Summary of District of Columbia Laws

 

D.C. Administrative Procedure Act

 

DC Code Ann.  §§  2-501 through 2-562 

The Law:  The D.C. Administrative Procedure Act (DCAPA) follows the Model State Administrative Procedure Act, and has some parallels to the federal act.   Title I compiles the original DCAPA enacted in 1968.  Section 2-502 defines the agencies that are subject to the DCAPA.  D.C. entities are not subject to the DCPA include the courts of the District of Columbia, the Tax Division of the D.C. Superior Court, federal agencies, and certain intergovernmental agencies. Title II codifies the "Freedom of Information Act" which promotes the disclosure of public access to government information.  Title III provides a single source for municipal laws and regulations not otherwise codified in the D.C. Code.

 

The D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is the centralized administrative tribunal that hears administrative litigation involving 25 different agencies, boards and commissions of the District of Columbia.  In general, the jurisdiction of OAH is exclusive; covered agencies are no longer permitted to employ hearing officers or decide cases.  Cases are heard and decided by administrative law judges. The Office of Administrative Hearings Establishment Act enacted OAH.  See D.C. Code § 2-1831.01, et seq.  See the OAH website.

 

Resources:  For information on how to file a Freedom of Information Act request in DC, visit http://grc.dc.gov/grc/cwp/view,a,1175,q,457152.asp.

 

Reference: District of Columbia Practice Manual § 2 (15th ed. 2006).

 

 

 

Revised CPJ 5-14-07

Revised NTC 11-6-07
links updated 6/6/08 rab