A bill to authorize certain programs and activities of the Government of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
PL 93-140 (H.R.8250), enacted 10/26/1973

504 
PUBLIC LAW 93-140-OCT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Public Law 93-140 
October 26, 1973 
^^ ACT 
[H. R. 8250] 
r
j
^
Q authorize certain programs and activities of the government of tlie District 
of Columbia, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
District o
f 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ 
Columbia govern-
ment. 
Programs and 
EXPENDITURES FOR EMERGENCIES 
activities, au-
thorization. 
SECTION 1. When required by the public exigencies to meet conditions 
caused by emergencies such as riot, pestilence, public insanitary condi-
tions, flood, fire, storm, and similar disasters, the Commissioner of the 
District of Columbia, pureuant to regulations prescribed by the District 
of Columbia Council, is authorized to expend such amounts as may be 
necessary without regard to advertising provisions of section 3709 of 
D. c. Code 
the Kevised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). 
1-808. 
^ 
' 
OrFICIAL USE OP M
O
T
O
R VEHICLES 
SEC. 2. All passenger motor vehicles and watercraft owned by the 
District of Columbia shall be operated and utilized in conformity with 
section 5 of the Act of Julv 16, 1914, as amended by section 16 of the 
8/staJ^879^°' 
4^^ ^^ August 2, 1946 (31 IJ.S.C. 638a), and shall be under the direc-
tion and control of the Commissioner of the District of Columbia. The 
Commissioner is authorized to alter or change the assignment or direct 
the alteration or interchangeable use of any passenger motor vehicles 
or watercraft by officers and employees or the District of Columbia 
except as otherwise provided in such Act. Limitations on the official 
use of passenger motor vehicles, as set out in section 5 of such Act, 
shall not apply to the Commissioner or, with the approval of the Com-
missioner, to officers and employees of the District government the 
character of whose duties make such transportation necessary. 
FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICES 
SEC. 3. (a) The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is hereby 
authorized, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the District of 
Columbia Council, to provide for the payment of reasonable funeral 
and burial expenses of indigent residents of the District of Columbia 
and of persons under the care and custody of the District of Columbia 
government institutions. 
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed as repealing or in any 
way modifying any provision of the Acts approved April 29, 1902 
32 Stat. 173. 
(D.C. Code, sees. 2-201 through 2-209) and April 20,1906 (D.C. Code, 
34 Stat. 123; 
gccs. 27-129 through 27-131), or of the District of Columbia Public 
^Vrstkt!\\4. 
Assistance Act of 1962 (D.C. Code, sec. 3-201 et seq.). 
PAYMENTS TO PATIENTS 
SEC. 4. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia, pureuant to 
regulations prescribed by the District of Columbia Council, is author-
ized to furnish cash payments to needy patients in hospitals operated 
by or under contract (relating to the care of needy patients) with the 
I)istrict of Columbia in such amounts and at such times as he may 
determine. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-140-OCT. 26, 1973 
505 
CARE OF PATIENTS I N SECTARIAN AND NONSECTARIAN INSTITUTIONS 
Contract au-
thority. 
SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commis-
sioner of the District of Columbia, pursuant to regulations prescribed 
by the District of Columbia Council, is authorized from time to time 
to enter into contracts with institutions under sectarian and nonsec-
tarian control, and to make payments to such institutions, for the care 
of indigent and medically indigent patients in hospitals and for the 
care and maintenance of persons who are a responsibility of the Dis-
trict of Columbia. The Council shall, in determining the level of pay-
ment to sectarian and nonsectarian institutions, take into consideration 
average costs in caring for like persons in area institutions, and in no 
event shall such payment for medical services exceed reasonable costs 
as determined under the District of Columbia medicaid program. 
STIPENDS FOR PATIENTS 
SEC. 6. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is authorized, 
pursuant to regulations prescribed by the District of Columbia Coun-
cil, to provide for the payment of stipends to patients and residents 
employed in institutions of or under programs sponsored b}^ the 
government of the District of Columbia as an aid to their rehabilita-
tion or for training purposes. Nothing contained herein shall be con-
strued as conferring employee status on any person covered by this 
section. 
