24 USC 225 - Conditions of employment for former employees of Hospital

Collapse to view only § 225e. Conditions of employment for former employees of Hospital

§ 225. Findings and purposes
§ 225a. Definitions
§ 225b. Development of plan for mental health system for the District
§ 225c. Congressional review of system implementation plan
§ 225d. Transition provisions for employees of Hospital
§ 225e. Conditions of employment for former employees of Hospital
§ 225f. Property transfer
§ 225g. Financing provisions
§ 225h. Buy American provisions

§ 225. Findings and purposes

(a) The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Governmentally administered mental health services in the District of Columbia are currently provided through two separate public entities, the federally administered Saint Elizabeths Hospital and the Mental Health Services Administration of the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources.

(2) The District of Columbia has a continuing responsibility to provide mental health services to its residents.

(3) The Federal Government, through its operation of a national mental health program at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, has for over 100 years assisted the District of Columbia in carrying out that responsibility.

(4) Since its establishment by Congress in 1855, Saint Elizabeths Hospital has developed into a respected national mental health hospital and study, training, and treatment center, providing a range of quality mental health and related services, including—

(i) acute and chronic inpatient psychiatric care;

(ii) outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse clinical and related services;

(iii) Federal court system forensic psychiatry referral, evaluation, and patient treatment services for prisoners, and for individuals awaiting trial or requiring post-trial or post-sentence psychiatric evaluation;

(iv) patient care and related services for designated classes of individuals entitled to mental health benefits under Federal law, such as certain members and employees of the United States Armed Forces and the Foreign Service, and residents of American overseas dependencies;

(v) District of Columbia court system forensic psychiatry referral, evaluation, and patient treatment services for prisoners, and for individuals awaiting trial or requiring post-trial or postsentence psychiatric evaluation;

(vi) programs for special populations such as the mentally ill deaf;

(vii) support for basic and applied clinical psychiatric research and related patient services conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and other institutions; and

(viii) professional and paraprofessional training in the major mental health disciplines.

(5) The continuation of the range of services currently provided by federally administered Saint Elizabeths Hospital must be assured, as these services are integrally related to—

(i) the availability of adequate mental health services to District of Columbia residents, nonresidents who require mental health services while in the District of Columbia, individuals entitled to mental health services under Federal law, and individuals referred by both Federal and local court systems; and

(ii) the Nation’s capacity to increase our knowledge and understanding about mental illness and to facilitate and continue the development and broad availability of sound and modern methods and approaches for the treatment of mental illness.

(6) The assumption of all or selected functions, programs, and resources of Saint Elizabeths Hospital from the Federal Government by the District of Columbia, and the integration of those functions, resources, and programs into a comprehensive mental health care system administered solely by the District of Columbia, will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services currently provided through those two separate entities by shifting the primary focus of care to an integrated community-based system.

(7) Such assumption of all or selected functions, programs, and resources of Saint Elizabeths Hospital by the District of Columbia would further the principle of home rule for the District of Columbia.

(b) It is the intent of Congress that—

(1) the District of Columbia have in operation no later than October 1, 1993, an integrated coordinated mental health system in the District which provides—

(A) high quality, cost-effective, and community-based programs and facilities;

(B) a continuum of inpatient and outpatient mental health care, residential treatment, and support services through an appropriate balance of public and private resources; and

(2) the comprehensive District mental health care system be in full compliance with the Federal court consent decree in Dixon v. Heckler;

(3) the District and Federal Governments bear equitable shares of the costs of a transition from the present system to a comprehensive District mental health system;

(4) the transition to a comprehensive District mental health system provided for by this subchapter be carried out with maximum consideration for the interests of employees of the Hospital and provide a right-of-first-refusal to such employees for employment at comparable levels in positions created under the system implementation plan;

(5) the Federal Government have the responsibility for the retraining of Hospital employees to prepare such employees for the requirements of employment in a comprehensive District mental health system;

(6) the Federal Government continue high quality mental health research, training, and demonstration programs at Saint Elizabeths Hospital;

(7) the District government establish and maintain accreditation and licensing standards for all services provided in District mental health facilities which assure quality care consistent with appropriate Federal regulations and comparable with standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals; and

(8) the comprehensive mental health system plan include a component for direct services for the homeless mentally ill.

