1. (a) There is established a Paul E. Sluby, Sr. Historic Burial Grounds Preservation Program at the Office of Planning ("Office").

2. (b) Subject to available funding, the Office shall issue grants to qualified charitable organizations for the following purposes:

   1. (1) The preservation and restoration of historic burial grounds;
   2. (2) The identification of historic burial grounds;
   3. (3) The interpretation of historic burial grounds;
   4. (4) The repatriation of human remains, particularly those from former historic burial grounds; or
   5. (5) Related research and documentation of historic burial grounds including burial records, locational data, and contested ownership.
3. (c) Qualified charitable organizations that seek a grant for activities at a historic burial ground that is located on private property shall be considered for a grant only with the written consent of the property owner.

4. (d) For the purposes of this section, the term:

   1. (1) "Historic burial ground" means a cemetery or any natural or prepared physical location, whether originally below, on, or above the surface of the earth, into which human remains are deposited as a part of the death rite or ceremony of a culture, and that was established in the District of Columbia prior to January 1, 1955, for interments of African Americans and is owned by a public body or qualified charitable organization.
   2. (2) "Qualified charitable organization" means a charitable corporation, charitable association, or charitable trust that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that has the primary purpose of preserving historical cemeteries and graves or was formed for the purpose of identifying, preserving, or maintaining historic burial grounds.

History

Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-144, § 11c

Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-144, § 11c

Dec. 6, 2025, D.C. Law 26-55, § 2142

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 11c 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) creation of this section, see § 11c of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-210, Nov. 24, 2025, 72 DCR 13514).