RSSControlled Substances Amendments and Criminal Code Amendments
Bill 19-575: District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Synthetic Cannabinoids Amendment Act of 2011
Bill 19-631: District of Columbia Controlled Substances Amendment Act of 2011
B19-645: Criminal Code Amendments Act of 2012
Councilmember Phil Mendelson, Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, announces a public hearing on Bill 19-575: District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Synthetic Cannabinoids Amendment Act of 2011; Bill 19-631: District of Columbia Controlled Substances Amendment Act of 2011; and B19-645: Criminal Code Amendments Act of 2012. The public hearing will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16, 2012 in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building.
The stated purpose of Bill 19-575 is to add synthetic cannabinoids to the list of controlled substances in the District. The stated purpose of Bill 19-631 is to add Cathinone to the list of controlled substances in the District. The stated purpose of Bill 19-645 is to make a number of amendments to the District's criminal code, including: expansion of the list of offenses that require, upon conviction, registration with the Gun Offender Registry; clarification of the District's disorderly conduct law with regard to prosecutorial authority, what conduct is considered lewd or obscene, and the charges that may be brought for a person demonstrating in violation of a warning from law enforcement; increasing of the felony threshold for a "bad check" to $1000; clarfication of "escape" as including when committed by a court; prohibition of, and increased penalty for possession of, certain contraband within penal institutions; increasing the penalty for an armed drug offense; expansion of the definition of "dangerous crime" for puposes of detention before trial; adding certain substances to the list of controlled substances in the District and clarifying that enhanced penalties apply to all controlled substances; among other changes.
Those who wish to testify should register online or contact Mr. Brian Moore, Committee Clerk to the Committee on the Judiciary, at (202) 724-7808, by fax at (202) 724-6664, or via e-mail at bmoore@dccouncil.us and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on Wednesday, Marhc 12, 2012, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing. Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.
If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted either to Ms. Setlow, or to Ms. Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council, Room 5 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 30, 2012.