District of Columbia: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress
(28-SEP-01, GAO-01-1134).
This report lists 48 reporting requirements enacted by Congress
on the District of Columbia (DC) government. The District of
Columbia Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 and the
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 contain 24
of these requirements. The other 24 originate from prior
appropriation acts for DC or from other federal statutes. Of the
48 requirements, 23 provide information on financial management
of DC funds and programs. The remaining 25 report on the status
of various DC programs or operations. The responsibility for
responding to most of these reporting requirements is dispersed
among the Mayor, the DC Council, and the DC Chief Financial
Officer.
-------------------------Indexing Terms-------------------------
REPORTNUM: GAO-01-1134
ACCNO: A02045
TITLE: District of Columbia: Reporting Requirements Enacted by
Congress
DATE: 09/28/2001
SUBJECT: Congressional oversight
Financial management
Reporting requirements
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GAO-01-1134
Report to the Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on the District of
Columbia, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives
United States General Accounting Office
GAO
September 2001 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress
GAO- 01- 1134
Page 1 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
September 28, 2001 The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton Ranking Minority
Member Subcommittee on the District of Columbia Committee on Government
Reform House of Representatives
Dear Ms. Norton: At your request, we have developed a list of the reporting
requirements that Congress has enacted into law when exercising its
oversight of the District of Columbia (DC or District). As you have noted,
the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance
Authority is to sunset at the end of this fiscal year and, as this historic
transition occurs, it is an appropriate time to examine these reporting
requirements.
Appendix I contains a list of 48 reporting requirements that Congress
requires from various entities within the District of Columbia government.
The District of Columbia Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 and the
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 contain 24 of these
requirements. 1 The other 24 requirements originated from prior
appropriation acts for the District or from other federal statutes.
Many of the requirements involve recurring reports. For example, many of the
reporting requirements we identified are annual or quarterly reports
mandated by Congress, such as an annual audit of the District?s financial
operations. In six cases, Congress has enacted a similar reporting
requirement in each appropriations act for the District since fiscal year
1996. One of these recurring requirements mandates that the Mayor develop an
annual plan, by quarter and by project, for capital outlay borrowing and
report on the actual borrowing and spending progress as compared to
projections.
A few requirements specify one- time reports. For example, the fiscal year
2001 appropriations acts require the District?s Chief Financial Officer
(CFO) to submit a study on the merits and potential savings of privatizing
1 P. L. 106- 522, Nov. 22, 2000, and P. L. 107- 20, Jan. 3, 2001.
United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548
Results in Brief
Page 2 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
the operation and administration of Saint Elizabeths Hospital. Others apply
only if a specific event occurs, for example a requirement for the CFO to
notify Congress of any changes to the comprehensive financial management
policy enacted by the District Council.
Of the 48 requirements, 23 requirements provide information on financial
management of the District?s funds and programs. These requirements include
the CFO?s quarterly report, which provides monthly statements on the balance
and activities of contingency and emergency reserve funds as well as a
requirement that the CFO produce a 5- year financial plan describing how the
District government will eliminate any difference between its expenditures
and revenues.
The remaining 25 requirements report on the status of different District
programs or operations, for example a quarterly report required by the
Metropolitan Police Department on the status of crime reduction in each of
the 83 police service areas throughout the District.
The responsibility for responding to most of these reporting requirements is
dispersed among the Mayor, the District Council, and the CFO. The Mayor is
responsible for 12 reporting requirements and shares responsibility with the
District Council for 4 additional requirements. The CFO is responsible for 9
reporting requirements. Most of the 48 reporting requirements are for the
appropriations committees of the House of Representatives and the U. S.
Senate. Some reporting requirements are for Congress as a whole, and
committees such as the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the
House Committee on Government Reform also are to receive information in
response to certain reporting requirements.
To meet our objective of listing the reporting requirements that Congress
has required, we searched through several legislative and statutory
databases and interviewed District officials who are knowledgeable about
reports that the District releases. Specifically, we searched databases
maintained by the Office of the Federal Register in the National Archives
and Records Administration for legislation enacted from January 1995 through
August 2001. This search was supplemented with searches of Lexis law and
Westlaw databases. All the databases were searched for either public laws or
the D. C. Code that included requirements for the District government to
submit reports to specific congressional committees or the Congress as a
whole. Although some of the requirements we identified involve the
District?s financial management or Scope and
Methodology
Page 3 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
expenditures from specific funds, we did not search for any requirements
involving the preparation of the District?s annual budget submission.
Likewise, our search does not include general reporting requirements that
also apply to state and local governments (including the District) as part
of their participation in federal programs. We conducted these database
searches from June through August 2001.
In addition, we discussed the District?s reporting requirements with
officials from the Mayor?s Office, the City Administrator?s Office, the
CFO?s Office, the Inspector General?s Office, the District?s Corporation
Counsel?s Office, and the Office of the Chairman of the District Council.