B E N E F I T S F U R N I S H E D W O R K E R S I N DISTRICT FACILITIES 
SEC. 7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commis-
sioner of the District of Columbia is authorized to furnish, pursuant 
to regulations prescribed by the District of Columbia Council, sub-
sistence, living quarters, and laundry in lieu of salary to persons 
authorized by the Commissioner to work in facilities of the government 
of the District of Columbia for the purposes of securing training and 
experience in their future vocations. Nothing contained herein shall be 
construed as conferring employee status on any person covered by 
this section, nor as superseding the requirements of sections 6352 and 
5353 of title 5, United States Code, relating to student employees 
so stat. 472; 
specified therein who are assigned or attached to a hospital, clinic, or 
medical or dental laboratory. 
FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES 
SEC. 8. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is authorized 
to make provisions and payment for the furnishing of fire prevention 
and fire protection services to District of Columbia government institu-
tions located outside the District of Columbia. 
FUNDS FOR T H E PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME 
SEC. 9. The Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Depart-
ment is authorized, with the approval of the Commissioner of the 
District of Columbia and within the limits of appropriations therefor, 
to make expenditures for the prevention and detection of crime under 
his certificate. The certificate of the Chief of Police for such expendi-
tures shall be deemed a sufficient voucher for the sum therein expressed 
to have been expended. 
82 Stat. 1312. 
506 
PUBLIC LAW 93-140-OCT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Restriction. 
ATTEXDAXCE AT PISTOL MATCHES 
SEC. 10. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is author-
ized to pay the expenses of officers and members of the Metropolitan 
Police Department and the Department of Corrections for attending 
pistol matches, including entrance fees, and is further authorized to 
permit officers and members to attend such matches without loss of 
pay or time. 
PAYMENT o r 
REWARDS 
SEC. 11. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia, pursuant to 
regulations prescribed by the District of Columbia Council, is author-
ized to provide for the payment of rewards for the capture, or for 
information leading to the apprehension, of fugitives from District of 
Columbia penal, correctional, and welfare institutions and of condi-
tional release and parole violators. Funds appropriated pursuant to 
this section shall be apportioned and expended in the discretion of, and 
upon such conditions as may be imposed by, the Commissioner of the 
District of Columbia. No reward money shall be paid to any officer or 
employee of the Metropolitan Police Department, or of any penal, 
correctional, or welfare institution, or of any court, legal agency, or 
other agency closely involved in the criminal justice system. 
DISCHARGE AND RELEASE PAYMENTS 
SEC. 12. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is authorized 
to furnish each prisoner upon his release from a penal or correctional 
institution under the jurisdiction of the government of the District of 
Columbia with suitable clothing and, in the discretion of the Com-
missioner, a sum of money, which shall not exceed $100. 
Establishment. 
Transfer of 
funds. 
Budget, annual 
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES WORKING 
FUND 
SEC. 13. (a) There is established in the Treasury of the United 
States a permanent working fund, without fiscal year limitation, to 
be known as the Construction Services Fund, Department of General 
Services, District of Columbia. The Commissioner is authorized to 
transfer to such fund from capital outlay appropriations for public 
building construction such amounts as he may deem necessary to carry 
out the purposes of this section, and, subject to subsequent adjustment, 
advances and reimbursements may be made to such fund from appro-
priations for services to other departments and agencies of the District 
government, without reference to fiscal year limitations on such appro-
priations. The fund shall be available for expenses incurred in the 
initial planning for construction projects, for work performed under 
contract or otherwise, including, but not limited to, preliminary 
planning and related expenses, surveys, preparation of plans and 
specifications, soil investigation, administration, overhead, planning 
design, engineering, inspection, and contract management. 
(b) The District of Columbia Council shall annually review the 
budget of the Construction Services Fund within ninety days after 
the annual District of Columbia Appropriations Act is enacted into 
law. 
