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2024 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Six: Local RV Bill Clears Committee, Carozza Juvenile Questioning Bill Hearing, Locals in Annapolis, Sneak Preview
| Worcester County RV Bill Clears Senate Committee |  | |
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 60 on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to allow out-of-state recreational vehicle dealers to participate in vehicle shows for motor homes or recreational trailers that take place within Worcester County. The bill would not allow deposits or points of sale from out-of-state dealers but does allow them to display their products at these Maryland shows.
“Ocean City is already a tourist destination and this legislation is fully intended to increase sale opportunities for the nine recreational vehicle dealerships within Maryland. Our intent is to increase economic tourism on Maryland’s Coast through the growing consumer demand for recreational vehicles.”
The inaugural OC RV Show was held October 12-15 and attracted over 7,500 visitors from across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. SB 60 is scheduled for a vote by the full Senate next week.
| HEARING HELD ON MY PUBLIC SAFETY BILL ON QUESTIONING JUVENILES FOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE OR CRIMES WITH A FIREARM | |
Together with Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes (Right), Wicomico High School Principal Undrea “Nikki” Blake (Center), and retired Chief of Police Dave Morris for Cheverly in Prince George’s County (Left) we testified on Tuesday in strong support of Senate Bill 326 before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Senate Bill 326 would supplement the existing “public safety” exception to the Juvenile Interrogation Act by allowing law enforcement to question juveniles without first being forced to talk to an attorney only in cases which the police have probable cause to believe the juvenile has committed a “crime of violence” or a crime involving a firearm.
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“These narrow exceptions would allow law enforcement to question juveniles only for crimes of violence and crimes with a firearm. It would help protect juveniles from adult criminals who often prey on and coerce juveniles into serious crime, and also would protect the community as a whole.”
The Child Interrogation Protection Act, or CIPA, has functionally eliminated the ability of law enforcement to interview juvenile suspects. In the three counties I represent, there has not been a single instance of a juvenile agreeing to speak with an investigator after the CIPA-mandated attorney consultation.
Wicomico High School Principal, Dr. Undrea “Nikki” Blake, testified on behalf of Wicomico County Public Schools: “Let us keep in mind… the majority of victims of juvenile crime are in fact other juveniles. When a crime is committed by a youth in our community and law enforcement is not able to immediately begin the questioning phase of investigation, youth perpetrators are bringing into our schools a sense of empowerment for their behaviors while others in school are feeling a sense of fear and concern for safety.”
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes and Cheverly Police Chief Davis Morris underscored that cooperation from juveniles during investigations, even with the most violent crimes like rape and murder, has plummeted across the State, if not outright disappeared.
| BILLS HEARD BY THE SENATE EDUCATION, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE | The Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee (EEE), of which I am a member, heard 37 bills this week. EEE has been assigned 338 bills, the highest of any Committee in the Maryland General Assembly. Bills must be heard before March 18, which is the deadline for bills to clear their original chamber in order to be considered in the other chamber. | |
SB 527, Community Colleges – Contraception – Access Requirements, would require each community college to develop a plan to provide students with access to over-the-counter contraception that would be implemented by August 1, 2025.
“I strongly oppose this mandate on our community colleges. This legislation puts a costly burden on Maryland community colleges at a time when the Governor’s proposed FY25 budget includes a devastating $22 million reduction to the Community College Cade funding formula.”
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“Community college students from across the State came here en masse on Student Advocacy Day, fighting for the restoration of the Cade funding. I personally met with a large group of Wor-Wic Community College students in my office, and they were totally focused on restoring the cuts. Not one of them spoke up in support of Senate Bill 527, which imposes a costly mandate on community colleges as they fight to restore disastrous community college cuts.”
| SB 675, the Stop Scam Tax Preparers Act | |
SB 675 would require the State Board of Individual Tax Preparers to work with the Comptroller’s Office to protect the taxpayers of Maryland from non-registered and fraudulent preparers. Certified Public Accountants actively practicing in Maryland are obligated to adhere to a rigorous code of ethics, which is reinforced with four hours of continuing education and in professional ethics every two years. Bad actors who engage in unethical practices harm their clients and the overall reputation of all tax professionals. This legislation is supported by the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Association of CPAs, the Maryland Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals, the Office of the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Maryland, AARP, the Cash Campaign of Maryland, and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.
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SB 586, Public Safety – Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing
for Fuel Gas Piping Systems
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SB586 would establish the prohibition of the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or distribution of corrugated stainless steel tubing if it does not meet a certain International Code Council standard. Proponents state that stainless steel tubing that does not meet this standard is unsuitable to be used as gas pipes and can cause serious harm to the safety of the public. This legislation is supported by the Maryland Association of Counties, the International Fire Marshals Association, the Maryland State Fireman’s Association, and the Fire/EMS Coalition of which I am a member.