Because half of the reporting requirements are contained in the fiscal year
2001 appropriations acts, it should be noted that appropriations acts, by
their nature, are nonpermanent legislation. However, Congress has the power
to enact permanent legislation within an appropriations act. The clearest
indication that Congress intended a provision to be permanent is the
presence of ?words of futurity? such as ?hereafter? or ?after the date of
approval of this act.? 2 Determining whether reporting requirements
contained within the 2001 appropriations act, which expire on September 30,
2001, are permanent was not within the scope of this review.
Some of the information reported in response to these specific requirements
could help highlight key areas of importance as part of a notification
system of ?reportable events.? As discussed in our June 8, 2001, testimony,
should Congress decide to proceed with such a notification system, it could
include a ?vital few? set of events to draw attention to specific areas
needing immediate attention. 3 Building on financial information already
collected, monitored, and used by the District would help to minimize the
reporting burden and help ensure that the reportable events are valid and
reliable indicators of fiscal performance. In addition, such a system would
allow time for the District and Congress to take any needed actions to
address the matter and ensure the District?s continued financial viability.
We did our work from June through August 2001 in accordance with generally
accepted government auditing standards.
2 Letter to Senator Landrieu, B- 288511, Aug. 22, 2001. 3 District of
Columbia: Oversight in the Post- Control Board Period (GAO- 01- 845T, June
8, 2001).
Page 4 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Of the 48 reporting requirements listed in appendix I, 24 were from the
District?s fiscal year 2001 appropriations act and the supplemental
appropriations act. Many of these 24 reporting requirements are annual or
quarterly reports, such as an annual audit of the District?s financial
operations. Six of these reporting requirements have been included in the
District?s appropriations acts since fiscal year 1996.
The other 24 requirements originated from prior appropriations acts for the
District or from other federal statutes. These requirements include an
annual audit of the District?s financial operations, an annual report on the
activities of the District?s Inspector General, and annual performance
accountability plans and reports for all of the District?s departments,
agencies, and programs.
A few requirements specify one- time reports, such as a requirement to
submit a study on the merits and potential savings of privatizing the
operation and administration of Saint Elizabeths Hospital. Others apply only
if a specific event occurs. For example, one requirement instructs the CFO
to notify Congress of any changes to the comprehensive financial management
policy enacted by the District Council. FY 2001
Appropriations Acts Contain Half of the Requirements
Reporting Requirements for the District Included in Appropriations Acts
Since Fiscal Year 1996
1. quarterly report on the District?s acceptance, obligation, and
expenditure of federal, private, and other grant funds 2. quarterly report
by the DC Retirement Board of the allocations of charges
by fund and of expenditures of all funds 3. annual plan on the District?s
capital outlay borrowing 4. annual report on the number of positions and
employees in the public
school system and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) 5. annual
revised appropriated funds operating budget for the public school
system and UDC 6. quarterly report on the expenditures and obligations, the
amount of frozen
funds, the status of contracts, the reprogramming of funds, and the changes
to the organizational structure of the public school system and UDC
Page 5 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Among the various subjects covered by these reporting requirements, Congress
has emphasized the importance of financial management of the District by
establishing 23 reporting requirements on financial management issues. The
CFO reports on 7 of these 23 requirements.
The other 25 reporting requirements address various operations of the
District government. For example, the Metropolitan Police Department is
required to produce quarterly reports on crime reduction in each of the 83
police service areas throughout the District. There are three reporting
requirements on the management of property leased or owned by the District
government. Reports on the
District?s Financial Management
Financial Management Requirements for the District?s CFO
1. quarterly report on the acceptance, obligation, and expenditure of
federal, private, and other grant funds 2. quarterly report on the balance
and activities of the District?s contingency
and emergency reserve funds 3. not later than November 1, 2000, or within 30
calendar days after the date of
the enactment of this act (November 22, 2000), a revised appropriated funds
operating budget 4. not later than September 1st of each year, a
notification of any changes to
the comprehensive financial management policy enacted by the District
Council 5. not later than March 1st of each year (beginning with 1997), a 5-
year
financial plan describing the steps the District will take to eliminate any
differences between expenditures and revenues 6. not later than March 1st of
each year (beginning with 1999), a report on the
District?s compliance with its financial accountability plan during the
preceding fiscal year 7. not later than 15 days after the end of each
calendar quarter (beginning with
a report for the quarter beginning October 1997), a report on the District?s
financial and budgetary status for the preceding quarter
Page 6 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
The responsibility for most of the 48 reporting requirements is dispersed
among the Mayor, District Council, and CFO. As shown in table 1, the Mayor
is responsible for responding to 12 reporting requirements. Many of these
reporting requirements are on the status of District programs, such as a
report on the progress of a commercial revitalization program and a report
on restructuring the District?s human support services. The Mayor also
shares responsibility with the District Council for responding to four
additional reporting requirements, including one for a comprehensive plan
for managing the District?s real property assets and another to notify the
Senate and House Committees on Appropriations of any expenditure from the
District?s emergency reserve fund. The CFO is responsible for responding to
9 reporting requirements, 7 of which provide information on the financial
management of the District.
