1. (a) There is established for the District of Columbia the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, which, in addition to other remedies or rights of appeal available under the law, shall be an independent, impartial office responsible to the Council and tasked with improving outcomes for CFSA children by holding agencies accountable for fulfilling their responsibilities under the law.
2. (b) The Office shall be headed by the Ombudsperson for Children, who shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Council, subject to the approval of a majority of the Council.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The Ombudsperson shall serve for a term of 5 years and may be reappointed.
   2. (2) The Ombudsperson shall be paid at a rate of compensation as may be established from time to time by the Council.
   3. (3) The Ombudsperson shall receive 2-weeks' notice of removal and may be removed only for cause by a majority of the Council.
   4. (4) If the position of Ombudsperson becomes vacant, the Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson shall serve as acting Ombudsperson until an Ombudsperson has been appointed for a full term.
4. (d) Repealed.

5. (e)

   1. (1) The Ombudsperson shall appoint a Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson, who shall have primary responsibility for performing the duties under § 4-671.05. The Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson shall be a licensed independent clinical social worker, or its equivalent, with experience in child and family welfare issues, case management, and data management systems, and shall be a member of:

      1. (A) The CFSA Internal Child Fatality Review Committee;

         and

      2. (B) The Mayor's Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.
   2. (2) The Mayor shall furnish the Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson with such office space at CFSA's main office that is necessary for the discharge of the Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson's duties.
6. (f) The Ombudsperson shall serve as the personnel authority for the Office and shall have such staff as is appropriated in an approved budget. The Ombudsperson and all employees of the Office shall be appointed in subchapter IX of Chapter 6 of Title 1.
7. (g) The Ombudsperson shall have exclusive authority to administer the Office's budget.

Applicability of D.C. Law 23-270: § 301 of D.C. Law 23-270 provided that the creation of this section by § 102 of D.C. Law 23-270 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

History

Apr. 5, 2021, D.C. Law 23-270, § 102

Dec. 6, 2025, D.C. Law 26-55, § 5012

Applicability

Applicability of D.C. Law 23-270: § 301 of D.C. Law 23-270 provided that the creation of this section by § 102 of D.C. Law 23-270 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

Section 7208 of D.C. Act 24-159 repealed the applicability provision of section 301 of D.C. Law 23-270 that impacted this section. Therefore the creation of this section by Law 23-270 has been implemented.

Section 7208 of D.C. Law 24-45 repealed the applicability provision of section 301 of D.C. Law 23-270 that impacted this section. Therefore the creation of this section by Law 23-270 has been implemented.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5012 of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-146, Sept. 3, 2025, 72 DCR 9623).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5012 of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-210, Nov. 24, 2025, 72 DCR 13514).