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Bills Signed and Vetoed
2004 Legislative Session

Veto Overrides - 2004 Legislative Session
Became law without Governor's signature per Maryland Constitution
Signed
March 5, 2004
Signed
March 29, 2004
Signed
April 13, 2004
Signed
April 27, 2004
Signed
May 11, 2004
Signed
May 26, 2004
Vetoed Bills

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March 5, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Article II, Section 17(b), of the Constitution of Maryland states:

Section 17.

(b) If any Bill presented to the Governor while the General Assembly is in session is not returned by him with his objections within six days (Sundays excepted), the Bill shall be a law in like manner as if he signed it, unless the General Assembly, by adjournment, prevents its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

Having chosen to not sign House Bill 345 after formal presentment and to let the provisions of Article II, Section 17(b) determine the effectiveness of the legislation, this bill will become law without the Governor's signature as of midnight, March 5, 2004 and is assigned the following Chapter number:
 
HB 345
Chapter 6
Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act -- Trigger Provision -- Repeal
Repealing the provision in the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act that makes a specified level of State aid for education contingent on the adoption of a joint resolution by the General Assembly by the fiftieth day of session; and repealing the provision of the Act establishing an alternative funding level of State aid for education if the joint resolution is not adopted.
Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2002, § 20--amended
EMERGENCY BILL
Delegate Hixson, et al

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


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March 29, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On March 29, 2004, the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, signed the following pieces of legislation which you passed:
 
SB 415
Chapter 7
Hurricane Isabel Disaster Relief Act
Establishing the Hurricane Isabel Housing Rehabilitation and Renovation Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development; providing that the Program shall include projects in which the Department provides low interest loans to rehabilitate or renovate primary residences, credit enhancements for private market loans to rehabilitate, renovate, or replace primary residences, and financial assistance under a specified buy--down program under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Stone, et al

HB 3
Chapter 8
Hurricane Isabel Disaster Relief Act
Establishing the Hurricane Isabel Housing Rehabilitation and Renovation Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development; providing that the Program shall include projects in which the Department provides low interest loans to rehabilitate or renovate primary residences and credit enhancements for private market loans to rehabilitate, renovate, or replace primary residences damaged by Hurricane Isabel and financial assistance under a specified buy--down program under specified circumstances; etc.
The Speaker, et al

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


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April 13, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On April 13, 2004, the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, signed the following pieces of legislation which you passed:
 
HB 1467
Chapter 9
Transportation Trust Fund -- Transportation Financing -- Increased Revenues
Increasing the maximum allowable aggregate amount of outstanding and unpaid consolidated transportation bonds and bonds of prior issues; including the average annual capital program of the Motor Vehicle Administration in the calculation of the maximum allowable level of specified fees; repealing the termination of the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund; etc.
The Speaker and the Minority Leader (Administration)

SB 24
Chapter 10
Cecil County -- Public Facilities Bonds
Authorizing and empowering the County Commissioners of Cecil County to borrow not more than $9,025,000 in order to finance the cost of the construction and improvement of specified public facilities in Cecil County and to effect that borrowing by the issuance and sale at public or private sale of its general obligation bonds; etc.
Cecil County Senators