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 2, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3369; Pub. L. 102–150, § 3(a), Oct. 31, 1991, 105 Stat. 980.)

§ 225a. Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter:

(1) The term “Hospital” means the institution in the District of Columbia known as Saint Elizabeths Hospital operated on November 8, 1984, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(3) The term “Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

(4) The term “District” means the District of Columbia.

(5) The term “Federal court consent decree” means the consent decree in Dixon v. Heckler, Civil Action No. 74–285.

(6) The term “service coordination period” means a period beginning on October 1, 1985, and terminating on October 1, 1987.

(7) The term “financial transition period” means a period beginning on October 1, 1985, and terminating on October 1, 1991.

(8) The term “system implementation plan” means the plan for a comprehensive mental health system for the District of Columbia to be developed pursuant to this subchapter.

(9) The term “Council” means the Council of the District of Columbia.

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 3, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3371.)

§ 225b. Development of plan for mental health system for the District

(a) Responsibility for mental health services; effective date; final system implementation plan; comprehensive mental health program

(1) Subject to subsection (g) of this section and section 225g(b)(1) of this title, effective October 1, 1987, the District shall be responsible for the provision of mental health services to residents of the District.

(2) Not later than October 1, 1993, the Mayor shall complete the implementation of the final system implementation plan reviewed by the Congress and the Council in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter for the establishment of a comprehensive District mental health system to provide mental health services and programs through community mental health facilities to individuals in the District of Columbia.

(b) Mayor; preliminary system implementation plan; final implementation plan; submission to and review by Council and Congressional committees

(1) The Mayor shall prepare a preliminary system implementation plan for a comprehensive mental health system no later than 3 months from October 1, 1985, and a final implementation plan no later than 12 months from October 1, 1985.

(2) The Mayor shall submit the preliminary system implementation plan to the Council no later than 3 months from October 1, 1985. The Council shall review such plan and transmit written recommendations to the Mayor regarding any revisions to such plan no later than 60 days after such submission. The Mayor shall submit the revised preliminary plan to the Committee on the District of Columbia of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate for review and comment in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.

(3) The final system implementation plan shall be considered by the Council consistent with the provisions of section 422(12) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.

(4) After the review of the Council pursuant to paragraph (3), the Mayor shall submit the final implementation plan to the Committee on the District of Columbia of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate for review and comment in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.

The system implementation plan shall—

(1) propose and describe an integrated, comprehensive, and coordinated mental health system for the District of Columbia;

(2) identify the types of treatment to be offered, staffing patterns, and the proposed sites for service delivery within the District of Columbia comprehensive mental health system;

(3) identify mechanisms to attract and retain personnel of appropriate number and quality to meet the objectives of the comprehensive mental health system;

(4) be in full compliance with the Federal court consent decree in Dixon v. Heckler and all applicable District of Columbia statutes and court decrees;

(5) identify those positions, programs, and functions at Saint Elizabeths Hospital which are proposed for assumption by the District, those facilities at Saint Elizabeths Hospital which are proposed for utilization by the District under a comprehensive District mental health system, and the staffing patterns and programs at community facilities to which the assumed functions are to be integrated;

(6) identify any capital improvements to facilities at Saint Elizabeths Hospital and elsewhere in the District of Columbia proposed for delivery of mental health services, which are necessary for the safe and cost effective delivery of mental health services; and

(7) identify the specific real property, buildings, improvements, and personal property to be transferred pursuant to section 225f(a)(1) of this title needed to provide mental health and other services provided by the Department of Human Services under the final system implementation plan.

(d) Consultation; labor-management advisory committee; public comments

(1) The Mayor shall develop the system implementation plan in close consultation with officials of Saint Elizabeths Hospital, through working groups to be established by the Secretary and the Mayor for that purpose.

(2) The Mayor and the Secretary shall establish a labor-management advisory committee, requesting the participation of Federal and District employee organizations affected by this subchapter, to make recommendations on the system implementation plan. The committee shall consider staffing patterns under a comprehensive District mental health care system, retention of Hospital employees under such system, Federal retraining for such employees, and any other areas of concern related to the establishment of a comprehensive District system. In developing the system implementation plan the Mayor shall carefully consider the recommendations of the committee. Such advisory committee shall not be subject to chapter 10 of title 5.

