(a) There is authorized to be appropriated an amount not to exceed $100,000 in any fiscal year for expenses as the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall deem to be necessary, including personal services, for the reception and entertainment (including ceremonial gifts) of officials of foreign, state, local, or federal governments and other dignitaries and eminent persons visiting in or returning to the District of Columbia, or for the reception or entertainment of officials of foreign, state, local, or federal governments when the Mayor is visiting any other jurisdiction in his or her official capacity.
(b) There is authorized to be appropriated an amount not to exceed $100,000 in any fiscal year for expenses as the Council of the District of Columbia shall deem to be necessary, including personal services, for the reception and entertainment (including ceremonial gifts) of officials of foreign, state, local, or federal governments and other dignitaries and eminent persons visiting in or returning to the District of Columbia, or for the reception or entertainment of officials of foreign, state, local, or federal governments when any Councilmember is visiting any other jurisdiction in his or her official capacity.
(b-1) The Mayor and Council may accept, administer, and use gifts or donations for the purpose of aiding, facilitating, and promoting the conduct of ceremonies in the District, including personal services, for the reception and entertainment, including ceremonial gifts, of officials of foreign, state, local, or federal governments and other dignitaries and eminent persons visiting or returning to the District, or for the reception or entertainment of officials of foreign, state, local, or federal governments when the Mayor is visiting any other jurisdiction in his or her official capacity.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term “dignitary” or “eminent person” means a person other than a government official, who is of high rank or attainment in his or her occupation or who has performed extraordinary service to, or has significantly contributed to the welfare of, the citizens of the District of Columbia.
(d) Any amounts appropriated for expenses under this section shall be subject to audit and accounted for in the same manner as any other District of Columbia government funds used for governmental purposes.
(e) The Secretary of the District of Columbia and the Secretary to the Council of the District of Columbia shall issue annual reports, which shall be made available to the public and which shall include an itemization of each disbursement under this section by the Mayor of the District of Columbia and by the Council of the District of Columbia, respectively. Records of disbursements under this section shall be retained for not less than 5 years.
CREDIT(S)
(July 11, 1947, 61 Stat. 314, ch. 231, § 1; Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-139, § 3205(b), 25 DCR 5740; Dec. 16, 1987, D.C. Law 7-58, § 2, 34 DCR 7083; Feb. 20, 1988, D.C. Law 7-80, § 2, 34 DCR 7960; Mar. 17, 2005, D.C. Law 15-258, § 2, 52 DCR 1176.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 1-355.
1973 Ed., § 1-262.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 15-258, in subsecs. (a) and (b), substituted “100,000” for “25,000”; and added subsec. (b-1).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 2-139, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 1-333.07.
Law 7-58 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-307. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on September 29, 1987 and October 13, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on October 26, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-91 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 7-80 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-301, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 10, 1987 and November 24, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 1, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-115 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 15-258, the “Ceremonial Funds Amendment Act of 2004”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No 15-718, which was referred to Committee of Government Operations. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 5, 2004, and November 9, 2004, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 30, 2004, it was assigned Act No. 15-633 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 15-258 became effective on March 17, 2005.