April 15, 2011
Dear Friends:
The 428th session of the Maryland General Assembly ended at midnight on Monday, April 11th. This legislative session focused on passing a balanced budget that addressed the State’s structural deficit, ensuring the long-term viability of the retiree benefit system and fully funding K-12 education to ensure a strong future for the State’s knowledge-based economy.
There were also a number of other bills that may have an impact on our lives here in Charles County. I have listed a few here, however, if there is a particular bill or topic that I have not addressed, please don’t hesitate to contact me for further information.
HB671 – Federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act Compliance
The 2012 Federal primary election will be the first Tuesday in April. Maryland’s 2014 primary for gubernatorial and legislative elections will move from September to the last Tuesday in June. These changes are required by the MOVE Act passed by Congress in 2009 which requires States to send absentee ballots to military and overseas U.S. voters no later than 45 days before a federal election.
HB196 – Use of Text Messaging Device While Driving – Prohibited Acts
Prohibits the writing, sending, or reading of a text message while operating a motor vehicle
HB1175 – Direct Wine Shipment
Compromise legislation permits the direct shipment of wine from wineries in Maryland and around the country to Maryland consumers. This supports the growth of our local wineries and farms growing grapes. Maryland joins 37 states and the District of Columbia in permitting wineries to ship into and out of Maryland.
SB994 and HB1213 – Sales and Use Tax – Alcoholic Beverages – Supplemental Appropriation
The sales tax on alcohol will rise from 6 percent to 9 percent on July 1st. The Senate bill will provide up to $15 million dollars for services for 500 of the highest need people on the developmental disabilities waiting list. The House version will establish a onetime $47 million grant program for school construction funding to stimulate the economy with construction jobs and provide much needed school improvements. Southern Maryland’s share of this grant is $1,250,000.
HB72 – Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2011 (BRFA)
Certificate-of-title fees for vehicles rise from $50 to $100. Paperwork fee when buying a new car goes from $100 to $200. A fee for filing land records increases from $20 to $40. Vanity license plates will go from $25 to $50.
HB1276 – Drunk Driving Reduction Act
Legislation passed to expand the use of ignition interlock to drunk drivers with high blood alcohol content (.15), all repeat offenders and anyone who refuses a breathalyzer test. Anyone under the age of 21 who has any blood alcohol content is automatically enrolled in the ignition interlock program under the bill.
SB167 – Public Institutions of Higher Education – Tuition Rates – Exceptions
Maryland joins 10 other states in allowing the children of undocumented immigrants who have attended a Maryland high school for 3 years to qualify for in-state tuition rates. Maryland passed one of the most stringent laws in the country, requiring proof of tax payment, in order to qualify for the benefit. As amended, the legislation allows a student to qualify for in-state tuition at a community college if they attended a Maryland high school for 3 years; filed a tax return in each of 3 high school years, the time between high school and college and during their tenure at the community college; sign up for the selective service at age 18; and sign an affidavit pledging to pursue U.S. citizenship.
If a student meets these requirements, after 2 years at a community college, they may qualify to apply as an out-of-state/international student to a Maryland university, paying in-state tuition rates. University System of Maryland schools has a policy of accepting 70% Maryland residents in each entering class. The legislation requires that the children of undocumented immigrants must apply in the 30% pool of out-of-state and international students, to ensure that a legal Maryland resident is not displaced. The schools feel they have the capacity to satisfy this legislation.
HB941 – Dining Out Growth Act of 2011
Authorizes a restaurant with an outdoor dining area to allow a patron’s dog to accompany the patron in the outdoor dining area during hours designated by the restaurant owner.
In addition to these bills, which I supported, I was lead sponsor on the following bills:
HB897 – Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act
It is estimated that each year close to 10,000 animals and around 5,000 humans are poisoned by drinking antifreeze. Twenty percent of these human poisonings are among children under the age 6. These are startling facts.
Ethylene glycol is the main ingredient of all major antifreeze brands and has long been known to be poisonous. Ethylene Glycol has a sweet smell and taste which is attractive to children and pets and is highly toxic. How toxic is antifreeze? Two ounces of antifreeze can kill a dog, one teaspoon can be lethal to a cat, and two tablespoons can be hazardous to children, and four ounces will be lethal to an adult.
