TUESDAY, February 3, 2009


 

Governor O’Malley’s Legislative Agenda
 


 

 
Governor O’Malley announced his legislative package on January 21st and has introduced the corresponding administration bills to the legislature for our consideration. The Governor’s legislation focuses on improving public safety, strengthening the safety net for Maryland families, protecting our environment and promoting economic and job growth.  We look forward to working with the Governor and the Senate on these legislative priorities to move Maryland forward during tough economic times.  The Governor has proposed the following bills:
 
Public Safety
 
HB293             Mandates 1 yr. suspension for a 2nd drunk driving conviction (JUD)
HB296             Mandates a judge to order an abuser to relinquish all firearms for the period of the final protective order (JUD)
HB299             Strengthens Maryland’s zero tolerance of underage drinking and those that enable it. (JUD) 
HB301             Increases probation before judgment look-back period from 5 to 10 years (JUD)
HB302             Allows judge to order a citizen to relinquish firearms if a temporary protective order is served against them (JUD)
HB 305            Allows a violation of MVA imposed alcohol restriction on a driver’s license to be punishable by a $500 fine or 2 months imprisonment or both (JUD)
HB 307            Requires law enforcement to request a driver involved in a fatal or life-threatening crash to voluntarily submit to a breathalyzer without “reasonable grounds” to believe unlawful impairment (JUD)
HB 311            Prohibits State Police from conducting surveillance on activists they do not suspect of criminal activity (JUD)
HB 316            Repeals the death penalty (JUD)
HB 317            Establishes a Silver Alert Program for missing adults suffering from a cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s (JUD)
 
Strengthening the Safety Net for Maryland Families
 
HB 298            Allows for State collective bargaining negotiations to include the right of an employee organization to receive service fees from non-members (APP)
HB 292            Puts Maryland in compliance with the federal Safe Act while retaining existing enhancements to regulation and consumer protection in mortgage lending (ECM)
HB 304            Enables the State to recover damages and penalties from individuals who defraud the State by filing false claims against State health plans and programs.  It also allows whistleblowers to file suit and recover a share of any damages or penalties awarded to the State (JUD/APP)
HB 306            Allows Maryland to join an interstate compact to facilitate, collaborate and ensure that the various educational needs of military children are met (W&M)
HB 308            Reauthorizes the Higher Education Investment Fund (APP/W&M)
HB 310            Expands unemployment benefits to those actively seeking part-time work (ECM)
HB 313            Authorizes in all counties of the State and in specified highway work zones the use of speed monitoring systems to enforce specified highway speed laws (ENV)
 
Protecting our Environment
 
HB 295            Directs Maryland Dept. of Planning to develop measures for smart and sustainable growth in conjunction with local governments and the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development (ENV)
HB 294            Modernizes the “Eight Visions” that form the basis of planning for Maryland (ENV)
HB 297            Requires local jurisdictions to implement and follow the comprehensive plans they adopt (Terrapin Run) (ENV)
HB 314            Authorizes the Maryland Environmental Service to engage in energy projects and services and authorizes counties and municipalities to enter into agreements with the Service (ECM/ENV)
HB 315            Requires the State to reduce 2006 levels of statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 (ECM/ENV)
 
Promoting Economic and Job Growth
 
HB 300            Expands public financing options for Transit Oriented Development (W&M)
HB 309            Reauthorizes Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program (W&M)
HB 312            Creates opportunity for shellfish growers to lease areas in the Chesapeake Bay to establish businesses (ENV)
 

 

Speaker Busch announces Emergency Medical System Work Group

Speaker Busch appointed a 14 member workgroup to conduct a comprehensive review and make recommendations on issues surrounding the Statewide EMS.
 

 

The EMS Workgroup will focus on:

-        Structure of Statewide EMS System, including the role of local and state agencies
-        Funding of Statewide EMS, including the 5 regional offices across the State
-        The structure and mission of the MSP Aviation Division (8 bases)
-        National Expert Review Panel recommendations on protocols
-        Aviation Division audit and implementation of recommendations
-        Helicopter Procurement
-        Role and function of Commercial Carriers 
 

House FY10 Fiscal Policies

This week, Speaker Busch and House leadership announced fiscal policies that would guide work on the FY10 budget, in light of the current economic climate. These guidelines include:

-        Each piece of legislation with a fiscal note greater than $0 will trigger an automatic leadership review.
-        The House Appropriations Committee will work to de-authorize languishing bond bills, some dating back to 1984. There is $14M in funding awarded between 1984 and 2003 that remains used and an additional $30M in projects from 2003 through 2008 that have not drawn down State funds.
-        Greater scrutiny will be given to bond bills for the coming fiscal year. New criteria will include language so that only “construction ready” projects will receive state funding for the House of Delegates portion of the Legislative Initiatives account budgeted at $15 million by the Governor. Only high impact projects that can be certified as ready to proceed with design and construction within an 18-month period from the effective date of the 2009 Capital Budget (June 1, 2009) will be given consideration. Construction readiness factors will include:
o   the public benefit derived from the project
o   employment increased or preserved in the operation of the facility
o   the extent to which project programs and designs are in place, necessary permits are specified, applied for or approved, and a project financing plan is in place, including commitments from other funding partners.

The existing criteria for bond bills will remain in effect, including the following requirements:
-          Projects must have a total value of $100,000 and a useful life of at least 15 years
-          Bond bills may not be used to fund projects with sectarian or religious purposes
-          Bond bills may not be used to fund municipal buildings, government buildings, local police or fire department buildings
-          Projects that can be funded in other areas of the capital budget are not eligible, including university and community college projects
-          Projects should provide an equal funding match and should benefit the public.