Title 7 — Human Health Care and Safety.

(a) In consultation with organizations representing property owners, property managers, and building operators and managers, the Director shall develop guidance for building operators and managers to enhance the security of large commercial and residential buildings. (b) In consu…

The Agency shall coordinate a regular program of readiness exercises to test the District of Columbia’s emergency preparedness, propose action to address any gap in preparedness, and coordinate with regional, federal, and private entities.

The Agency shall establish and implement an effective homeland security public warning and information capability that can be used during emergencies to warn residents timely and to disseminate emergency information to residents, both indoors and outdoors, at any time and regardl…

The Director shall request the voluntary sharing of information from private entities on best practices for prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery from a terrorist or other security incident, including information on relocation and other business continuity plans and prog…

(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules for the use of surveillance cameras and technology in the operation of its Video Interoperability for Public Safety (“VIPS”) program; provided, that the Agency shall not use cameras maintained or m…

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term: (1) “Agency” means the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. (2) “Commission” means the Homeland Security Commission established by § 7-2271.02. (3) “Director” means the Director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Ma…

(a) There is established a District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission, which shall consist of 7 persons with expertise in security, transportation, communication, chemical safety, risk assessment, terrorism (including bioterrorism), or occupational safety and health. (b)(1…

(a) The Commission shall: (1) Gather and evaluate information on the status of homeland security in the District of Columbia; (2) Measure progress and gaps in homeland security preparedness; (3) Recommend security improvement priorities in consultation with major public and priva…

(a) Commission proceedings shall be closed to the public and shall not be subject to § 1-207.42 when the Committee is discussing specific public and private vulnerability assessments or where the information discussed would: (1) Reveal a trade secret or privileged or confidential…

(a) All information and records generated by the Commission, including statistical compilations and reports, and all information and records acquired by, and in the possession of, the Commission are confidential. (b) Except as permitted by this section, information and records of…

All records and information obtained by the Commission pursuant to this subchapter shall be destroyed by the Commission one year after publication of the Commission’s annual report.

The Commission shall report on an annual basis to the Mayor and Council on the work of the Commission and areas of the Homeland Security Program in need of improvement and shall make the annual report available to the public.

As used in this chapter the term: (1) “Communicable disease” means that term as it is defined in § 7-132(2). (1A) “District of Columbia response plan” means the District of Columbia’s state plan for public emergency preparedness and prevention prepared pursuant to § 201 of the Di…

(a) The Mayor may establish a program of public emergency preparedness that utilizes the services of all appropriate agencies (including the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency) and the program shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Development of a District of C…

(a) The Mayor shall transmit to the Council of the District of Columbia complete copies of any existing plan or program prepared pursuant to § 201 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5121) within 30 calendar days of March 5, 1981. The plan or program shall be valid on…

(a) Upon reasonable apprehension of the existence of a public emergency and the determination by the Mayor that the issuance of an order is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare, and as a prerequisite to requesting emergency or m…

(a) When the Mayor declares a public emergency pursuant to § 7-2304, the Mayor may issue an additional executive order to proclaim a public health emergency if the Mayor has reasonable cause to believe that there is an imminent hazard of or actual occurrence of any of the followi…

In addition to disaster prevention measures included in District of Columbia government and interjurisdictional public emergency plans, to prevent or manage the harmful consequences of a disaster, and consistent with the provisions of other law, the Mayor shall, when appropriate,…

(a) An emergency executive order, or a public health emergency executive order, issued by the Mayor shall be effective for a period of no more than 15 calendar days from the day it is signed by the Mayor, but may be rescinded in whole or in part by the Mayor within that period sh…

An emergency executive order issued by the Mayor may provide for a fine of not more than $1,000 for each violation. The Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia or any Assistant Corporation Counsel may bring an action in the name of the District of Columbia against anyone …

No action taken pursuant to an emergency executive order issued by the Mayor pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to § 2-509, until after the expiration date of the emergency executive order.

(a) The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, resulting in grievous loss of life and the concomitant disruption of our national regional services, highlight the need for, and value of, intergovernmental planning and programming at the st…

The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the District of Columbia, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact in the form substantially as follows: Emergency Management Assistance Compact (a) This compact is made and entered into by and between the participating m…

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Ambulance” means any privately or publicly owned vehicle specially designed, constructed, modified, or equipped for use as a means for transporting patients in a medical emergency or any privately or publicly owned vehicle that is …