Table 1: Number of Congressional Reporting Requirements by District Entity.
Mayor 12 CFO 9 District Government 4 5 Mayor and District Council 4 DC
Retirement Board 4 Superintendent of the DC Public Schools and UDC 4
Inspector General of the District of Columbia 2 District Council 1
Metropolitan Police Department 1 Public Housing Police (through the DC
Housing Authority) 1 Auditor of the District of Columbia 1 Office of
Emergency Preparedness (through the Mayor) 1 Board of Education 1 Consensus
Commission 1 Charter School Authorities 1
Total 48
Source: GAO analysis.
All the reporting requirements we identified are prepared either for
Congress as a whole or for a specific congressional committee or committees.
Most of the reporting requirements are for the Senate and House Committees
on Appropriations. Some reporting requirements are
4 These requirements do not list a specific District entity responsible for
preparing the report. Mayor, Council, and
CFO Responsible for Most Reporting Requirements
Page 7 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
for other congressional committees, such as the Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Government Reform.
We provided a draft of this report in September 2001 to the Mayor of the
District of Columbia and the Chair of the Council of the District of
Columbia, for their review. On September 21, 2001, the Mayor?s Chief of
Staff and the Deputy Mayor and City Administrator jointly provided written
comments on the draft report. We received oral comments from the Budget
Director of the Council of the District of Columbia on September 19, 2001.
In written comments, the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Mayor and City
Administrator stated that it is important to note that these requirements
place a substantial burden on the District and should be eliminated.
Further, they said that Congress should replace its existing reporting
requirements with a new set of reports to include early warning indicators.
They referred to our June 8, 2001, testimony noting that other cities
emerging from financial receivership typically employ such an early warning
system. In oral comments, the Budget Director of the Council of the District
of Columbia also said that responding to the 48 reporting requirements that
Congress has enacted into law is burdensome for the District government. He
said that the resources expended in responding to these reporting
requirements could be used more effectively elsewhere in operating the
District of Columbia.
As recognized by the Mayor?s Chief of Staff and the Deputy Mayor and City
Administrator, this report is intended to be descriptive, and it provides a
list of the reporting requirements Congress has enacted into law when
exercising its oversight of the District of Columbia. As such, the reporting
burden placed on the District as a result of these requirements, as well as
the value to and use by Congress of the resulting information, was beyond
the scope of our review.
As agreed with your office, unless you announce the contents of this report
earlier, we plan no further distribution until 30 days after its issue date.
At that time, we will send copies to the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on
the District of Columbia, House Committee on Government Reform; the Chairmen
and Ranking Minority Members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs
and the House Committee on Government Reform; the Chairmen and Ranking
Minority Members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and House
Committee on Agency Comments
and Our Response
Page 8 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Appropriations; the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee
on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of
Columbia, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs; other interested Members
of Congress; the Mayor of the District of Columbia; the Chairman of the
Council of the District of Columbia; and other interested parties. The
letter will also be available on GAO?s Web site at http:// www. gao. gov.
If you have any questions about this letter, please contact me or Susan
Ragland at (202) 512- 6806. Richard Cambosos, Kathy Cunningham, Steven
Lozano, and Norma Samuel were key contributors to this report.
Sincerely yours, J. Christopher Mihm Director, Strategic Issues
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 9 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
The following three tables list the 48 reporting requirements that Congress
requires from various entities within the District of Columbia (DC or
District) government.
Table 2: Congressional Reporting Requirements from the District of Columbia
Appropriations Act, 2001 (P. L. 106- 522, Nov. 22, 2000)
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
1 P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113
Federal Payment for Commercial Revitalization 114 STAT. 2441
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act (Nov.
22, 2000), a report on the progress made in carrying out the commercial
revitalization program.
Mayor Senate and House Committees on Appropriations
2 P. L. 106- 522 Human Support Services 114 STAT. 2451- 2452
No transferred funds are expended until 10 calendar days after the
restructuring plan (plan to restructure the delivery of health services) has
received final approval and a copy evidencing final approval has been
submitted by the Mayor.
Mayor Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform 3 a P. L.
106- 522, also
included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L. 105- 100, P. L. 104- 194,
P. L. 104- 134
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2459 Sec. 110
At the start of the fiscal year, the Mayor shall develop an annual plan, by
quarter and by project, for capital outlay borrowings. Within a reasonable
time after the close of each quarter, the Mayor shall report the actual
borrowings and spending progress compared with projections.
