Senator Eckardt Legislative Update - March 29, 2017

Senator Adelaide Eckardt, District 37 Legislative Weekly Update March 29, 2017

Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Women's Caucus on Maryland Day! Photo Credit: ©heathercrowderphotography FISCAL 2018 BUDGET   The General Assembly passed Governor Hogan’s $43 billion FY18 operating budget this week. The revised budget maintains the Governor’s commitment to fund education with almost $6.4 billion dollars allocated to public schools. The proposed budget also achieves the Spending Affordability Committee’s dual goal of leaving a fund balance of at least $100 million and reducing the structural shortfall in fiscal 2018 by at least 50%. Additionally, the budget includes a total of $10 billion, which allows the State to provide Medicaid coverage to almost 1.4 million of Maryland residents. Dedicated funding ($16.5 million increase) to respond to the opioid epidemic was also included in this year’s operating budget. Finally, a 3.5% rate increase is included in this budget to fund providers serving the developmentally disabled. SENATE BILL 717 - CONNECT RURAL MARYLAND ACT OF 2017   SB 717 passed the Senate earlier this week with amendments that expand the task force to include additional rural areas in Western and Southern Maryland, Harford, Frederick, Carroll Counties and the Eastern Shore. Members of the task force will 1) assess current internet-broadband, wireless, cellular and landline service connectivity’s; 2) evaluate to see if there are any redundancies and gaps in the current service connectivity’s; and 3) evaluate any federal funds applied for in response to previous broadband studies in the State. The Rural Maryland Council will chair this initiative, with members from the General Assembly, industry representatives, and local regional council members. An examination of these services and an assessment of which type of services would be most effective in these areas will be included in a report submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 2017. This task force will help address the service concerns of constituents in District 37 and throughout rural Maryland. The unveiling of the Sharptown seal in the Eastern Shore Delegation Room. SENATE BILL 1190 - BAY RESTORATING FUND - UPGRADED WASTEWATER FACILITIES - GRANTS FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES  SB 1190 has been introduced and would allow for counties and municipalities that upgraded a wastewater facility to Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) before July 1, 2013 to be awarded a grant, on a first-come, first-serve basis, from the Department of Environment within the funds from the Bay Restoration Fund. Counties and municipalities that are eligible for this grant must have: (1) not received a grant for the upgrade from the Bay Restoration Fund and (2) their customers, of the wastewater facility, pay the Bay Restoration Fee. The introduction of SB 343 sparked conversation among counties and municipalities that have already completed the Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrade. SB 343, which passed the Senate, expands the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) eligible costs to include 100% BRF grant eligibility for secondary wastewater treatment plans that are upgrading to Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) technology. As a result of this discussion, SB 1190 was drafted to aid local counties and municipalities that completed the upgrades before July 1, 2013. SENATE BILL 946 - GUN-FREE HIGHER EDUCATION ZONES SB 946 passed the Senate with amendments last week and would prohibit the carrying or possession of all firearms on the property of a public institution of higher education. A person convicted of carrying or possessing a handgun on public institutions of higher education would be subject to a civil penalty. This legislation does not apply to on-duty law enforcement officers, off-duty law enforcement officer, or a retired officer in possession of their badge/credential, and those hired by a county board of education or public institution of higher education for the purpose of guarding public school property. Amendments were offered and debated on the Senate floor to help address concerns with this bill. The sponsor of the bill submitted an amendment that better defines “campus.” The new amendment allows for individuals to carry or possess on the property of the public institution of higher education if that area is not located on a campus and the possession of a firearm in the area is not prohibited by law. Although these amendments better address concerns I have expressed with this piece of legislation, I oppose mandating gun-free higher education zones in Maryland. This bill imposes a false sense of security to Marylanders and may leave our campuses vulnerable. SENATE BILL 835 - MARYLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL TRUST ACT   SB 835, also known as the “Sanctuary Bill,” is expected to pass the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. It clarifies the parameters in which local law enforcement and government agencies shall participate in federal immigration enforcement efforts. SB 835 prohibits Maryland law enforcement officials from stopping, arresting, searching, or detaining an individual for the purpose of investigating a suspected immigration violation. Federal immigration authorities must submit a judicial warrant to request a government agent to transfer an individual to federal immigration authorities, detain an individual, or notify federal immigration authorities of release information. Preventing law enforcement officers from fully performing their job imposes a risk to all Marylanders. The house version (HB1362) of SB 835 passed the House and will be heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. SENATE BILL 1023 - INDEPENDENT CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING COMMISSION - MID-ATLANTIC STATES REGIONAL DISTRICTING PROCESS   SB 1023 was proposed as a redistricting plan, for only Maryland’s congressional district. A  Washington Post report ranked Maryland as having the most gerrymandered congressional districts in the country. This bill, however, is contingent upon 5 other states completing a similar redistricting process and if that does not occur by 2023, Maryland can proceed. SB 1023 passed the Senate in a 30-16 vote. Although this bill passed, it is unlikely this act will produce a fair redistricting process in Maryland. The Governor’s bill (HB385/SB252), which was similar but does not include other states and focuses on both congressional and legislative districts in Maryland, received an unfavorable report in the House committee. It is time to address this concern and bring transparency and election integrity to voters in Maryland.   HOUSE BILL 924 - NATURAL RESOURCES - OYSTER MANAGEMENT - PROHIBITED ACTIONS   HB 924 would prohibit the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from taking any action to expand, reduce or alter the boundaries of the oyster sanctuaries established in “Oyster Sanctuaries of the Chesapeake bay and its Tidal Tributaries” until the department has developed a fisheries management plan. The Oyster Advisory Commission has worked for years to make recommendations to the state on the oyster population. This commission proposed a plan to establish a rotational harvest system. HB 924 was introduced before the official release of the recommendation from the Oyster Advisory Commission. In 2016, the General Assembly passed the Sustainable Oyster Population and Fishery Act that mandates DNR to conduct a study to adopt a science-based fishery management plan by 2018. The General Assembly should let this study conclude before submitting additional legislation. Hopefully the data will soon be integrated into the fisheries management plan for oysters. This bill was debated on the Senate floor throughout the week. Senator Hershey and I offered amendments to give the Department the flexibility to improve the current oyster sanctuaries. The bill passed the Senate. Commercial businesses and local watermen in Maryland will be negatively impacted by this legislation. SENATE BILL 317  After considerable debate and discussion with several bill sponsors, the Governors team, and the Senate Budget and Tax committee, four bills were combined into one for a comprehensive jobs, workforce, apprenticeship training bill focusing on opportunities for our smaller rural counties struggling with retention of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses.