates all cases in DC Courts where the agency is a party. Prior to serving in this role, Mr. Maxwell was a partner at the Bailey Law Group where he focused his practice on labor and employment litigation and served as the head of their Middle East operations. Previously, he has also served as a legislative aide in the New Jersey state legislature and partner at the Perennial Law Group, a nationally-recognized leader in sports management and representation. Mr. Maxwell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron.
Lindsey Parker, to be the Acting Chief Technology Officer.
Ms. Parker has served as Mayor Bowser’s Deputy Chief of Staff since 2015. In this capacity, she oversees day-to-day operations of a 100-person engagement team, manages the budget of the Executive Office of the Mayor, and leads strategic planning initiatives. Prior to joining the Bowser Administration, Ms. Parker was the Director for Policy and Governmental Affairs at Americans for Responsible Solutions (now known as Giffords), the gun violence prevention advocacy organization started by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Ms. Parker has worked in the public and private sectors to support practical, innovative policies and engagement models to help urban centers find new ways to remain competitive, diverse, and innovative in today’s global economy. She previously worked in the cyber-security sector in a number of roles, including as the Director of Internal Communications at Symantec. Ms. Parker received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Yale University.
Andrew Trueblood, to be Acting Director of the Office of Planning.
Mr. Trueblood has been serving as the interim Director of the Office of Planning (OP) since November 2018. Prior to moving to OP, he was the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) where he guided economic policy development, including legislative and budget proposals, and oversaw the operations of the 80-person agency. Mr. Trueblood also oversaw policy coordination among across 11 District agencies, including planning, housing, transportation, regulatory, and creative agencies. Before joining the DC Government, Mr. Trueblood set up a risk analytics team at the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; worked at Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Fund; and worked on redevelopment planning and finance for the DC Housing Authority. Mr. Trueblood holds a Master in City Planning from MIT and a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.