{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-3-641.02","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 3-641.02","heading":"Commission on Poverty; establishment.","body":"(a)\nThere is established the Commission on Poverty.  The purpose of the Commission is to study issues surrounding poverty, evaluate current and previous poverty-reduction initiatives in the District and throughout the country to determine their effectiveness and, based on its research and evaluations, make comprehensive and continuing recommendations to the Mayor and the Council for strengthening and enhancing the economic status of persons in poverty in the District through initiatives that will also improve individuals' educational, wellness, and housing outcomes.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nThe Commission shall be composed of 19 appointed members, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council pursuant to § 1-523.01(f), and 8 ex-officio members. All appointed members shall be residents of the District. Among the appointed members, there shall be 8 ward representatives, one from each ward, and 11 at-large representatives.\n(2)\nTo qualify as a member appointed from a ward, a person shall:\n(A)\nBe in poverty at the time of the appointment, or have been in poverty at sometime within the previous 3 years;\n(B)\nHave been a resident of the ward the member represents for at least one year before the date of appointment; and\n(C)\nRemain a resident of the ward the member is appointed to represent throughout the member's term.\n(3)\n(A)\nAt least 2 of the members appointed at-large shall be in poverty at the time of the appointment or have been in poverty at sometime within the previous 3 years.\n(B)\nTo qualify as a member appointed at-large who is not appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, a person shall be a resident of the District and have experience in areas of public policy or programs related to the particular interests, needs, and concerns of persons in poverty, including experience working in the following areas or with the following populations:\n(i)\nProviding direct social services, whether through a government program, faith-based organization, community-based organization, or other organization;\n(ii)\nHealthcare access and affordability;\n(iii)\nPeople with mental illness;\n(iv)\nChildren and youth;\n(v)\nQuality and equality in education;\n(vi)\nLow wage workers' rights;\n(vii)\nAdults 60 years of age or older;\n(viii)\nThe elimination of hunger;\n(ix)\nPeople who are homeless;\n(x)\nPeople with disabilities; or\n(xi)\nImmigrants.\n(4)\n(A)\nAn appointed member of the Commission shall serve a term of 3 years; except, that of the initial members, 7 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, 6 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, and 6 for a term of one year.\n(B)\nUpon a vacancy occurring during a term, the Mayor shall appoint a successor with the advice and consent of the Council pursuant to § 1-523.01(f) to fill the unexpired portion of the term.\n(C)\nAn appointed member may be reappointed; except, that a member may not serve more than 2 terms, exclusive of partial terms served pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.\n(5)\nAppointed members of the Commission shall serve without compensation; except, that expenses incurred by the Commission as a whole, or by an individual member when the expense was duly authorized by the Chairperson of the Commission, shall be reimbursed pursuant to § 1-611.08(d).\n\n(c)\nThe following officials, or their designees, shall serve as non-voting ex-officio members, the:\n(1)\nDirector of the Department of Human Services;\n(2)\nDirector of the Department of Health;\n(3)\nDirector of the Child and Family Services Agency;\n(4)\nDirector of the Department of Employment Services;\n(5)\nChancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools;\n(6)\nSuperintendent of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education;\n(7)\nDirector of the Department of Aging; and\n(8)\nDirector of the Department of Housing and Community Development.\n\n(d)\nThe Commission shall elect a chairperson from among its appointed members.\n\n(e)\nA quorum of the Commission shall consist of a majority of the voting members.\n\n(f)\nThe Commission shall develop its own operating rules and procedures.\n\n(g)\nThe Commission may establish committees that address specific issues or populations.","path":["Title 3. District of Columbia Boards and Commissions.","Chapter 6A-i. Commission of Poverty."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-641.02","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"6cbc55477a3f0dbe09149de4d1accd9e4126c30a9ba12ea12b614f95623cd458","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-3-641.01","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-3-641.03"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}