District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Act of 1996
PL 104-184 (H.R.3663), enacted 08/06/1996

110 STAT. 1696 
PUBLIC LAW 104-184—AUG. 6, 1996 
Public Law 104-184 
104th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the District of Columbia Self-Govemment and Grovemmental Reorganiza-
Aug. 6, 1996 
tion Act to permit the Council of the District of Columbia to authorize the 
[HR 3663] 
issuance of revenue bonds with respect to water and sewer facilities, and for 
other purposes. 
District of 
Columbia Water 
and Sewer 
Authority Act of 
1996. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "District of Columbia Water 
and Sewer Authority Act of 1996". 
SEC. 
2. 
PEBMITTING 
ISSUANCE 
OF 
REVENUE 
BONDS 
FOR 
WASTEWATER TREATMENT ACTIVITIES. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The first sentence of section 490(a)(1) 
of the District of Columbia Self-Govemment and Grovemmental 
Reorganization Act (sec. 47-334(a)(l), D.C. Code) is amended— 
(A) by striking "and industrial" and inserting "indus-
trial"; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
the following: ", and water and sewer facilities (as defined 
in paragraph (5)).". 
(2) WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES DEFINED.—Section 490(a) 
of such Act (sec. 47-334(a), D.C. Code) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
"(5) In paragraph (1), the term 'water and sewer facilities' 
means facilities for the obtsdning, treatment, storage, and distribu-
tion of water, the collection, storage, treatment, and transportation 
of wastewater, storm drainage, and the disposal of liquids and 
solids resulting fi'om treatment.". 
(b) USE OF REVENUES TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON BONDS.—The 
second sentence of section 490(a)(3) of such Act (sec. 47-334(a)(3), 
D.C. Code) is amended by inserting after "property each place 
it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (B) the following: "(including 
water £ind sewer enterprise fund revenues, assets, or other property 
in the case of bonds, notes, or obligations issued with respect 
to water and sewer faciUties)". 
(c) PERMITTING DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REVENUE 
BONDS TO WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 490 of such Act (sec. 47-334, 
D.C. Code) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
"(h)(1) The Council may delegate to the District of Columbia 
Water smd Sewer Authority established pursuant to the Water 
PUBLIC LAW 104-184—AUG. 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 1697 
and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public 
Works Reorganization Act of 1996 the authority of the Council 
under subsection (a) to issue revenue bonds, notes, and other obliga-
tions to borrow money to finance or assist in the financing or 
refinancing of imdertakings in the area of utilities facilities, pollu-
tion control facilities, and water and sewer facilities (as defined 
in subsection (a)(5)). The Authority may exercise authority delegated 
to it by the Council as described in the first sentence of this 
paragraph (whether such delegation is made before or after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection) only in accordsince with 
this subsection. 
"(2) Revenue bonds, notes, and other obligations issued by 
the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority under a delega-
tion of authority described in paragraph (1) shall be issued by 
resolution of the Authority, and any such resolution shall not be 
considered to be an act of the Council. 
"(3) The fourth sentence of section 446 shall not apply to— 
"(A) any amount (including the smiount of any accrued 
interest or premium) obligated or expended fi-om the proceeds 
of the sale of any revenue bond, note, or other obligation issued 
pursuant to this subsection; 
"(B) any amount obligated or expended for the payment 
of the principal of, interest on, or any premium for any revenue 
bond, note, or other obligation issued pursuant to this sub-
section; 
"(C) any amount obligated or expended to secure £iny reve-
nue bond, note, or other obligation issued pursuant to this 
subsection; or 
"(D) any amount obligated or expended for repair, mainte-
nance, and capital improvements to facilities financed pursuant 
to this subsection.". 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The fourth sentence of sec-
tion 446 of such Act (sec. 47-304, D.C. Code) is amended 
by striking "(f) and (g)(3)" and inserting "(f), (g)(3), and (h)(3)". 
SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF REVENUES AND OBLIGATIONS. 