Mayor Congress and DC Council
4 P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2478 Sec. 158
Commencing on Oct. 1, 2000, quarterly reports addressing the following
issues: 1. crime, including the homicide rate,
implementation of community policing, the number of police officers on local
beats, and the closing down of open- air drug markets; 2. access to drug
abuse treatment,
including the number of treatment slots, the number of people served, the
number of people on waiting lists, and the effectiveness of treatment
programs; 3. management of parolees and pretrial
violent offenders, including the number of halfway house escapes and steps
taken to improve monitoring and supervision of halfway house residents to
reduce the number of escapes, to be provided in consultation with the Court
Services and Offender Supervision Agency; 4. education, including access to
special
education services and student achievement, to be provided in
Mayor Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 10 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
consultation with the District of Columbia Public Schools; 5. improvement in
basic District services,
including rat control and abatement; 6. application for management of
federal
grants, including the number and type of grants for which the District was
eligible but failed to apply for and the number and type of grants awarded
to the District but for which the District failed to spend the amounts
received; and 7. indicators of child well- being. 5 P. L. 106- 522, also
included in P. L. 106- 113
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2469- 2470 Sec. 138( b)
None of the funds contained in this act may be used to make rental payments
under the lease unless the lease is included in periodic reports describing
for each such lease the following information: A. the location of the
property involved, the
name of the owners of record according to the land records of the District
of Columbia, the name of the lessors according to the lease, the rate of
payment under the lease, the period of time covered by the lease, and the
conditions under which the lease may be terminated; B. the extent to which
the property is or is
not occupied by the District government as of the end of the reporting
period involved; and C. if the property is not occupied and
utilized by the District government as of the end of the reporting period
involved, a plan for occupying and utilizing the property (including
construction or renovation work) or a status statement regarding any efforts
by the District to terminate or renegotiate the lease. The reports are to be
submitted quarterly beginning with the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2000.
Mayor and DC Council Senate and House
Committees on Appropriations
6 P. L. 106- 522 DC Code 1- 204.50a, formerly cited as 47- 130.1
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2479- 2480
Notify the committees in writing not more than 30 days after the expenditure
of funds from the emergency reserve fund.
Mayor, DC Council, and the DC Financial Responsibility and Management
Assistance Authority (the Authority)
Senate and House Committees on Appropriations
7 P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113
General Provisions 114 STAT.
Within 60 days of the date of enactment of this Act (Nov. 22, 2000) file a
report which provides a comprehensive plan for the
Mayor and DC Council Senate and House
Committees on Appropriations, Senate
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 11 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
2470 Sec. 139( a)( 4)
management of District of Columbia real property assets. Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform 8 P. L. 106-
522, also
included in P. L. 106- 113
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2470 Sec. 139( a)( 1)
Certify that existing real property available to the District (whether
leased or owned by the District government) is not suitable for the purpose
intended.
Mayor and DC Council Senate and House
Committees on Appropriations
9 a P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L.
105- 100, P. L. 104- 194, P. L. 104- 134
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2465 Sec. 126( a)( 4)
Quarterly report, not later than 15 days after the end of the quarter,
setting forth detailed information regarding all federal, private, and other
grants subject to this section (on the acceptance, obligation, and
expenditure of grants received by the District government that are not
reflected in the amount appropriated in this act).
CFO Senate and House Committees on Appropriations and DC Council
10 P. L. 106- 522 DC Code 1- 204.50, formerly cited as 47- 130.1
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2481
Quarterly report that includes a monthly statement on the balance and
activities of the contingency and emergency reserve funds.
CFO Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Mayor, DC Council, and
Authority
11 P. L. 106- 522 DC Code 1- 204.50. b, formerly cited as 47- 130.2
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2475 Sec. 154
Not later than Sept. 1 of each year, notify Congress of any changes to the
comprehensive financial management policy enacted by the Council.
CFO Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform 12 P. L. 106-
522, also
included in P. L. l06- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L. 105- 100
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2469 Sec. 136
No later than Nov. 1, 2000, or within 30 calendar days after the date of the
enactment of this act (Nov. 22, 2000), whichever occurs later, submit a
revised appropriated funds operating budget in the format of the budget that
the District government submitted pursuant to Section 442 of the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act, for all agencies of the District government for such
fiscal year that is in the total amount of the approved appropriation and
that realigns all budgeted data for personal services and other- than
personal- services, respectively, with anticipated actual expenditures.
CFO Congress, appropriate congressional committees, Mayor, and Authority
13 P. L. 106- 522 General Provisions 114 STAT. 2471 Sec. 140
By the tenth day after the end of each quarter, a summary list showing each
report (requested either in the act or in any of the reports accompanying
the act), the due date and the date submitted to the Committees.
