§ 5–1401. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) "CME" means the Chief Medical Examiner within the OCME.

(1A) “District” means the District of Columbia.

(2) “Legal custody” includes imprisonment, jail, or detention.

(2A) "OCME" means the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

(3) “Ward” means any person in the official custody of the District government, on a temporary or permanent basis, because of neglect, abuse, mental illness or intellectual disability.

(Oct. 19, 2000, D.C. Law 13-172, § 2902, 47 DCR 6308; Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-169, § 13, 59 DCR 5567; Nov. 13, 2021, D.C. Law 24-45, § 3072(a), 68 DCR 010163.)

Effect of Amendments

The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-169 substituted “intellectual disability” for “mental retardation” in (3).

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3072(a) of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-159, Aug. 23, 2021, 68 DCR 008602).

For temporary (90 day) addition of applicability provision, see § 2920 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-438, October 20, 2000, 47 DCR 8740).

For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 2902 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-438, October 20, 2000, 47 DCR 8740).

Editor's Notes

Section 35 of D.C. Law 19-169 provided that no provision of the act shall impair any right or obligation existing under law.

Mayor's Orders

Autopsies of Deceased Clients of the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability Administration, see Mayor’s Order 2004-76, May 13, 2004 ( 51 DCR 5278).

Autopsies of Deceased Consumers of the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration, see Mayor’s Order 2006-123, September 28, 2006 ( 53 DCR 9314).