SB 31
Chapter 11
Higher Education -- Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program
Altering the qualification requirements for the Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program to include attendance at any institution of higher education in the State offering a master's degree in social work.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 32
Chapter 12
Vehicle Laws -- Titling and Registration -- Temporary Registrations
Repealing the authority of the Motor Vehicle Administration, when issuing a temporary vehicle registration, to issue a registration card and plate; repealing specified limitations on the period during which a temporary registration remains valid; expanding the authority of the Administration to require vehicle inspections prior to titling and to issue temporary registrations; etc.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 33
Chapter 13
Motor Vehicle Administration -- Provisional Licenses -- Issuance of Drivers' Licenses and License Sanctions
Authorizing the Motor Vehicle Administration to issue a driver's license to a holder of a provisional license who is convicted of a moving violation but was eligible to receive a driver's license at the time the violation occurred; altering a definition of "offense" to make specified administrative penalties inapplicable to specified holders of provisional drivers' licenses; etc.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 34
Chapter 14
Motor Vehicle Administration -- Administrative Appeals and Hearings
Repealing the authority of the Motor Vehicle Administration to delegate to the Office of Administrative Hearings the power to render proposed findings of fact and proposed conclusions of law in specified hearings under the Maryland Vehicle Law; expanding the authority of the Administration to delegate to the Office of Administrative Hearings the power to render final decisions in hearings under the Maryland Vehicle Law; etc.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 39
Chapter 15
Public Safety and Correctional Services -- Inmates Confined to State Correctional Facilities -- Release Dates
Modifying the date of release from confinement in a State correctional facility when the scheduled release date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; requiring the Commissioner of Correction to adopt specified regulations establishing a release plan for inmates upon release from a facility; etc.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 43
Chapter 16
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board -- Life Insurance Benefits
Exempting from a requirement that an award for criminal injuries compensation be reduced by the amount of any payments received or to be received as a result of the injury, the first $25,000 of proceeds of life insurance.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 44
Chapter 17
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board -- Emergency Award
Increasing to $2,000 the maximum amount payable as an emergency award for criminal injuries compensation; and providing an exception to the requirement that a claimant repay the emergency award under specified circumstances.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 53
Chapter 18
Planning -- Priority Funding Areas -- Requests for Exceptions
Transferring the authority to receive requests by the Board of Public Works for specified advisory opinions and to hold specified public meetings from the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission to the Department of Planning.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 55
Chapter 19
Election Law -- Miscellaneous Technical and Clarifying Corrections
Altering provisions of the Election Law to conform to current practices; altering specified definitions; repealing a specified provision for an appeal of a rejection of an absentee ballot application; repealing a provision concerning a voter transaction at the Motor Vehicle Administration; repealing provisions concerning mechanical lever voting machines; altering provisions of law to accommodate the use of electronic voting systems; etc.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 58
Chapter 20
Natural Resources -- Forest or Park Wardens -- Term
Eliminating the two--year term limit for a person commissioned by the Secretary of Natural Resources to act as a forest or park warden; etc.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 65
Chapter 21
Environment -- Water Quality -- Penalties
Increasing the maximum penalties that may be imposed for knowingly making false statements or falsifying monitoring devices or methods in violation of water quality laws.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 68
Chapter 22
Income Tax -- Police, Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Personnel in an Emergency or a Disaster Area
Exempting specified police, fire, rescue, or emergency services providers from the registration and qualification requirements for foreign corporations; providing an exception to the State income tax withholding requirement for wages paid to specified nonresident police, fire, rescue, or emergency service workers; providing for a subtraction modification under the State income tax for wages paid to specified nonresident police, fire, rescue, or emergency services workers; and applying the Act to tax years after 2003.
Chairman B&T (Dept)

SB 69
Chapter 23
Income Tax -- Time for Filing Quarterly Income Tax Withholding Returns
Altering the deadline for filing income tax withholding returns from the last day to the 15th day of the month following the calendar quarter in which the income tax was withheld; and providing for an effective date of January 1, 2005.
Chairman B&T (Dept)

SB 73
Chapter 24
Annual Curative Bill
Generally curing previous Acts of the General Assembly with possible title or other defects.
The President (By Request -- Department of Legislative Services)

SB 74
Chapter 25
Annual Corrective Bill
Correcting specified errors and omissions in various articles of the Annotated Code and in specified uncodified laws; establishing that the Act is not intended to affect any law other than to correct technical errors; ratifying and validating specified corrections made by the publisher of the Annotated Code; applying and construing the Act; etc.
The President

SB 75
Chapter 26
Code Revision -- Miscellaneous Provisions
Revising, without substantive change, specified provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland in order to effectuate the purposes of the Code Revision process; and repealing specified provisions that are obsolete or redundant.
The President (Department of Legislative Services -- Code Revision)

SB 109
Chapter 27
Charles County -- Bel Alton High School Loan of 1996
Amending Chapter 130 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1996 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for specified purposes by June 1, 2006.
Senator Middleton

SB 161
Chapter 28
Redhouse Run Stormwater Systems Loan of 1984
Amending Chapter 389 of the Acts of 1984 to require that the loan proceeds must be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act by June 1, 2006.
Senators Stone and Klausmeier

SB 164
Chapter 29
Acting Attorney General
Providing for the senior Deputy Attorney General to serve as acting Attorney General under specified circumstances; establishing the powers and duties of the acting Attorney General; setting a time period during which the acting Attorney General would serve; providing for a specified notice; providing that a circuit court has exclusive jurisdiction over specified issues and may pass specified orders; and requiring a specified proceeding to take precedence and be expedited under specified circumstances.
Senator Frosh, et al

SB 255
Chapter 30
Prince George's County -- Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club Loan of 2001
Amending Chapter 680 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2001, as amended by Chapter 32 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2003, to extend the time by which the Board of Directors of the Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club, Inc. must provide a matching fund, for the Prince George's County -- Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club Loan of 2001, from June 1, 2004, to June 1, 2005.
Senator Exum

SB 285
Chapter 31
Child in Need of Assistance -- Permanency Planning Hearings
Restoring a requirement that all children in out--of--home placements committed under child in need of assistance proceedings have permanency planning hearings held by the appropriate court; and making the Act an emergency measure.
Senator Jacobs

SB 399
Chapter 32
Anne Arundel County -- Wiley H. Bates High School Loan of 1997
Amending Chapter 221 of the Acts of 1997 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act no later than June 1, 2005.
Senator Jimeno (Chairman Anne Arundel County Delegation)

SB 488
Chapter 33
Anne Arundel County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Baltimore--Washington International Airport
Allowing specified persons at Baltimore--Washington International Airport to hold one airport concessionaire license for multiple locations within the airport terminal building even if they already hold specified other alcoholic beverages licenses; etc.
Senators Jimeno and DeGrange

SB 786
Chapter 34
Carroll County -- County Roads -- Funding and Construction
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Carroll County to designate by ordinance specified county roads or segments of roads for construction by the county with a portion of the costs to be paid by specified property owners; requiring a specified notice and public hearing; requiring the County Commissioners to maintain a record of specified costs; authorizing the county to require repayment of specified costs under specified circumstances; etc.
Carroll County Senators

HB 8
Chapter 35
Higher Education -- Community Colleges -- Authority to Incur Debt
Authorizing the boards of community college trustees for Hagerstown Community College and Wor--Wic Community College to borrow money for the acquisition of interests in personal property, including fixtures, for the operation of the community college on terms and conditions that the boards of trustees consider proper; etc.
Delegate Conway, et al

HB 101
Chapter 36
Natural Resources -- Vessels -- Accident Reports
Altering the requirement for the filing of a report for accidents involving the collision of two or more vessels under specified circumstances.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 129
Chapter 37
Natural Resources -- Jennings Randolph Lake Project Compact -- Criminal Law Enforcement
Amending the Jennings Randolph Lake Project Compact by authorizing the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to enforce criminal laws and regulations applicable to the Jennings Randolph Lake Project, contingent on the passage of similar legislation in West Virginia and approval from the United States Congress.
Delegate Edwards

HB 158
Chapter 38
Education -- Disabled Student Transportation Grant
Altering the fiscal year used in calculating the amount of a disabled student transportation grant distributed to local boards of education; and providing that the Act applies to annual disabled student grants beginning in fiscal year 2006.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 179
Chapter 39
Secretary of State -- Responsibility for the Maryland Sister--State Relationship Program
Establishing that the Office of the Secretary of State has lead authority in maintaining and developing sister--state relationships; and establishing that the Department of Business and Economic Development no longer has lead authority in maintaining and developing sister--state relationships.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 180
Chapter 40
Real Property -- Recordation of Deeds and Instruments of Writing
Repealing a specified prohibition against recording a deed or other instrument of writing in specified counties until the property granted is transferred on the assessment rolls of the county where the property is located under specified circumstances; requiring a clerk of the circuit court to refuse to record specified instruments of writing if an intake sheet is missing or incomplete; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 184
Chapter 41
Prince George's County -- North Brentwood Town Hall and Museum Project Loan of 1996
Ammending Chapter 93 of the Acts of 1996 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purpose provided in the Act no later than June 1, 2006.
Delegate Niemann, et al

