D.C. Law 25-45. Pride Plates Amendment Act of 2023.

AN ACT

To amend the Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs Act of 2006 to establish a special fund to support programs that promote the welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community; and to amend the District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1937 to require the Mayor to design and issue one or more LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tags to promote the welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Pride Plates Amendment Act of 2023".

Sec. 2. The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs Act of 2006, effective April 4, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-89; D.C. Official Code § 2-1381 et seq.), is amended by adding a new section 4b to read as follows:

"Sec. 4b. Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs Fund.

"(a) There is established as a special fund the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Office in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

"(b) All fees collected pursuant to section 2n(b)(1) of Title IV of the District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1937, passed on 2nd reading on June 20, 2023 (Enrolled version of Bill 25-168), shall be deposited into the Fund.

"(c) Money in the Fund shall be used by the Office to support programs that promote the welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community.

"(d)(1) The money deposited into the Fund but not expended in a fiscal year shall not revert to the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time.

"(2) Subject to authorization in an approved budget and financial plan, any funds appropriated in the Fund shall be continually available without regard to fiscal year limitation.

"(e) The Mayor shall report annually to the Council on the revenues and activities of the Fund.".

Sec. 3. Title IV of the District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1937, approved August 17, 1937 (50 Stat. 679; D.C. Official Code § 50-1501.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) A new section 2n is added to read as follows:

"Sec. 2n. Issuance of LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tags.

"(a) The Mayor shall design and make available for issue one or more LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tags demonstrating support for the LGBTQ community.

"(b)(1) A resident ordering an LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tag shall pay a one-time application fee and a display fee each year thereafter. The application fee shall be $25, and the display fee shall be $20, or such other amount as may be established by the Mayor by rule.

"(2) The application fee and annual display fee shall be deposited into the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs Fund, established by section 4b of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs Act of 2006, passed on 2nd reading on June 20, 2023 (Enrolled version of Bill 25-168).".

(b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code§ 50-1501.03) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a)(1) is amended by adding a new subparagraph (R) to read as

follows:

"(R) Any person ordering a LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in section 2n(b)(1).".

(2) Subsection (d) is amended as follows:

(A) Paragraph (14) is amended by striking the phrase "; and" and inserting a semicolon in its place.

(B) Paragraph (15) is amended by striking the period and inserting the phrase "; and" in its place.

(C) A new paragraph (16) is added to read as follows:

"(16) The fees collected for the LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tag under section 2n shall be deposited into the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs Fund, established by section 4b of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs Act of 2006, passed on 2nd reading on June 20, 2023 (Enrolled version of Bill 25-168).".

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.