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SJ 3, the Commercial Fishery Disaster Declaration Due to Invasive Species
SJ3 would express the support of the Maryland General Assembly for a federal fisheries disaster declaration and would encourage further efforts to obtain federal assistance to address impacts to commercial fisheries by invasive species. This would increase federal funding opportunities to support Maryland’s commercial fisheries and the damages they face due to invasive fish species such as blue catfish (above) and snakehead. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, ShoreRivers, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, and Assateague Coastal Trust support this legislation.
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SB 772, Elections – In-Person Voting – Proof of Identity
SB772 would require each individual seeking to vote in person to provide valid government-issued identification. Valid identification is required for driving, boarding an airplane, applying for a job or school, purchasing a car, receiving outpatient testing, checking out a library book, donating blood, buying cigarettes and liquor, and engaging with a pawn shop. I am a cosponsor of this legislation.
“There are now 37 states that request or require ID to vote. In our one-person-one-vote system, having intentional but reasonable security measures instills confidence in the sanctity of our votes and our system of government,” testified Senator Justin Ready (R- Carroll County), who is the sponsor of SB 772.
“I, along with thousands of my constituents over the years, have been advocating for this simple, commonsense bill giving voters confidence in our elections. Earlier this session, hundreds of my constituents signed a petition specifically calling on the Maryland General Assembly to pass voter ID legislation.”
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LOCAL IN ANNAPOLIS THIS WEEK | |
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House Page: Abigail Vadella from Berlin,
a senior at Stephen Decatur High School, joining us during Chicken Day in Annapolis
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Local Realtor representatives visited Annapolis on Wednesday. Included with me are (L to R): Bernie Flax, Cameron Drew, Brigit Taylor, Chris Jett, Joe Schanno, Lindsey Patten, Terrence McGowan, and Mila Duarte. Not pictured were: Edward Lee, Tim Arnett, and Austin Whitehead. | |
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Local library officials (below) visited Annapolis on Tuesday (L-R), Amanda Watson of Eastern Shore Regional Library; Seth Hershberger of Wicomico Public Library; Ed Goyda of Somerset County Library; John Venditta of Eastern Shore Regional Library; Betsy Gravenor-Stacey and Jennifer Ranck of Worcester County Library; | |
The Delmarva Chicken Association hosted its annual Chicken Day in Annapolis highlighting its “Growing for 100 Years” Anniversary and the Association’s 75th anniversary as an organization advocating for the chicken community. In 2023, the Delmarva chicken community raised 601.1 million chickens, produced 4.4 billion pounds of chicken, and generated $4.4 billion in wholesale value. DCA Executive Director Holly Porter and Mountaire Farms Veterinarian, Dr. Michael Quist and Zach Evans, Mountaire Community Relations were hosts of the event. | Far Nasir, a poultry grower in Pocomoke and Delmarva Chicken Association Board member, is featured at Chicken Day in Annapolis. I am pictured with DCA President Holly Porter below. | Other representatives who visited Annapolis this week include Jennifer Schernahorn with the Alzheimer's Association; Patti Stevens and John Foley with Bike Maryland; Ivory Smith, MSEA Board Member supporting Education Support Professionals, who serves at Ocean City Elementary School., and Kim Miles of Wicomico County High School. | |
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SNEAK PREVIEW
Six of my sponsored bills will be heard next week, including Senate Bill 167, the Physician Assistant Modernization Act of 2024, which would update the laws regarding the working relationship between Physicians and Physician Assistants to better reflect current practices in the post-COVID-19 pandemic world and to increase access to health care, especially in rural areas.
“Maryland hospitals already are struggling to maintain adequate coverage in the emergency room and to support many of the medical specialties, especially on the Eastern Shore. We need to take action now. Medicine is a team sport, and we need to build and train a strong supportive structure that better utilizes our Physician Assistants so more patients can be served, especially during a time of severe shortage of health care providers."
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RADIO INTERVIEWS
I am honored to be invited as a regular guest on WGMD talk radio with Mike Bradley where we discuss upcoming legislation and local issues. I will post the dates and times for these interviews in the e-blasts and invite you to tune in.
The next segment is 2/22 at 8:20 am on FM 92.7 & 98.5 WGMD or click below.
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STAY INVOLVED
We welcome your visit to Annapolis and encourage you to follow the fast pace of legislation by signing on to the General Assembly Website where you can find useful information. At the bottom of the page, click on video tutorials for full descriptions. Below is a link to the site.
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By Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, James R. Bergey, Jr., CPA, Treasurer | | | | |