HB 209
Chapter 42
Vital Statistics Administration -- Adjudications of Paternity -- Repeal Requirement for Fee
Repealing a requirement that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene collect a fee to process an adjudication of paternity.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 216
Chapter 43
Homestead Tax Credit -- Damaged Property
Providing for the continuation of the Homestead Tax Credit for properties damaged due to an accident or natural disaster; altering the calculation of a property tax abatement for property damaged due to an accident or natural disaster; etc.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 223
Chapter 44
Howard County -- Board of Education -- Meetings Ho. Co. 5--04
Altering the number of times the Howard County Board of Education is required to meet each month; and requiring the Howard County Board of Education to meet a specified number of times each year.
Howard County Delegation

HB 322
Chapter 45
Higher Education -- Community Colleges -- Tuition Waiver for Certain Students
Altering the requirements for exemption from payment of tuition at community colleges for specified individuals.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 446
Chapter 46
State Personnel -- Duties of Department and Secretary of Budget and Management
Requiring the Secretary of Budget and Management to conduct specified position and operational audits for positions in the State Personnel Management System at least once every 3 years; etc.
Chairman APP (Dept)

HB 447
Chapter 47
College Savings Plans of Maryland Board -- Annual Reports
Extending the deadline for the College Savings Plans of Maryland Board to submit specified annual reports to the Governor and the General Assembly.
Chairman APP (Dept)

HB 507
Chapter 48
State Personnel and Pensions -- Temporary or Contractual Reemployment of Retirees of the Workforce Reduction Act
Repealing the process for approving temporary or contractual reemployment of retirees under the Workforce Reduction Act of 1996; and repealing the 2% limit on reemploying these retirees.
Chairman APP (Dept)

HB 533
Chapter 49
Insurance -- Impaired Insurers
Altering the definition of impaired insurer, as it applies to stock insurers and mutual insurers, so as to provide that an impaired insurer is a stock or mutual insurer the assets of which, less all liabilities and required reserves, do not equal or exceed the minimum surplus required under the law for authority to engage in the business of a stock or mutual insurer.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 560
Chapter 50
Montgomery County -- Special Class C Beer License and Special Class C Beer and Wine License -- Fee MC 401--04
Increasing to $30 the fee for a special Class C beer license and a special Class C beer and wine license in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 561
Chapter 51
Montgomery County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Restaurants -- East County License MC 403--04
Creating in Montgomery County an East County Class B (restaurant) beer, wine and liquor (on--sale) license; allowing a licensee to hold an East County license in combination with specified other alcoholic beverages licenses; specifying the boundaries of the area in which a restaurant with an East County license may be located; and making a specified licensing requirement inapplicable to the holder of an East County license.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 562
Chapter 52
Montgomery County -- Kensington -- Beer and Wine Licenses MC 407--04
Authorizing the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners to issue in the town of Kensington special 2--day on--sale beer and wine licenses to specified organizations and special B--K beer and wine licenses for use by specified restaurants.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 563
Chapter 53
Montgomery County -- Special Class C Beer, Wine and Liquor License -- Fee MC 402--04
Increasing to $60 the fee for special Class C beer, wine and liquor licenses in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 574
Chapter 54
Health Insurance -- Medicare Supplement Policies -- Sale or Offer to Medicaid--Eligible Individual
Repealing a prohibition against a carrier or insurance producer negligently or knowingly offering to sell a Medicare supplement policy to an individual eligible for Medicaid; authorizing a carrier or insurance producer to sell or offer to sell a Medicare supplement policy to an individual eligible for Medicaid in accordance with provisions of federal law; etc.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 618
Chapter 55
Howard County -- Board of Education -- Pensions, Health Insurance, and Other Benefits Ho. Co. 6--04
Providing that members of the Howard County Board of Education may participate, under specified terms and conditions, in specified health insurance and other benefit programs; prohibiting specified retirement contributions and other benefits from being calculated as specified compensation for the members of the Howard County Board of Education; providing for the application of the Act as to specified incumbent members of the Howard County Board of Education; etc.
Howard County Delegation

HB 620
Chapter 56
Garrett County -- Public Local Laws -- Obsolete Provisions -- Repeal
Repealing from the Public Local Laws of Garrett County specified obsolete provisions of law pertaining to appliance installers, billiard rooms and bowling alleys, crimes and punishments, firearms, manufacturers and miners, pensions for teachers, the poor or insane, the sheriff, thistles, and wages.
Garrett County Delegation

