Volunteer Services Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution clarifies that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in the District of Columbia has the authority to create rules governing its use of volunteers under the Volunteers Services Act of 1977. It directly affects the OAG, which currently relies on volunteer attorneys, interns, and other staff for legal, research, and community services. The resolution addresses a legal gap where the 1977 law did not explicitly authorize the independently elected Attorney General to establish separate volunteer regulations, despite OAG’s long-standing use of volunteers since 1982. The Council declares an emergency to prevent operational disruptions to OAG’s programs, which depend on volunteer support for litigation, policy work, and constituent services.