CFO Senate and House of Committees on Appropriations
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 12 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
14 P. L. 106- 522 Governmental Direction and Support 114 STAT. 2447- 2448
Not later than March 1, 2001, submit a study on the merits and potential
savings of privatizing the operation and administration of Saint Elizabeths
Hospital.
CFO Senate and House Committees on Appropriations
15 a P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L.
105- 100, P. L. 104- 194, P. L. 104- 134, D. C. Code 38- 154, formerly cited
as 31- 104.2
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2463- 2464 Sec. 121( b)
Annually compile an accurate and verifiable report on the positions and
employees in the public school system and the university, respectively. The
annual report shall set forth: 1. the number of validated schedule A
positions in DC public schools and the University of the District of
Columbia for fiscal year 2001 and thereafter on a full- time equivalent
basis; 2. a compilation of all employees in DC
public schools as of the preceding December 31, verified as to its accuracy;
and 3. be submitted not later than Feb. 15 of
each year. Superintendent
of DC Public Schools (DCPS) and the University of the District of Columbia
(UDC)
Congress, Mayor, DC Council, Consensus Commission, and Authority
16 a P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L.
105- 100, P. L. 104- 194, P. L. 104- 134
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2464 Sec. 121( c)
No later than Nov. 1, 2000, or within 30 calendar days after the date of the
enactment of this act (Nov. 22, 2000), whichever occurs later, and each
succeeding year, a revised appropriated funds operating budget for the
public school system and UDC for such fiscal year: 1. that is in the total
amount of the
approved appropriation and that realigns budgeted data for personal services
and other- than- personal services, respectively, with anticipated actual
expenditures and 2. that is in the format of the budget that
the Superintendent of DCPS and UDC submit to the Mayor for inclusion in the
Mayor?s budget submission to the Council pursuant to section 442 of the
District Home Rule Act.
Superintendent of DCPS and UDC
Appropriate congressional committees, Mayor, DC Council, Consensus
Commission, and Authority
17 a P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L.
105- 100, P. L. 104- 195, P. L. 104- 134
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2462- 2463 Sec. 121( a)
No later than 15 calendar days after the end of each quarter, a report that
sets forth: 1. current quarter expenditures and
obligations, year- to- date expenditures and obligations, and total fiscal
year expenditure projections versus budget; 2. a list of each account for
which
spending is frozen and the amount of funds frozen; 3. a list of all active
contracts in excess of
$10,000 annually; 4. all reprogramming requests and
reports that are required to be, and Superintendent
of DCPS and UDC
Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 13 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
have been, submitted to the Board of Education; 5. all reprogramming
requests and
reports made by UDC within the last quarter in compliance with applicable
law; and 6. changes made in the last quarter to the
organizational structure of DCPS and UDC. 18 P. L. 106- 522 General
Provisions 114 STAT. 2459 Sec. 111( b)
None of the local funds contained in this act may be available for
obligation or expenditure for an agency through a reprogramming of funds
that transfers any local funds from one appropriation to another unless the
Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives are
notified in writing 30 days in advance of the transfer, except that in no
event may the amount of any funds transferred exceed 2 percent of the local
funds in the appropriation.
District of Columbia Senate and House
Committees on Appropriations
19 P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277
General Provisions 114 STAT 2459 Sec. 111( a)
None of the funds provided under this act to the agencies funded by this
act, both Federal and District government agencies, that remain available
for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2001, or provided from any
accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of
fees available to the agencies funded by this act, shall be available for
obligation or expenditure for an agency through a reprogramming of funds
which: (1) creates new programs; (2) eliminates a program, project, or
responsibility center; (3) establishes or changes allocations specifically
denied, limited, or increased by Congress in this act; (4) increases funds
or personnel by any means for any program, project, or responsibility center
for which funds have been denied or restricted; (5) reestablishes through
reprogramming any program or project previously deferred through
reprogramming; (6) augments existing programs, projects, or responsibility
centers through a reprogramming of funds in excess of $1,000,000 or 10
percent, whichever is less; or (7) increases by 20 percent or more personnel
assigned to a specific program, project or responsibility center; unless the
Committees on Appropriations of both the Senate and House of Representatives
are notified in writing 30 days in advance of any reprogramming.
District of Columbia Senate and House
Committees on Appropriations
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 14 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
20 a P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L.
105- 100, P. L. 104- 194, P. L. 104- 134
DC Retirement Board 114 STAT. 2456
Quarterly report of the allocations of charges by fund and of expenditures
of all funds.
DC Retirement Board Congress and DC
Council 21 P. L. 106- 522
DC Code 9- 109.02 formerly cited as 7- 134.2
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2468 Sec. 135( e)
Not later than Feb. 1, 2001, and each Feb. 1 thereafter, the Inspector
General shall audit the financial statements of the DC Highway Trust Fund
for the preceding fiscal year and shall submit a report on the results of
such audit. Not later than May 31, 2001, and each May 31 thereafter, the
Inspector General shall examine the statements forecasting the conditions
and operations of the Trust for the next 5 fiscal years commencing on the
previous October 1 and shall submit a report on the results of such
examination.