(3) The Mayor and such working groups shall, in developing the plan, solicit comments from the public, which shall include professional organizations, provider agencies and individuals, and mental health advocacy groups in the District of Columbia.

(e) Shift of selected program responsibilities and staff resources; commercial activity proposals; exemption of certain studies

(1) The Mayor and the Secretary may, during the service coordination period, by mutual agreement and consistent with the requirements of the system implementation plan direct the shift of selected program responsibilities and staff resources from Saint Elizabeths Hospital to the District. The Secretary may assign staff occupying positions in affected programs to work under the supervision of the District. The Mayor shall notify the Committee on the District of Columbia of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate in writing of any planned shift in program responsibilites 1

1 So in original. Probably should be “responsibilities”.

or staff resources not less than 30 days prior to the implementation of such shift.

(2)

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), after October 1, 1984, and during the service coordination period, no request for proposals may be issued by the Secretary for any areas of commercial activity at the Hospital pursuant to Office of Management and Budget circular A–76.

(B) The limitation under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to studies initiated pursuant to such circular prior to October 1, 1984.

(f) Financial and physical plant audits; repairs and renovations; maintenance of facilities and infrastructure

(1) To assist the Mayor in the development of the system implementation plan, the Secretary shall contract for a financial audit and a physical plant audit of all existing facilities at the Hospital to be completed by January 1, 1986. The financial audit shall be conducted according to generally accepted accounting principles. The physical plant audit shall recognize any relevant national and District codes and estimate the useful life of existing facility support systems.

(2)

(A) Pursuant to such physical plant audit, the Secretary shall initiate not later than October 1, 1987, and, except as provided under an agreement entered into pursuant to subparagraph (C), complete not later than October 1, 1993, such repairs and renovations to such physical plant and facility support systems of the Hospital as are to be utilized by the District under the system implementation plan as part of a comprehensive District mental health system, as are necessary to meet any applicable code requirements or standards.

(B) At a minimum until October 1, 1987, the Secretary shall maintain all other facilities and infrastructure of the Hospital not assumed by the District in the condition described in such audit.

(C) The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Mayor under which the Secretary shall provide funds to the Mayor to complete the repairs and renovations described in subparagraph (A) and to make other capital improvements that are necessary for the safe and cost effective delivery of mental health services in the District, except that $7,500,000 of the funds provided to the Mayor under such an agreement shall be used to make capital improvements to facilities not located at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. Of the $7,500,000 provided for improvements to facilities not located at the Hospital, not less than $5,000,000 shall be used to make capital improvements to housing facilities for seriously and chronically mentally ill individuals.

(g) Service coordination period; responsibility for providing services

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 4, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3371; Pub. L. 102–150, §§ 2, 3(a), Oct. 31, 1991, 105 Stat. 980; Pub. L. 105–33, title XI, § 11717(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 786; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(179), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4325.)

§ 225c. Congressional review of system implementation plan

(a) The Committee on the District of Columbia of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate shall review the preliminary system implementation plan transmitted by the Mayor pursuant to section 225b of this title to determine the extent of its compliance with the provisions of section 225(b) of this title and section 225b of this title, and transmit written recommendations regarding any revisions to the preliminary plan to the Mayor not later than 60 days after receipt of such plan.

(b) The Committee on the District of Columbia of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate shall, within 90 days of submission of the final system implementation plan by the Mayor pursuant to section 225b of this title, review such plan to determine the extent to which it is in compliance with the provisions of section 225(b) of this title and section 225b of this title.

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 5, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3374.)

§ 225d. Transition provisions for employees of Hospital

(a) Retirement opportunity

(b) Specific number and types of positions; transfer to District employment

(1) The system implementation plan shall prescribe the specific number and types of positions needed by the District government at the end of the service coordination period.

(2) Notwithstanding section 3503 of title 5, employees of the Hospital shall only be transferred to District employment under the provisions of this section.

