20071102 MLIS: House Bill 23 Maryland Green Fund

MLIS: House Bill 23 Maryland Green Fund

HOUSE BILL 23

File Code: Natural Resources - Generally

Sponsored By:

Delegates McIntosh, V. Clagett, Frush, Lafferty, Lawton, Niemann, and Stein

Entitled:

Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays - Maryland Green Fund

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Synopsis:

Establishing the Maryland Green Fund as a special, continuing, nonlapsing fund beginning on January 1, 2009; providing for the uses of the Fund; establishing a statewide impervious surface fee for specified types of property; providing for the assessment and collection of the fee for deposit into the Fund; providing for the calculation, administration, and distribution of the fee; etc.

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History by Legislative and Calendar Date

House Action

10/29

First Reading Environmental Matters

10/31

Hearing 11/2 at 11:00 a.m.

Senate Action

No Action

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Sponsored by:

Delegate Maggie McIntosh, District 43

Delegate Virginia P. Clagett, District 30

Delegate Barbara Frush, District 21

Delegate Stephen W. Lafferty, District 42

Delegate Jane E. Lawton, District 18

Delegate Doyle L. Niemann, District 47

Delegate Dana Stein, District 11

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Bill indexed under the following Subjects:

Agriculture, Department of

Agriculture -see also- Farmland

Chesapeake Bay

Coastal Bays

Committees and Commissions -see also- Political Committees

Comptroller

Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties

Environment, Department of

Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut

Erosion -see also- Sediment Control; Shore Erosion

Exemptions

Farmland

Fees -see also- Devt Fees and Taxes; Reimbursement Rates

Flood Control

Grants

Local Government Mandates

Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt; Hager; OC

Natural Resources, Department of

Oysters

Pollution -see also- Sediment Control

Reports

Revenue and Taxes -see also- Dev Fees &Taxes; specific tax

Rivers and Streams

Rules and Regulations

Trees

Water

Wetlands

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Bill affects the following Statutes:

Natural Resources

( 8-2201 , 8-2202 , 8-2203 , 8-2204 , 8-2205 , 8-2206 )

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Documents:

Bill Text (Displayed in PDF Format): First Reading, Third Reading, Enrolled

Fiscal and Policy Note (Displayed in PDF Format): Available

Amendments: None offered

20071030 The Green Fund

The Green Fund

October 30, 2007

In reading as much as I can about the Special Session, I came across a blog on the Baltimore Sun’s web site: General Assembly: Special Session – Insight and analysis from the special session of the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis from Sun reporters Andy Green, Jim Drew, Laura Smitherman, Brad Olson, Kelly Brewington and Greg Garland.

In a post published today, there is a reference to “The Green Fund:”

Tuned in to radio ad

October 30, 2007

A coalition of environmental groups plan to launch a weeklong radio ad starting tomorrow in the Baltimore and Washington regions, urging the Maryland General Assembly to support the latest version of the Green Fund.

The proposed fund would assess a fee on commercial and industrial properties to raise an estimated $85 million a year to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Groups including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the League of Conservation Voters had hoped that O’Malley would include the proposal in his plan to eliminate the projected $1.7 billion budget shortfall in next years budget, but he didn't. Nonetheless, the House Environmental Committee has a hearing scheduled Friday on the matter.

(Reported by Laura Smitherman) Posted by Mary Hartney on October 30, 2007 11:58 AM

I searched the Baltimore Sun’s web site and the only previous reference I found for “The Green Fund” is from October 12, 2007, “Waterways fee is shaky” by Phillip McGowan Baltimore Sun. But this is an initiative in Anne Arundel County:

A proposal by Anne Arundel's chief executive to create a fee to repair damaged waterways might be headed for legislative purgatory, with Republicans and Democrats alike arguing that it would overburden taxpayers, curb affordable housing and put new retail centers at a competitive disadvantage.

"Right now, it's unclear if the SMART fund is even going to pass," County Councilman Josh Cohen, an Annapolis Democrat, said of the Stormwater Management and Restoration of Tributaries fund.

[…]

A public hearing on Leopold's proposal is set for Monday, and a vote could occur that night. But some council members who are lining up against it said they want to postpone a vote until next year, after the General Assembly weighs a statewide fee on new development to restore the Chesapeake Bay.

Known as the "Green Fund," it could generate $130 million a year for restoration projects.

One of my editors has asked me to look into a column on “The Green Fund.” I’ve got a lot more research to do – but meanwhile I was hoping that a reader might know some information and insight?

Thanks.

Kevin kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com