Inspector General Congress
22 P. L. 106- 522 DC Code 48- 1121, formerly cited as 33- 550.1
General Provisions 114 STAT. 2473- 2474 Sec. 150( b)
Monthly report on activity involving illegal drugs at or near any public
housing site where a needle exchange program is conducted.
Public Housing Police of the DC Housing Authority submits report to the
Executive Director of the DC Housing Authority
Senate and House Committees on Appropriations
23 P. L. 106- 522, also included in P. L. 106- 113, P. L. 105- 277, P. L.
105- 100
Public Safety and Justice 114 STAT. 2449
Commencing on Dec. 31, 2000, quarterly reports on the status of crime
reduction in each of the 83 police service areas established throughout the
District.
Metropolitan Police Department
Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform
a These reporting requirements have been included in the District?s
appropriation acts since fiscal year 1996.
In addition to the 23 reporting requirements from the District of Columbia
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, one requirement was contained in
the Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 and is listed in
table 3.
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 15 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Table 3: Congressional Reporting Requirement for the District of Columbia
from the Supplemental Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (P. L. 107- 20,
Jan. 3, 2001)
Law Citation Description Prepared by Prepared for
1 P. L. 107- 20 General Provisions Sec. 2301
A report on the specific authority necessary to carry out the
responsibilities transferred to the Chief Financial Officer in a noncontrol
year, outlined in section 155 of P. L. 106- 522 (the Fiscal Year 2001
District of Columbia Appropriations Act), and responsibilities outlined in
Bill 14- 254, passed by the Council of the District of Columbia on July 10,
2001, relating to the transition of responsibilities under Public Law 104- 8
(the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance
Act of 1995), within 45 days of the enactment of this act.
Mayor Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, and House Committee on Government Reform
Of the 48 reporting requirements, 24 originated from prior appropriations
acts for the District or from other federal statutes. These requirements,
listed below in table 4, are included in the District of Columbia Official
Code, 2001 Edition.
Table 4: Congressional Reporting Requirements Included in the District of
Columbia Official Code, 2001 Edition
DC Code Description Prepared by Prepared for
1 1- 204.56a, formerly cited as 47- 231
Not later than March 1, of each year (beginning with 1998), a performance
accountability plan for all departments, agencies, and programs of the
District government for the subsequent fiscal year.
Mayor Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Government Reform, and Comptroller
General 2 10- 606,
formerly cited as 9- 206
The Mayor shall submit with his annual estimates a report of his activities
and expenditures under 10- 603. Mayor Congress
3 1- 204.56b, formerly cited as 47- 232
Not later than March 1, of each year (beginning with 1999), develop and
submit a performance accountability report on activities of the District
government during the fiscal year ending on the previous Sept. 30.
Mayor Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Government Reform, and Comptroller
General
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 16 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
DC Code Description Prepared by Prepared for
4 44- 709, formerly cited as 32- 1201
The Mayor of the District of Columbia is required to visit and investigate
the management of all institutions of charity within the District that may
be appropriated for out of the District revenues, in whole or in part, and
shall require an itemized report of receipts and expenditures to be made to
him, to be transmitted with his annual report to Congress.
Mayor Congress 5 38- 2021.14,
formerly cited as 31- 1236
A detailed comparative report annually showing all receipts and
disbursements under the provisions of this part, together with the total
number of persons receiving annuities and the amounts paid to them.
Mayor Congress 6 38- 2702
(P. L. 106- 98) Report annually on:
1. the number of eligible students attending each eligible institutions and
the amount of the grant awards paid to those institutions on behalf of the
eligible students; 2. the extent, if any, to which a ratable reduction was
made in the
amount of tuition and fee payments made on behalf of eligible students; and
3. the progress in obtaining recognized academic credentials of
the cohort of eligible students for each year. Mayor Congress
7 1- 207.36, formerly cited as 47- 118. 1
By the 90th day after receiving an audit report from the Comptroller
General, the Mayor shall state in writing to the Council measures the
District government is taking to comply with the recommendations of the
Comptroller General. A copy of the statement shall be sent to Congress.
Mayor Congress 8 1- 204.56c,
formerly cited as 47- 233( a)
Not later than March 1 of each year (beginning with 1997), a 5- year
financial plan for the District government that contains a description of
the steps the government will take to eliminate any differences between
expenditures from, and revenues attributable to, each fund of the District
of Columbia during the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the submission
of the plan.
CFO Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Government Reform, and Comptroller
General 9 1- 204.56c,
formerly cited as 47- 233( b)
Not later than March 1 of every year (beginning with 1999), a report on the
extent to which the District government was in compliance during the
preceding fiscal year with the applicable requirements of the financial
accountability plan submitted for such fiscal year under this section.