(a) EXCLUSION OF REVENUES FOR PURPOSES OF CAP ON AGGRE-
GATE DISTRICT DEBT.—Paragraphs (1) and (3)(A) of section 603(b) 
of the District of Columbia Self-Govemment and Governmental 
Reorganization Act (sec. 47-313(b), D.C. Code) are each amended 
by inserting after "revenue bonds," the following: "any revenues, 
charges, or fees dedicated for the purposes of water and sewer 
facilities described in section 490(a) (including fees or revenues 
directed to servicing or securing revenue bonds issued for such 
purposes),". 
(b) EXCLUSION OF OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO DEBT SERVICING 
PAYMENTS ON CERTAIN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 603(bX2) of such Act (sec. 47-
313(b)(2), D.C. Code) is amended— 
(A) by striMng "and obKgations" and inserting "obliga-
tions"; and 
(B) by inserting sifter "establishment," the following: 
"and obligations incurred pursuant to general obligation 
bonds of the District of Columbia issued prior to October 
1, 1996, for the financing of Department of Public Works, 
Water and Sewer Utility Administration capital projects,". 
110 STAT. 1698 
PUBLIC LAW 104-184—AUG. 6, 1996 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 603(b)(3)(B) of such 
Act (sec. 47-313(b)(3)(B), D.C. Code) is amended by inserting 
after "bonds" the following: "(less the allocable portion of prin-
cipal and interest to be paid during the year on general obliga-
tion bonds of the District of Columbia issued prior to October 
1, 1996, for the financing of Department of Public Works, 
Water and Sewer UtiUty Administration capital projects)". 
SEC. 4. TREATMENT OF BUDGET OF WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY. 
(a) PREPARATION OF INDEPENDENT BUDGET.—Subpart 1 of part 
D of title rV of the District of Columbia Self-Govemment and 
Governmental Reorganization Act is amended by inserting after 
section 445 the following new section: 
"WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY BUDGET 
"SEC. 445A. The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Author-
ity established pursuant to the Water and Sewer Authority 
Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization 
Act of 1996 shall prepare and annually submit to the Mayor, for 
inclusion in the annual budget, annual estimates of the expendi-
tures and appropriations necessary for the operation of the Author-
ity for the year. All such estimates shall be forwarded by the 
Mayor to the Council for its action pursuant to sections 446 and 
603(c), without revision but subject to his recommendations. Not-
withstanding any other provision of this Act, the Coiuicil may 
comment or make recommendations concerning such annual esti-
mates, but shall have no authority xuider this Act to revise such 
estimates.". 
(b) EXEMPTION FROM REDUCTIONS OF BUDGETS OF INDEPENDENT 
AGENCIES.—Section 453(c) of such Act (sec. 47-304.1(c), D.C. Code) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking "courts or the Council, or to" and inserting 
"courts, the Council,"; and 
(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
following: ", or the District of Columbia Water suid Sewer 
Authority established pursuant to the Water and Sewer Author-
ity Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganiza-
tion Act of 1996.". 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 442(b) of such Act (sec. 
47-301(b), D.C. Code) is amended— 
(1) by striking "and the Commission" and inserting "the 
Commission"; and 
(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
following: ", Eind the District of Columbia Water and Sewer 
Authority.". 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents of subpart 
1 of part D of title IV of the District of Columbia Self-Govemment 
and Governmental Reorganization Act is amended by inserting 
aft«r the item relating to section 445 the following new item: 
"Sec. 445A. Water and Sewer Authority budget.". 
SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF COMPENSATION OF CURRENT EMPLOYEES 
OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. 
The first sentence of section 205(b)(2) of the Water and Sewer 
Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorga-
nization Act of 1996 (sec. 43-1675(b)(2), D.C. Code) is amended 
by striking "duties)" and inserting "duties, and except as may 
PUBLIC LAW 104-184—AUG. 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 1699 
otherwise be provided under the personnel system developed pursu-
ant to subsection (a)(4) or a collective bargaining agreement entered 
into after the date of the enactment of this Act)". 
Approved August 6, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3663: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-635 (Comm. on Government Reform and Oversight). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
June 27, considered and passed House. 
July 30, considered and passed Senate.