Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Brooke Pinto

The bill temporarily assigns the DC DOC to provide FAPE under IDEA to eligible disabled individuals 18+ in secure custody through the 2025-2027 school years.

Retained by the Council

Purpose and intent

The bill, titled the Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026, seeks to require the District of Columbia Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and District law to certain individuals in its custody.

Specifically, it applies to individuals with disabilities who are in DOC custody and detained in secure facilities, starting at age 18 and continuing through the end of their eligibility for FAPE under IDEA and District law.

The act is temporary, covering school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, after which it would expire (unless extended or renewed).

Key provisions and changes

Amends the legal framework governing the DOC to designate it as the District agency responsible for delivering FAPE to eligible individuals in its custody, for the stated school years.

Adds a new eligibility and service period provision:

For school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, DOC must provide FAPE to individuals with disabilities aged 18 and older who are in custody/detained in secure facilities, through to the end of their IDEA/District law FAPE eligibility.

The amendments modify existing statutory language in:

The 1946 Act establishing the DOC (section 2(b)) to insert a new paragraph (12) detailing the temporary FAPE obligation.
The Corrections Omnibus Improvement Act of 2022 (section 10(a)) to add a new paragraph (14) codifying the same FAPE obligation for the applicable years.

The fiscal impact statement is adopted from the Budget Director as the bill’s fiscal impact documentation.

Effective date and sunset:

The act takes effect after mayoral approval (or overridden veto) and a 60-day congressional review.
The act expires 225 days after it takes effect.

Who is affected

Primary: Individuals with disabilities who are 18 years of age or older and are in the custody of the DC Department of Corrections, detained in secure facilities.

Providers and program oversight: The DC DOC becomes the designated agency responsible for delivering FAPE to these individuals during the specified school years.

Broader impact: Reinforces coordination between DOC and IDEA-related education requirements for incarcerated or detained young adults, albeit on a temporary basis.

Procedural and timeline notes

Temporary nature: Applies specifically to school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027; the bill includes a sunset after 225 days from effectiveness.

Legislative process: Requires mayoral approval (or veto override) and a 60-day congressional review period under the DC Home Rule Act before taking effect.

Fiscal considerations: Council adopts the Budget Director’s fiscal impact statement for transparency and budgeting purposes.

Summary

This bill temporarily designates the DC Department of Corrections as the agency responsible for providing free appropriate public education under IDEA and DC law to eligible, disabled individuals who are 18+ and detained in secure DOC facilities, during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. It expands DOC duties to ensure FAPE for these young adults through the end of their IDEA eligibility, and it includes standard fiscal and sunset provisions typical of temporary measures.