(c) The District of Columbia Council, the Board of Higher Edu-
cation, the Board of Vocational Education, the Board of Education, 
the Public Library Board, and the Executive Director of the District 
of Columbia Court System shall be kept fully advised, at least semi-
annually, of the status of projects and activities within their respective 
areas of concern which are financed from the Construction Services 
Fund. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-140-OCT. 26, 1973 
J»7 
SXOW AND ICE REMOVAL 
SEC. 14. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, appropria-
tions for the Depai-tment of Highways and Traffic and the Department 
of Environmental Services of the government of the District of 
Columbia shall be available for purposes of snow and ice removal when 
so ordered by the Commissioner of the District of Columbia. 
FEDERAL-AID H I G H W A Y 
PROJECTS 
SEC. 15. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is authorized 
contract au-
to enter into contracts in connection with projects undertaken as Fed- * °"*^" 
eral-aid highway projects under the provisions of the Federal Aid 
Highway Act of 1944 in such amounts as shall be approved by the 
^^ stat. 838. 
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation. 
GRADE-CROSSING ELIMINATION 
PROJECTS 
SEC. 16. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia is authorized 
to construct grade-crossing elimination and other wholly District 
construction projects or those authorized under section 8 of the Act 
of June 16, 1936 (49 Stat. 1521), and section 1(b) of the Federal Aid 
Highway Act of 1938, in accordance with the provisions of such Acts. 
52 stat. 633. 
Pursuant to this authority, the Commissioner may make payment to 
contractors and payment for other expenses in connection with the 
costs of surveys, design, construction, and inspection pending reim-
bursement to the District of Columbia by the Federal Highway Admin-
istration, Department of Transportation, or other parties participating 
in such projects. 
CIVIL DEFENSE MATCHING 
FUNDS 
SEC. 17. Section 3(h) of the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the 
District of Columbia government to establish an Office of Civil 
Defense, and for other purposes", approved August 11, 1950 (D.C. 
Code, sec. 6-1203 (h)), is amended by striking the semicolon and insert- 
^^ stat. 439. 
ing in lieu thereof a comma and the following: "and, when authorized 
by the Commissioner, appropriations available to the District of 
Columbia may be used to match financial contributions made by any 
department or agency of the United States to the government of the 
District for the purchase of civil defense equipment and supplies;". 
ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR WASHINGTON 
AQUEDUCT 
SEC. 18. Appropriations are hereby authorized for the acquisition, 
by gift, dedication, exchange, purchase, or condemnation, of land or 
rights in or on land or easements therein for the Washington aqueduct 
by the Chief of Engineers, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, 
or his designated agents. 
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION 
LAW 
SEC. 19. The Act entitled "An Act to provide compensation for dis-
ability or death resulting from injury to employees in certain employ-
ments in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes", approved 
May 17, 1928 (D.C. Code. sees. 36-501, 502), is amended by renum- g/^tJI^^gg^g""' 
bering section 3 as section 4 and by inserting the following new sec-
tion immediately after section 2: 
"SEC. 3. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
508 
PUBLIC LAW 93-14D-OCT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
be necessary to pay the expenses incurred by the United States Depart-
ment of Labor in the administration of this Act." 
DRIVER EDUCATION 
PROGRAM 
SEC. 20. The Board of Education is authorized, within the limits 
of appropriations therefor, to accept, on a loan basis, and to maintain 
and provide for insurance of motor vehicles, for use in the driver 
education programs of the public schools. 
SUBSISTENCE AND TRANSPORTATION FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN 
SEC. 21. The Board of Education is authorized to provide for the 
furnishing of subsistence supplies and transportation for severely 
handicapped children attending special education schools or classes 
established for their benefit in the public school system of the District 
of Columbia. 
SUMMER SCHOOL 
COMPENSATION 
SEC. 22. Compensation payable to personnel employed in the sum-
mer school program of the public school system of the District of 
Columbia is hereby authorized to be charged to the appropriation for 
the fiscal year in which the pay periods end. 
SUMMER E M P L O Y M E N T OF DISTRICT SCHOOL TEACHERS 
80 Stat. 483. 
SEC. 23. Subsectiou (e) of section 5533 of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended (a) by inserting "(1)" immediately following "(e)"; 
and (b) by adding the following new paragraph: 
"(2) Subsection (c) of this section does not apply to pay received 
by a teacher of the public schools of the District of Columbia for 
employment in a position during the summer vacation period.". 