CFO Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Government Reform, Comptroller
General, and Director of the Congressional Budget Office 10 1- 204.56d,
formerly cited as 47- 234
Not later than 15 days after the end of every calendar quarter (beginning
with a report for the quarter beginning October 1, 1997), a report on the
financial and budgetary status of the District government for the previous
quarter. Each quarterly financial report
CFO Subcommittees on the District of Columbia of the Senate and House
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 17 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
DC Code Description Prepared by Prepared for
submitted under this section shall include the following information: 1. a
comparison of actual to forecasted cash receipts and
disbursements for each month of the quarter; 2. a projection of the
remaining months? cash forecast for that
fiscal year; 3. explanation of (i) the differences between actual and
forecasted
cash amounts for each of the months in the quarter and (ii) any changes in
the remaining months? forecast as compared to the original forecast for such
months of that fiscal year; 4. the effect of such changes, actual and
projected, on the total
cash balance of the remaining months and for the fiscal year; 5. explanation
of the impact on meeting the budget; 6. an aging of the outstanding
receivables and payables, with an
explanation of how they are reflected in the forecast of cash receipts and
disbursements; 7. for each department or agency, the actual number of full-
time
equivalent positions, the actual number of full- time employees, the actual
number of part- time employees, and the actual number of temporary
employees, together with the source of funding for each such category of
positions and employees; and 8. a statement of the balance of each account
held by the District
of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as
of the end of the quarter.
Committees on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and
House Committee on Government Reform
11 1- 725( b) The Board shall transmit a copy of each report by the enrolled
actuary on the determination of disability retirement rate for the preceding
calendar year; and determine if such disability retirement rate for such
preceding calendar year is greater than eight- tenths of a percentage point.
DC Retirement Board Speaker of the
House of Representatives, President pro tempore of the U. S. Senate,
Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, Mayor, and DC Council 12 1-
734 Annual reports for a fiscal year within 210 days after the end of such
year; a copy of each summary description of a retirement program within 1
year after the date of the enactment of this chapter; and a revised summary
description of a retirement program, incorporating any material modification
in the terms of the retirement program, within 60 days after such
modification is adopted or occurs. The Board shall also furnish, upon
request, any documents relating to the retirement program or the Fund,
including any bargaining agreement, trust agreement, contract, or other
instrument under which the retirement program of the Fund is operated.
DC Retirement Board Speaker of the
House of Representatives, President pro tempore of the U. S. Senate, Mayor,
and DC Council
13 1- 732 Annual report for each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year
1980) with respect to each retirement program to which this chapter applies
and with respect to the Fund for such retirement program.
DC Retirement Board Speaker of the
House of Representatives, President pro tempore of the
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 18 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
DC Code Description Prepared by Prepared for
U. S. Senate, Mayor, and DC Council 14 47- 119( a) For the fiscal year
beginning October 1, 1982, and each fiscal year
thereafter, the District government shall conduct an audit of the financial
operations of the government, and shall include in such independent audit a
report of the revenues of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year,
broken down by revenues derived from the federal government and revenues
derived from sources other than the federal government during that fiscal
year.
District of Columbia Congress,
President, DC Council, and Comptroller General
15 2- 404, formerly cited as 1- 1204
All settlements entered into by the Mayor of the District of Columbia acting
under the terms and provisions of subsection 2- 402 and 2- 405 shall be
presented to Congress, together with a brief statement of the nature of the
claim or suit, the amount claimed, and the amount of the settlement, with a
summary of the evidence and circumstances under which the settlement was
made.
District of Columbia Congress
16 47- 107 All expenditures from appropriations made for contingent expenses
of the District shall be accounted for in the General Accounting Office as
other expenditures for the District, and a detailed statement of such
expenditures shall be reported to Congress in accordance with subsection 193
of the Revised Statutes of the United States (subsection 492- of Title 31,
USC).
