I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5290 

To provide that, for purposes of certain Federal privacy laws, agencies of 

the District of Columbia are treated as Federal agencies, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 3, 2019 

Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To provide that, for purposes of certain Federal privacy 

laws, agencies of the District of Columbia are treated 

as Federal agencies, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as ‘‘The District of Columbia 

5 Returning Citizens Coordination Act of 2019’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AGENCIES TO BE TREATED 

2 AS FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR PURPOSES OF 

3 CERTAIN PRIVACY LAWS. 

4 For purposes of a provision of law set forth in section 

5 3, to the extent that such provision of law applies to any 

6 communication for purposes of providing public benefits 

7 or services to any person resuming or commencing resi8 dence in the District of Columbia (including any person 

9 resuming or commencing residence in the District of Co10 lumbia upon release from any term of imprisonment) be11 tween— 

12 (1) the Director of the Bureau of Prisons and 

13 any agency of the District of Columbia; or 

14 (2) the Director of the Court Services and Of15 fender Supervision Agency for the District of Colum16 bia and any agency of the District of Columbia, 

17 the agency of the District of Columbia shall be treated 

18 as a Federal agency for purposes of such provision of law. 

19 SEC. 3. PROVISIONS OF LAW DESCRIBED. 

20 The provisions of law set forth in this section are as 

21 follows: 

22 (1) Title II of the Health Insurance Portability 

23 and Accountability Act of 1996 (including parts 160 

24 and 165 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations). 


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1 (2) Section 543 of the Public Health Service 

2 Act (including part 2 of title 42, Code of Federal 

3 Regulations). 

4 (3) Section 552a of title 5, United States Code 

5 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Privacy Act’’). 

6 (4) Any other provision of law setting forth 

7 substantially similar protections for the privacy of 

8 information. 

9 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

10 Nothing in this Act may be construed to expand the 

11 authority of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons or the 

12 Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision 

13 Agency for the District of Columbia to disclose informa14 tion to any law enforcement officer. 

15 SEC. 5. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL. 

16 For purposes of this Act, the Council of the District 

17 of Columbia shall be considered an agency of the District 

18 of Columbia. 

19 SEC. 6. APPLICATION OF PRIVACY ACT. 

20 A communication under this Act shall be deemed to 

21 be a lawful disclosure under section 552a(b)(7) of title 5, 

22 United States Code. 

Æ 


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