H.R. 7068: No Convicts Running the Capital Act

This bill, titled the "No Convicts Running the Capital Act," aims to establish restrictions on employment and contracting practices within the government of the District of Columbia regarding individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes. The main provisions of the bill are as follows:

Prohibition on Employment

The bill prohibits the District of Columbia government from hiring anyone who has been convicted of a "crime of violence" or a "dangerous crime." Specifically:

• An individual applying for a position must certify that they have not been finally convicted of such crimes.
• Any current employee who has been finally convicted will have their employment terminated within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
• This prohibition takes effect for new appointments after the bill is enacted.

Restrictions on Contracts

In addition to employment, the bill also imposes restrictions on contracts that the District of Columbia government can enter into:

• The government cannot contract with vendors unless those vendors certify that they are not "covered vendors." A "covered vendor" is defined as:
• A vendor individual who has been finally convicted of a crime of violence or a dangerous crime.
• A vendor entity that employs an individual with such a conviction to fulfill the contract.
• A vendor whose officers or directors, or controlling owners, have such convictions.
• Contracts that do not comply with these requirements will need to be terminated within 90 days of the bill's enactment.

Definitions of Relevant Terms

The bill defines several key terms related to the prohibited crimes:

• Crime of violence: This term includes offenses defined by the District of Columbia and offenses from other jurisdictions that are similar.
• Dangerous crime: Similar to "crime of violence," this term encompasses certain offenses recognized by local and federal law.
• Finally convicted: This refers to convictions that are not currently under appeal and cannot be appealed anymore, or those that have completed the appeals process.

Implementation Timeline

The various provisions of the bill establish specific timelines for both employment and contracting restrictions to be enacted following the bill's passing, specifically addressing current employees and contracts that are in effect at the time of enactment.

Relevant Companies

None found