This bill requires the addition of a “bittering agent”, denatonium benzoate, which will make antifreeze unpalatable for consumption and save lives. Manufacturer representatives confirmed that this would cost only two to three cents per gallon. Fourteen states already require this additive. This bill easily passed in both chambers of the General Assembly.
HB1142 – Atlantic Menhaden – Restrictions on Products from Reduction
Menhaden, also known as bunkers, are a very bony and oily species of fish found in the Chesapeake Bay and waters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They are not eaten by humans. Menhaden were once so plentiful that they were natural filters for the Bay and provided a necessary food supply for many marine species.
Sadly, today, millions are caught by the reduction industry and ground and pressed into oil, fish meal and solubles. Studies have shown that as the numbers of Menhaden have diminished, so have the numbers, size, and health of rockfish, blue fish, crabs, oysters, and birds that depend on this fish.
Based on the importance of this fish to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its marine and wildlife, we should do everything we can do to encourage the recovery of stock of this fish. This bill would ban the sale of reduction products in the State of Maryland. This would make a significant step in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay – and it would cost nothing!
While the bill had wide support from those active in supporting improvement in the Chesapeake Bay and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen Caucus, the bill was targeted negatively by advocates of the reduction industry. I believe this issue will grow and look forward to working on supporting the protection and growth of Menhaden in our Bay.
HB460 – Prescription Drug Repository Program
This bill altered the existing Prescription Drug Repository Program to allow participating pharmacies to accept unused and unwanted prescription drugs and medical supplies and dispose of them properly. Too often unused and out-of-date prescriptions are flushed into our wastewater systems and ultimately end up in the Chesapeake Bay. Scientists believe this contributes to failing life cycles of fish and wildlife. This bill unanimously passed both the House and Senate.
HB257 – Access to Voting Room and Voting Booth by Minors Not Eligible to Vote
In the 2010 General Election less than fifty-five percent of those registered to vote actually voted. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2007 to allow early voting in an attempt to encourage more voters to take part in the process.
In the 2010 legislative session, we passed a bill to allow individuals 16 years old to register to vote and to allow individual 17 years old to vote in a primary, if they will turn 18 by the time of the general election. This bill would allow minors, up to 17 years old and not eligible to vote, to accompany voters and watch their parents cast their ballots. Both the House and Senate gave unanimous approval to this bill. It is the hope that this will minimize the reluctance of new voters to participate in their civic duty and improve on the number of registered voters in exercising their right to vote.
HB650 – Green Product Cleaning Supplies – Written Policies
Maryland law presently requires school districts to adopt a green cleaning program. I sponsored the present law in 2009.
HB650 would require all school districts to formalize, through written policy, their green cleaning programs – use, disposal and training. This is designed for the protection and health of our children, teachers and support staff. It is also a sound environmental protection bill. This bill did not get out of subcommittee and therefore did not receive a vote.
Additionally, the Charles County Delegation sponsored bills supported by the County Commissioners in their 2011 Legislative Proposals:
HB604 – Charles County – Board of Elections – Membership
This bill was requested by the Board of Elections and would increase the number of full members of the Board of Elections from 3 to 5 and eliminate the substitute members of the Board. This will result in greater efficiency for the operation.
HB1274 – Alcoholic Beverages – Class-B Stadium (Baseball Stadium) On-Sale Beer, Wine and Liquor License
The Board of Alcohol License Commissioners requested a new license to allow the sale of liquor in the Legends Club at Regency Stadium.
Bond Bill – $100,000 for the Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum to create a visitors reception area for the museum.
Again, thank you for all of your comments and input throughout the session. I do value your opinions and appreciate the time you took in corresponding with me.
Because open communication matters to me, please pass along my email address to your friends and family so that they can receive updates and newsletters. I will be happy to add them to my mailing list.
In the meantime, thank you for allowing me to represent you in District 28 and for your continuing support and encouragement.
Sincerely,