SCHOOL CEREMONIAL 
EXPENSES 
SEC. 24. The President of the Federal City College, the President 
of the Washington Technical Institute, the President of the District 
of Columbia Teachers College, and the Superintendent of Schools 
are hereby authorized to utilize moneys appropriated for the purposes 
of this section for such expenses as they may respectively deem neces-
sary to conduct such official ceremonial, and graduation activities as 
are normally associated with the programs of educational institutions. 
AMENDMENT OF LAWS RELATING TO ADVERTISING 
SEC. 25. (a) The second sentence of the first section of the Act 
JltT's!!^' 
approved February 28, 1898 (D.C. Code, sec. 47-1001), is amended to 
read as follows: "The notice of sale and the delinquent tax list shall 
be advertised according to regulations prescribed by the District of 
Columbia Council in not less than two major daily newspapers pub-
lished in the District.". 
(b) Section 7 of the Act approved February 28, 1898 (D.C. Code, 
45 Stat. 650. 
g^^. 47-1008), is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 7. The expenses of advertising the notice of sale and delinquent 
tax list for real property taxes, water charges, sanitary sewer service 
charges, and special assessments in arrears together with penalties and 
costs, shall be reimbursed to the District by a charge to be fixed 
annually by the Commissioner and assessed against each lot or piece 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-140-OCT. 26, 1973 
509 
of property advertised. The amounts so received shall be deposited to 
such fund of the District as the Commissioner shall from time to time 
determine." 
(c) The first sentence of section 5 of the Act approved June 11, Notice; bids 
1878 (D.C. Code, sec. 7-601), is amended by striking "and if the total 
^o stat. los. 
cost shall exceed $5,000, then in one newspaper in each of the cities 
of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore also for one week," and 
inserting in lieu thereof: "but not elsewhere, unless the need for adver-
tising outside the District shall have been specifically approved by the 
Commissioner". 
(d) Appropriations authorized by this Act or any Act of Congress 
Publication in 
shall be available to the Commissioner for general advertising author- bia^ Re'gister.° ^
"
^ 
ized by law, and for the publication of notices of public hearings, 
orders, regulations, amendments of orders and regulations, tax and 
school notices, and similar matters of public interest, in the District of 
Columbia Register, and, except as otherwise provided by law, in such 
newspapers, legal periodicals, trade journals, and other printed media 
at such times and in such places as may be approved by the said 
Commissioner. 
OFFICIAL FUNDS 
SEC. 26. The Commissioner of the District of Columbia, the Chair-
man of the District of Columbia Council, the Superintendent of 
Schools, the President of the Federal City College, the President of 
the Washington Technical Institute, and the President of the District 
of Columbia Teachers College are hereby authorized to provide for the 
expenditure, within the limits of specified annual appropriations, of 
funds for appropriaite purposes related to their official capacity as they 
may respectively deem necessary. Their determination thereof shall be 
final and conclusive, and their certificate shall be sufficient voucher 
for the expenditure of appropriations made pursuant to this section. 
TAXI SERVICE STUDY 
SEC. 27. (a) Notwithstainding any other provision of law, the Public 
Service Commission of the District of Columbia is authorized and 
directed to conduct a study of the adequacy of service and regulation 
of the taxicab industry in the District of Columbia. The study shall 
include the feasibility of allowing the installation of meters in taxicabs 
in the District of Columbia. 
(b) Within six months following the date of enactment of this 
Report to com-
Act, the Public Service Commission shall transmit the final report ^^^ind^gov^em"' 
of the results of such investigation and study, including its finding ment. 
and recommendations, to the Commissioner of the District of Colum-
bia and the District of Columbia Council, and the District of Colum-
bia government shall within ninety days consider the same, and 
transmit its recommendations and the final report of the Public 
Service Commission to the Congress. 
AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 28. Appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act are hereby authorized. 
Approved October 26, 1973.