(1) While on the retention list or the District or Federal agency reemployment priority list, the system implementation plan shall provide to Hospital employees a right-of-first-refusal to District employment in positions for which such employees may qualify, (A) created under the system implementation plan in the comprehensive District mental health system, (B) available under the Department of Human Services of the District, and (C) available at the District of Columbia General Hospital.

(2) In accordance with Federal regulations, the Secretary shall establish retention registers of Hospital employees and provide such retention registers to the District government. Employment in positions identified in the system implementation plan under subsection (b) shall be offered to Hospital employees by the District government according to each such employee’s relative standing on the retention registers.

(3) Employee appeals concerning the retention registers established by the Secretary shall be in accordance with Federal regulations.

(4) Employee appeals concerning employment offers by the District shall be in accordance with the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978.

(d) Federal agency reemployment priority list; right-of-first-refusal; Department of Health and Human Services; separation; maintenance of lists; District agency reemployment priority list; refusal of employment offer; acceptance of nontemporary employment

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, employees of the Hospital, while on the Federal agency reemployment priority list, shall have a right-of-first-refusal to employment in comparable available positions for which they qualify within the Department of Health and Human Services in the Washington metropolitan area.

(2) If necessary to separate employees of the Hospital from Federal employment, such employees may be separated only under Federal reduction-in-force procedures.

(3) A Federal agency reemployment priority list and a displaced employees program shall be maintained for employees of the Hospital by the Secretary and the Office of Personnel Management in accordance with Federal regulations for Federal employees separated by reduction-in-force procedures.

(4) The Mayor shall create and maintain, in consultation with the Secretary, a District agency reemployment priority list of those employees of the Hospital on the retention registers who are not offered employment under subsection (c). Individuals who refuse an offer of employment under subsection (c) shall be ineligible for inclusion on the District agency reemployment priority list. Such reemployment priority list shall be administered in accordance with procedures established pursuant to the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 (D.C. Law 2–139).

(5) Acceptance of nontemporary employment as a result of referral from any retention list or agency reemployment priority list shall automatically terminate an individual’s severance pay as of the effective date of such employment.

(e) Contracts; mental health services; preferences

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 6, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3374.)

§ 225e. Conditions of employment for former employees of Hospital

(a) Individuals accepting employment; without service breaks

Each individual accepting employment without a break in service with the District government pursuant to section 225d of this title shall—

(1) except as specifically provided in this subchapter, be required to meet all District qualifications other than licensure requirements for appointment required of other candidates, and shall become District employees in the comparable District service subject to the provisions of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, and all other statutes and regulations governing District personnel;

(2) meet all licensure requirements within 18 months of appointment by the District government;

(3) notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 5, transfer accrued annual and sick leave balances pursuant to title XII of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978;

(4) have the grade and rate of pay determined in accordance with regulations established pursuant to title XI of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, except that no employee shall suffer a loss in the basic rate of pay or in seniority;

(5) if applicable, retain a rate of pay including the physician’s comparability allowance under the provisions of section 5948 of title 5, and continue to receive such allowance under the terms of the then prevailing agreement until its expiration or for a period of 2 years from the date of appointment by the District government, whichever occurs later;

(6) be entitled to the same health and life insurance benefits as are available to District employees in the applicable service;

(7) if employed by the Federal Government before January 1, 1984, continue to be covered by the United States Civil Service Retirement System, under chapter 83 of title 5, to the same extent that such retirement system covers District Government 1

1 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

employees; and

(8) if employed by the Federal Government on or after January 1, 1984, be subject to the retirement system applicable to District government employees pursuant to title XXVI, Retirement, of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978.

(b) Exemption from residency requirements

An individual receiving compensation for work injuries pursuant to chapter 81 of title 5 shall—

(1) continue to have the claims adjudicated and the related costs paid by the Federal Government until such individual recovers and returns to duty;

(2) if medically recovered and returned to duty, have any subsequent claim for the recurrence of the disability determined and paid under the provisions of title XXIII of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978.

(d) Actions by District against individuals accepting employment

(e) Commissioned public health service officers

(f) Former patient employees

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 7, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3375.)

