The Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) conducts studies, evaluations, and program reviews at the request of the County Council. Bill 27-19, enacting the County’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, tasks OLO to develop racial equity and social justice impact statements for all legislation introduced by the Council on and after August 1, 2020.
RESJ impact statements apply a racial equity and social justice lens to proposed legislation to describe the anticipated impact of legislation on communities of color and low-income residents. The following questions guide the development of OLO’s RESJ statements:
- What does the bill seek to accomplish?
- Who’s impacted by the bill and how (both negative and positive aspects)?
- If there are potential adverse impacts, how can they be mitigated?
More specifically, OLO relies on the Racial Equity and Social Justice Impact Tool adapted from the City of Madison to apply a racial equity and social justice lens to the development and review of proposed legislation. For additional information on OLO’ RESJ impact statement process, contact Dr. Theo Holt at theo.holt@montgomerycountymd.gov or Dr. Elaine Bonner-Tompkins at elaine.bonner-tompkins@montgomerycountymd.gov.
OLO Resources on Racial Equity and Social Justice
Racial Equity in Government Decision-Making: Lessons from the Field
This report describes promising practices for advancing racial equity in government decision-making based on a review of research and local practices. The County Council tasked OLO to draft this report as part of its 2018 Work Program to help inform its understanding of best practices for advancing racial equity in local government.
Racial Equity Profile for Montgomery County
Montgomery County’s Racial Equity Profile serves as a benchmark report to describe racial and ethnic disparities by policy area among County residents. The report describes disparities in employment, household income, housing, education, educational attainment and other life outcomes.
Racial Equity & Social Justice Community Conversation Toolkit
With the Office of the County Executive and the County Council, OLO developed this toolkit to help organize and convene community conversations among residents, organizations, and community groups in 2019. The RESJ community conversations toolkit is available in English and Spanish.
- Racial Equity and Social Justice ToolKit (English)
- Equidad Racial y Justicia Social HERRAMIENTAS para la participación comunitaria (Español)
Findings from 2019 Racial Equity and Social Justice Community Conversations
This report summarizes findings from the RESJ Community Conversations sponsored by the Montgomery County Council and the Office of the County Executive in 2019.
OLO Racial Equity and Social Justice Impact Statements
OLO’s RESJ statements are available at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/resjis.html. A listing of RESJ statements organized by County Council committee as of April 16, 2021 follows.
Education & Culture Committee
- Bill 7-21 Police - School Resources Officers- Building Positive Law Enforcement Relationships in Schools
- Expedited Bill 2-21 Taxation- Development Impact Taxes for Transportation and Public School Improvement- Amendments- Effective Date
- Bill 46-20 Police- School Resources Officers Prohibited
Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee
- Expedited Bill 12-21 Personnel-Employees’ Retirement System Retirement Savings Plan-Group Trust Amendments
- Bill 11-21 Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation-Bylaws-Live Video Streaming of Open Meetings
- Bill 10-21 Economic Development-Economic Development Strategic Plan- Economic Development Corporation-Duties
- Bill Expedited Bill 8-21 Administration- Department of Technology Services-Renamed
- Bill 6-21 Finance- Revenue Estimating Group- Established
- Bill 49-20 Human Rights and Civil Liberties – Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee – Members - Amendments
- Bill 48-20 Human Rights and Civil Liberties – Building Maintenance Worker-Minimum Work Week – Effective Date
- Bill 47-20 Ethics, Ethics Commission- Conflicts of Interest- Financial Disclosure- Amendments
- Agricultural Land Preservation-Solar Collection System-Dedication of Business Personal Property Tax Revenue
- Bill 43-20 Non-Merit Employees – Merit System Employees – Severance Pay – Limited
- Bill 42-20 Ethics – Public Accountability and Transparency – Amendments
Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee
- Expedited Bill 13-21 Streets and Roads-Permit to Obstruct Public Rights-of-Way and Franchising- Amendments
- Bill 3-21 Special Taxing Area Laws- Silver Spring Business Improvement District- Establish
- Expedited Bill 1-21 Growth and Infrastructure Policy- Renamed Expedited Development Approval Excise Tax Repealed
- Bill 52-20 Landlord-Tenant Relations-Protection Against Rent Gouging Near Transit
- Bill 51-20 Landlord-Tenant Relations-Window Guards
- Bill 50-20 Landlord-Tenant Relations-Fire Safety- Removal of Mercury Service Regulators
- Bill 44-20 Human Rights and Civil Liberties – Discrimination in Rental Housing – Fair Criminal History and Credit Screenings
- Expedited Bill 40-20 Licensing and Regulations – Uniform Trader’s License Fee
Public Safety Committee
- Bill 4-21 Weapons-Protection of Minors and Public Places-Restrictions Against Ghost Guns and Undetectable Guns
- Bill 45-20 Police- Community Policing- Data
Transportation & Environment (T&E) Committee