20070410 CC Delegate Stocksdale’s MGA session wrap-up

Carroll County Delegate Nancy Stocksdale’s end of session wrap-up

April 10th, 2007

Dear Friends:

We have just concluded the 2007 Legislative Session, and I want to tell you about some of the legislation we voted on this year.

As with every Session, the most important thing we must accomplish is to approve a budget for the State. This year, Governor O’Malley’s budget used almost a billion dollars from the Rainy Day Fund to give as much money as possible to every State-funded group who asked for it. Our House Appropriations Committee spent from January to March analyzing the budgets of each agency. We tried to limit the increases over last year’s budget. We even reduced the general fund budget by $186.8 million. Subsequent to our reduction efforts, Governor O’Malley sent four supplemental budgets which then spent the money we had reduced from his original budget!

When the budget was introduced on the House floor, the Republican Minority Leader offered an amendment that would have kept the budget at the 2007 level with just a limited number of exceptions. That amendment was rejected, and the $30 billion dollar budget passed the House of Delegates. Minor changes were made during the conference committee between the Senate and the House budgets, but we have neglected to control spending or to try to decrease the size of the upcoming $1.5 BILLION structural deficit. Thirty-seven tax bills were introduced this year to take $4 billion dollars from our citizens. Although most of these bills did not pass, look out for next year! There are rumors that (Senate) President Miller will be asking the Governor to call for a special session to pass tax increases and slots.

Listed below are some of the other bills which we debated :

Jessica’s Law (HB 930) - The voices of thousands of Marylanders were heard this Session by the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee who voted on the Jessica’s Law legislation. The “Bill O’Reilly Show” focused on House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Joe Vallario, who was not supportive of this bill last year. Delegate Vallario is a trial lawyer who does not believe in mandatory sentences. The bill, which was named for the nine-year-old girl from Florida who was r---d and buried alive in a plastic bag, mandates a 25-year prison term with no parole for first-degree r--- or sex offenses against a child under the age of 13. The bill is waiting for Governor O'Malley's signature. PASSED.

Chesapeake Bay Green Fund (HB 1220) – This bill would impose a tax based on the square foot of impervious surfaces on residences and commercial buildings. Impervious surfaces include the roof, driveway, and parking spaces. The cost per square foot began at $2.00 but was amended before it was voted on in the House of Delegates. It is now $.50 per square foot for residential and $1.00 per square foot for commercial. The vote was 96 – 41 in the House, and it was then sent to the Senate where it did not move out of committee. FAILED.

Higher Education – Tuition Charges – Maryland High School Students (HB 6) Even with the budget deficit of $1.5 billion dollars looming for next year, the House of Delegates approved HB 6 (81 to 57 vote) giving undocumented immigrants in-State tuition rates at our universities. Tuition for Maryland residents at the University of Maryland College Park is $7,969 a year, and tuition for non-residents is $22,208 a year. The legislature has frozen tuition rates for the past two years which means that the taxpayers are paying a larger share of the cost for tuition with money from the General Fund. The bill only requires a student to attend a Maryland high school for two years before that student can apply for in-State tuition up to five years after graduation, regardless of residence. As long as the parents have paid Maryland State tax, the undocumented or illegal immigrant is eligible to attend either a community college or a four-year institution. The bill does not require an applicant to live in the State of Maryland. For example, a parent may be employed in Maryland but live in Delaware, West Virginia, or another neighboring State and have Maryland taxes withheld. This Maryland tax is refunded to the non-resident, but the student can attend our schools at in-State tuition rates. The bill does not require a length of time for employment in Maryland. Someone could work for only one day and qualify for in-State tuition! This legislation is so unfair to the Maryland residents who are here legally and who have paid Maryland taxes for long periods of time and, many, for a lifetime. There are only a limited number of slots for students in our universities and our own students may be denied acceptance. This was a terrible bill, and all of the Carroll County Delegation voted against it. It was debated in the Senate committee but was not brought out for a vote. FAILED.

Vehicle Laws – Drivers’ Licensing of Illegal Aliens – Restrictions (HB 537) - This bill stops illegal immigrants from getting a driver’s license. FAILED.

Voter Registration Protection Act (SB 488/HB 544) - This allows an individual convicted of any crime, with the exception of buying or selling votes, to register to vote if not actually serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment, including any term of parole or probation. Although this bill did not make it out of the House, the Senate bill did succeed in passing in both chambers and is waiting for the Governor’s signature. Your Carroll County Delegation voted against this bill. PASSED.

Clean Indoor Act of 2007 (HB 359/SB 91) - Smoking ban for restaurants and bars passed in both houses but in different forms. An amendment was offered to prohibit smoking altogether in Maryland to really protect our health. The amendment was defeated. The Senate bill excluded private clubs such as the VFW and the American Legion. After the conference committee, the bill banned smoking in all restaurants and bars with no exclusions. However, companies which can prove they will suffer financial hardships as a result of the ban may request a waiver effective until January 31, 2011. After that date, there will be no smoking in any public business. PASSED.

Election Law – Presidential Primary Election Date (HB 1434/SB 1025) This moves the Presidential Primary Election from March 4 to February 12. Another election related bill, Election Law - Voting Systems - Voter-Verified Paper Records (HB 18) requiring a paper trail was passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. PASSED.

State Procurement Contracts - Living Wage (HB 430) This bill will require a contractor who does work for the State to pay a certain wage. In Baltimore City, Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Baltimore Counties, the wage will be $11.30 while in the other counties the living wage will be $8.50. This bill was heavily debated in the House of Delegates. Carroll County Delegates feel this a discriminatory bill because of the wage differential in our county. The Senate debated the bill on the last day of the Session and passed it with a 31- 16 vote in favor. PASSED.

Carroll County Bond Bills –

The Capital Budget Sub-committee approved a $100,000 bond bill for the Danele Shipley Arena at the Agriculture Center, and a $100,000 bond bill for the Martin K. Hoff Memorial Log Barn.

The Department of Juvenile Services appropriated $3,329,000 for the Carroll County Youth Services Bureau’s new building.

For school construction, Carroll County received a total of $8,219,443. The money will be used for Ebb Valley Elementary which will receive $5,600,000 and Freedom Elementary which will receive $1,479,000. The remainder of the money will be divided between Ebb Valley Elementary and Mt. Airy Middle for a new roof.

All of the legislation requested of the Delegation by the Carroll County Commissioners was passed:

1. Abatement of Nuisances – Ongoing Violations

This provides that if both a property owner and occupant have been notified more than twice during a 12-month period of a specified nuisance violation (overgrowing weeds, accumulation of refuse, presence of stagnant water or combustible materials), the nuisance is considered to be an ongoing violation and additional notification is not required before the county takes action to abate the nuisance.

2. Pretrial and Work Release Programs

This authorizes the Sheriff of Carroll County to establish a pretrial release program that offers alternatives to pretrial detention and to adopt regulations to administer the program.

3. Bingo and Gaming Events – Qualified Organizations

This will permit outside organizations to come to Carroll County and conduct bingo or a gaming events.

4. Public Facilities Bonds

This authorizes the commissioners to issue up to $80 million in bonds for acquisition, construction, improvement, or renovation of public buildings, facilities, and public works projects, and for installment purchase agreements for the acquisition of easements on agricultural and forestry lands.

I feel it is an honor and a privilege to serve you in Annapolis. Although we may not agree on everything, your opinions are important in my decision making. I appreciate hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Nancy R. Stocksdale