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, this chapter shall apply to every: (1) Person performing the duties of emergency services personnel, compensated or uncompensated, within the District of Columbia; (2) Entity providing emergency medical services within the Distric…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person or entity shall operate an emergency medical services agency in the District, whether public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, without first having obtained a license from the Mayor to do so. (b) Unless otherwise…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no ambulance or other emergency medical response vehicle intended to transport patients may be operated in the District without a currently valid license having been issued by the Mayor for that vehicle and for its use as an emerg…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall perform the duties of emergency medical services personnel in the District, whether for compensation or not for compensation, without first having obtained a certification from the Mayor to do so. (b) Except as oth…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall perform the duties of flight emergency medical services personnel in the District, whether for compensation or not for compensation, without first having obtained a certification from the Mayor to do so. (b) An app…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person or entity shall operate an emergency medical services training facility in the District, whether public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, without first having obtained a certification from the Mayor to do so. (b)…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall perform the duties of an emergency medical services instructor in the District, whether for compensation or not for compensation, without first having obtained a certification from the Mayor to do so. (b) No person…

(a) No license shall be issued pursuant to this chapter to any emergency medical response vehicle used to transport patients unless there is, at all times in force and effect, insurance coverage for the vehicle, issued by an insurance company or companies licensed to do business …

(a) The Mayor may issue provisional licenses or certifications to new emergency medical services agencies or training facilities to afford the Mayor sufficient time and evidence to evaluate whether a new agency or facility is capable of complying with the provisions of this chapt…

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any emergency medical services agency, ambulance or other emergency medical response vehicle, emergency medical technician or paramedic, emergency medical services instructor or preceptor, or emergency medical services training facili…

(a) The Mayor may grant provisional certification, at the equivalent classification level, to any individual possessing a current valid emergency medical services personnel credential issued by any state or United States territory. (b) The provisional certification issued pursuan…

(a) To ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and of any rules promulgated pursuant to this chapter, the Mayor, or any duly authorized designee, shall be permitted at reasonable times to conduct an inspection of any agency, vehicle, or training facility, or to cond…

(a) An application for renewal of a license or certification shall be submitted to the Mayor no later than 90 days before expiration of the license or certification, on a form approved by the Mayor, accompanied by the appropriate renewal fee established by the Mayor through rulem…

(a) The Mayor, subject to the right to a hearing as provided in § 7-2341.17, may deny issuance of, deny renewal of, suspend, or revoke a license or certification to operate an emergency medical services agency, an emergency medical response vehicle, or an emergency medical servic…

(a) If, after an investigation, the Mayor determines that an agency, vehicle, person, or facility licensed or certified pursuant to this chapter has failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or with rules promulgated pursuant to this chapter, in such a manner as to pr…

(a) Except in the case of a summary suspension as provided in § 7-2341.16, before the Mayor denies an application for initial or renewal licensure or certification, or suspends or revokes a license or certification, or imposes a civil fine, the Mayor shall give the person, or the…

A person or entity aggrieved by a decision of the Office of Administrative Hearings may appeal the decision to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in accordance with Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.] and pursuant to Chapter 18A of Title 2 [§ 2-1831.01 et seq.].

(a) The Mayor shall establish criteria for the designation of, and shall designate, one or more hospitals within the District of Columbia as specialized trauma care facilities. (b) The Mayor may establish criteria for the designation of, and may designate, one or more hospitals w…

(a) No person, entity, or government agency shall advertise or disseminate information to the public that it offers ambulance service, unless that service is provided by persons certified pursuant to this chapter and to rules promulgated pursuant to this chapter at a level equal …

The Mayor shall establish, in collaboration with a licensed hospital within the District of Columbia specializing in pediatric care, a program of emergency medical services for children. The purpose of this program shall be to continue, to the extent that funds are made available…

(a) There is established a District of Columbia Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee (“EMSAC”). (b) EMSAC shall advise the Mayor, the Chief and the Medical Director of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, the Director of the Department of Health, the Direc…

(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter, including: (1) Minimum standards of operation of an emergency medical services agency, including: (A) Medical director and staff quali…

(a) Any person or entity who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to imprisonment not to exceed 180 days, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both. Each unlawful act shall constitute a separate violation. (b) Any person or entity who has been prev…

(a) Criminal prosecutions for violations of this chapter shall be brought by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia in the name of the District of Columbia. (b) In any prosecution initiated pursuant to this chapter, a person or entity claiming an exemption from a licen…

(a) The Attorney General for the District of Columbia may bring an action in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, in the name of the District of Columbia, to enjoin any violation of this chapter. (b) The remedy established by this section shall be in addition to crimin…

(a) To the extent not explicitly superseded by the provisions of this chapter, the Ambulance and Medical Personnel Regulation (29 DCMR § 500 et seq.) shall remain in effect until superseded by rules promulgated by the Mayor pursuant to the authority of this chapter. Upon the effe…