26 27 28 29 30 32 33 Hulls. Councilmember Elissa Silverman Codncitrrember David Gr Councilmember Vincent Orange A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA To declare the sense of the Council that compliance with the Quick Payment Act is important and to assure those with whom the Di of Columbia contracts that compliance with the Quick Payment Act will be a priority of Council oversight. RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council Regarding Quick Payment Compliance Resolution of 2015”. Sec. 2. The Council finds that: (1) The District of Columbia is able to produce much more work through the use of contractors and grantees than would be possible through direct employment alone. (2) The Quick Payment Act, which allows interest penalties for late payments to be assessed to the District of Columbia government in the event of late payment, is a strong tool. (3) The Quick Payment Act was further strengthened in 2009 by changing authority to issue interest penalties from the Chief Procurement Offficer to the Chief Financial Officer.34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 (4) Interest penalties are only assessed when initiated by the contractor or grantee. Many organizations, though they express concern in other ways, feel that initiating Quick Payment Act penalties would put future work with District agencies at risk. Sec. 3. It is the sense of the Council that future Council oversight hearings should include a strong focus on timely payment of contractors and grantees, especially in light of repeated concerns by organizations that feel uncomfortable acting directly through the Quick Payment Act. Sec. 4. The Chairman shall transmit copies of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the Mayor and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.