District of Columbia Congress
17 38- 1804.02, formerly cited as 31- 2853.42
Not later than 30 days after April 26, 1996, and not later than October 15
of each year thereafter, the Board of Education shall prepare and submit a
report containing a summary of the most recent calculations of the
following:
1. the number of students, including nonresident students and students with
special needs, enrolled in each grade from kindergarten through grade 12 of
the DC public schools and in public charter schools, and the number of
students whose tuition for enrollment in other schools is paid for with
funds available to the DC public schools; 2. the amount of fees and tuition
assessed and collected from the
nonresident students described in paragraph (1) of this subsection; 3. the
number of students; including nonresident students, enrolled
in preschool and prekindergarten in the DC public schools and in public
charter schools; 4. the amount of fees and tuition assessed and collected
from the
nonresident students described in paragraph (3) of this subsection; 5. the
number of full- time- equivalent adult students enrolled in
adult, community, continuing, and vocational education programs in the DC
public schools and in public charter schools; 6. the amount of fees and
tuition assessed and collected from
resident and nonresident adult students described in paragraph (5) of this
subsection; 7. the number of students, including nonresident students,
enrolled
in nongrade- level programs in DC public schools and in public charter
schools; and
Board of Education Appropriate
congressional committees, Authority, Mayor, DC Council, Consensus
Commission, and the Comptroller General
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 19 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
DC Code Description Prepared by Prepared for
8. the amount of fees and tuition assessed and collected from nonresident
students described in paragraph (7) and this section. 18 38- 1801.01,
formerly cited as 31- 2853.1
Not later than 90 days after April 26, 1996, and each February 15
thereafter, submit a long- term reform plan. The long- term reform plan
shall be consistent with the financial plan and budget for the District of
Columbia for fiscal year 1996 and each financial plan and budget for a
subsequent fiscal year.
Superintendent with the approval of the Board of Education
Appropriate congressional committees, Mayor, DC Council, Authority, and
Consensus Commission 19 2- 302.08,
formerly cited as 1- 1182. 8
Annual report not later than 30 days after the beginning of the fiscal year,
beginning with FY 2001, summarizing the activities of the Office of the
Inspector General during the preceding fiscal year. The annual report shall
include: 1. a summary of significant audits, investigations, and inspections
concluded in the prior fiscal year, including cost; 2. an assessment of the
District?s risks, problems, and abuses
relating to the administration of programs and operations; 3. a description
of the strategies for resolving these risks,
problems, and abuses; 4. a description of the Office?s resources required
and available to
implement its strategies; 5. a description of performance measures to
evaluate progress; 6. a description of the recommendations for corrective
action
made by the Office during the reporting period with respect to significant
problems, abuses, or deficiencies identified pursuant to paragraph (1) of
this subsection; 7. an identification of each significant recommendation
described
in previous annual reports on which corrective action has not been
completed; and 8. a quantitative summary of matters referred to prosecutive
authorities and the prosecutions and convictions that have resulted.
Inspector General Appropriate committees or subcommittees of Congress,
Mayor, and DC Council
20 38- 1802.11, formerly cited as 31- 2853.21
Annual report. On or before July 30 of each year, each eligible chartering
authority that issues a charter under this subchapter shall submit a report
that includes the following information: 1. a list of the members of the
eligible chartering authority and the
addresses of such members; 2. a list of the dates and places of each meeting
of the eligible
chartering authority during the year preceding the report; 3. the number of
petitions received by the eligible chartering
authority for the conversion of a DC public school or a private or
independent school to a public charter school, and for the creation of a new
school as a public charter school; 4. the number of petitions described in
paragraph (3) of this
subsection that were approved and the number that were denied, as well as a
summary of the reasons for which such petitions were denied; 5. a
description of any new charters issued by the eligible
chartering authority during the year preceding the report; 6. a description
of any charters renewed by the eligible chartering
authority during the year preceding the report; Each eligible
chartering authority
Appropriate congressional committees, Mayor, DC Council, Board of Education,
Consensus Commission, and the Secretary of Education
Appendix I: Reporting Requirements Enacted by Congress for the District of
Columbia
Page 20 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
DC Code Description Prepared by Prepared for
7. a description of any charters revoked by the eligible chartering
authority during the year preceding the report; 8. a description of any
charters refused renewal by the eligible
chartering authority during the year preceding the report; and 9. any
recommendations the eligible chartering authority has
concerning ways to improve the administration of public charter schools. 21
38- 1808.56,
formerly cited as 31- 2853.86
The Consensus Commission may investigate any action or activity that may
hinder the progress of any part of the long- term reform plan. The Board of
Education shall cooperate and assist the Consensus Commission in any
investigation. Reports of the findings of any such investigation shall be
provided.
Consensus Commission Appropriate
congressional committees, Board of Education, Superintendent, Mayor, DC
Council, and Authority 22 7- 2208,
formerly cited as 6- 1408
The Office of Emergency Preparedness, through the Mayor of the District of
Columbia, on the first day of each regular session of Congress shall submit
a report of its activities and expenditures under this chapter.
Office of Emergency Preparedness through the Mayor
Congress 23 47- 1002 Property exempt from taxation. Report annually the use
being made
of such specifically exempted property, and of any changes in such use, with
recommendations.
DC Council Congress 24 47- 117 Each year conduct a thorough audit of the
accounts and operations
of the District government in accordance with such principles and procedures
and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe.
Auditor Congress, Mayor, and DC Council
Appendix II: Comments From the District of Columbia
Page 21 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements
Appendix II: Comments From the District of Columbia
Appendix II: Comments From the District of Columbia
Page 22 GAO- 01- 1134 DC Reporting Requirements (450057)
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