Volunteer Services Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

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

The bill would explicitly authorize the Office of the Attorney General to promulgate its own regulations governing its use of volunteers.

Resolution R26-0397, Effective from May 05, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 007307

Purpose

Declares an emergency and proposes emergency legislation to amend the Volunteers Services Act of 1977 (VSA) to explicitly authorize the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to promulgate its own regulations governing the use of volunteers.

Aims to ensure the OAG can continue to utilize volunteers (including attorneys and interns) without disruption, preserving the agency’s ability to enforce laws and serve District residents.

Key Provisions

Emergency Declaration: The Resolution itself declares an emergency and states that immediate action is necessary.

Proposed Amendment to the VSA: The resolution seeks to amend the Volunteers Services Act of 1977 to explicitly empower the Attorney General to promulgate regulations governing the OAG’s use of volunteers.

Current law context:
VSA promotes using volunteers across District government programs.
Regulations governing volunteer use by District agencies must be promulgated before agencies accept volunteer services (VSA §4(a)).
The Attorney General’s office (OAG) gained independent personnel authority via the 2010 amendment (Section 108a), but the VSA does not expressly authorize OAG to issue its own volunteer regulations.
This bill would align the VSA with the Attorney General’s independent status and personnel authority by explicitly authorizing OAG to set its own volunteer regulations.

Emergency Effect: The resolution states the amendment is necessary to prevent adverse effects on OAG operations, programs, divisions, and cases that rely on volunteers.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Primary Beneficiary: Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and its volunteers (including lawyers, interns, and other volunteers).

Ensures OAG can regulate its volunteer programs independently, reducing potential gaps or delays in volunteer deployment.

District Government and Residents: By sustaining OAG operations and volunteer-driven support, the bill indirectly supports enforcement of District laws, legal services, investigations, policy work, mediation, research, and constituent services provided by OAG.

Volunteer Roles: While volunteers broadly assist various functions, the bill’s effect is to empower OAG to establish its own rules for volunteer engagement within the agency.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Emergency Status: The bill is framed as an emergency measure to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Single Reading Likely: The Council determines the circumstances justify adoption after a single reading (as an emergency act).

Intro and Sponsorship:

Introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto (Co-sponsored by Brooke Pinto).
Action history shows it was introduced (April 30, 2026) and retained by the Council (May 5, 2026).

Notes

The bill centers on clarifying governance rather than creating new volunteer programs or funding.

If enacted, the OAG would have explicit authorization to promulgate regulations specific to its use of volunteers, aligning with its independently elected status and prior personnel authority changes.

Bill