§ 225f. Property transfer

(a) Authority of Secretary; exclusion of certain real property

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), on October 1, 1987, the Secretary shall transfer to the District, without compensation, all right, title, and interest of the United States in all real property at Saint Elizabeths Hospital in the District of Columbia together with any buildings, improvements, and personal property used in connection with such property needed to provide mental health and other services provided by the Department of Human Services indentified 1

1 So in original. Probably should be “identified”.

pursuant to section 225b(c)(7) of this title.

(2) Such real property as is identified by the Secretary by September 30, 1987, as necessary to Federal mental health programs at Saint Elizabeths Hospital under section 225(b)(5) of this title shall not be transferred under this subsection.

(b) Preparation of master plan; consultation; approval; property transfer; exclusion of Oxon Cove Park

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 8, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3377; Pub. L. 102–150, § 3(b), Oct. 31, 1991, 105 Stat. 980.)

§ 225g. Financing provisions

(a) Authorization of appropriations

(b) Federal agencies; payments to District of costs for treatment of certain patients; responsibility of U.S. for service costs

(1) Beginning on October 1, 1987, and in each subsequent fiscal year, the appropriate Federal agency is directed to pay the District of Columbia the full costs for the provision of mental health diagnostic and treatment services for the following types of patients:

(A) Any individual referred to the system pursuant to a Federal statute or by a responsible Federal agency.

(B) Any individual referred to the system for emergency detention or involuntary commitment after being taken into custody (i) as a direct result of the individual’s action or threat of action against a Federal official, (ii) as a direct result of the individual’s action or threat of action on the grounds of the White House or of the Capitol, or (iii) under chapter 9 of title 21 of the District of Columbia Code.

(C) Any individual referred to the system as a result of a criminal proceeding in a Federal court (including an individual admitted for treatment, observation, and diagnosis and an individual found incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of insanity). The preceding provisions of this paragraph apply to any individual referred to the system (or to Saint Elizabeths Hospital) before or after November 8, 1984.

(2) The responsibility of the United States for the cost of services for individuals described in paragraph (1) shall not affect the treatment responsibilities to the District of Columbia under the Interstate Compact on Mental Health.

(1) During the service coordination and the financial transition periods, the District of Columbia shall gradually assume a greater share of the financial responsibility for the provision of mental health services provided by the system to individuals not described in subsection (b).

(2) Omitted

(d) Shared responsibility for capital improvements

(e) Unassigned liabilities; sole responsibility of Federal Government

(f) Audit to determine liability of Federal Government for accrued annual leave balances; authorization of appropriations

(1) After the service coordination period, the Secretary shall conduct an audit, under generally accepted accounting procedures, to identify the liability of the Federal Government for accrued annual leave balances for those employees assumed by the District under the system implementation plan.

(2) There is authorized to be appropriated for payment by the Federal Government to the District an amount equal to the liability identified by such audit.

(g) Authority; District; collection of costs for mental health services

(h) Responsibility of United States for certain claimsThe Government of the United States shall be solely responsible for—

(1) all claims and causes of action against Saint Elizabeths Hospital that accrue before October 1, 1987, regardless of the date on which legal proceedings asserting such claims were or may be filed, except that the United States shall, in the case of any tort claim, only be responsible for any such claim against the United States that accrues before October 1, 1987, and the United States shall not compromise or settle any claim resulting in District liability without the consent of the District, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and

(2) all claims that result in a judgment or award against Saint Elizabeths Hospital before October 1, 1987.

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 9, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3377.)

§ 225h. Buy American provisions

(a) Applicability

(b) Determination by Mayor

(1) If the Mayor, after consultation with the United States Trade Representative, determines that a foreign country which is party to an agreement described in paragraph (2) has violated the terms of the agreement by discriminating against certain types of products produced in the United States that are covered by the agreement, the United States Trade Representative shall rescind the waiver of the Buy American Act with respect to such types of products produced in that foreign country.

(2) An agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is any agreement,1

1 So in original. The comma probably should not appear.

between the United States and a foreign country pursuant to which the head of an agency of the United States Government has waived the requirements of the Buy American Act with respect to certain products produced in the foreign country.

(d) “Buy American Act” defined

(e) Restrictions on contract awards

(f) Prohibition against fraudulent use of “Made in America” labels

(Pub. L. 98–621, § 11, as added Pub. L. 102–150, § 4(2), Oct. 31, 1991, 105 Stat. 981.)