HB 627
Chapter 57
State Acupuncture Board -- Auricular Detoxification
Altering the supervision requirements for individuals performing auricular detoxification; repealing the termination provision for provisions of law that allow specified individuals who are licensed or certified to practice specified health occupations in the State to provide auricular detoxification under specified circumstances; requiring the State Acupuncture Board to adopt regulations; defining a specified term; etc.
Delegate Menes, et al

HB 642
Chapter 58
Garrett County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Underage Employees
Clarifying that the restriction on alcoholic beverages licensees in Garrett County on employing persons under the age of 18 applies only to the handling of alcoholic beverages; and repealing a general prohibition against the employment of persons under the age of 18 by licensees.
Garrett County Delegation

HB 666
Chapter 59
Biological Agents Registry Program
Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to adopt regulations that require local jurisdictions to be informed of the location and nature of specified biological agents in the Biological Agents Registry and provide for the release of specified information to specified agencies, officers, and entities; prohibiting disclosure of specified information to another person or entity unless authorized; etc.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

HB 669
Chapter 60
Health Insurance -- HIPAA -- Maryland Health Insurance Plan -- Alternative Mechanism
Establishing the Maryland Health Insurance Plan as the alternative to the standard coverage for eligible individuals under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; requiring carriers to continue to cover specified individuals; repealing specified definitions; deleting specified provisions; etc.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 775
Chapter 61
Montgomery County -- Alcoholic Beverages License -- Rockshire Planned Residential Unit MC 413--04
Authorizing the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners to approve an alcoholic beverages license for a restaurant establishment located in the Rockshire Planned Residential Unit development in the City of Rockville under specified circumstances; and specifying that the license authorizes the license holder to keep for sale and sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises only.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 852
Chapter 62
Howard County -- Mental Health Advisory Board Ho. Co. 18--04
Granting the governing body of Howard County the authority to designate, under specified circumstances, the Howard County Mental Health Authority as the mental health advisory board for the county.
Howard County Delegation

HB 893
Chapter 63
Higher Education -- Coppin State University -- Renaming
Renaming Coppin State College to be Coppin State University.
Chairman APP (Dept)

HB 956
Chapter 64
Candidates for the Democratic National Convention or Republican National Convention -- Campaign Finance Entities -- Responsibilities
Permitting a candidate for delegate to the Democratic National Convention or a candidate for delegate to the Republican National Convention to act in specified positions for any campaign finance entity other than the candidates' own campaign finance entity.
Delegate Barve

HB 988
Chapter 65
Education -- Transitioning Students with Disabilities
Repealing the Interagency State Plan for Transitioning Students with Disabilities; requiring the Division of Rehabilitation Services in the Maryland State Department of Education to assign rehabilitation counselors to public high schools, establish a cooperative agreement with each county board, and develop individualized employment plans for eligible transitioning students with disabilities prior to graduation; etc.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 1052
Chapter 66
Public Safety Corrective Bill
Correcting specified errors and omissions in the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code; correcting specified obsolete references; providing that the Act is not intended to affect any law other than to correct technical errors; etc.
The Speaker (Department of Legislative Services)

HB 1184
Chapter 67
Carroll County -- Volunteer Firemen's Association -- Name Change
Changing the name of the volunteer firemen's association in Carroll County from the Carroll County Volunteer Firemen's Association to the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association.
Carroll County Delegation

HB 1186
Chapter 68
Carroll County -- Abatement of Weed Nuisances
Providing that the growth of weeds may not constitute a nuisance or menace if the land on which the weeds are growing is being used for specified purposes or if the land is owned by Carroll County and has a specified designation.
Carroll County Delegation

HB 1187
Chapter 69
Carroll County -- Micro--Breweries -- Retail Off--Sale Privileges
Authorizing a Class 7 micro--brewery licensee in Carroll County to sell beer at retail to customers for consumption off the licensed premises in refillable containers that are sealed by the licensee at the time of each refill.
Carroll County Delegation

HB 1392
Chapter 70
Howard County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Out--of--State Restriction Ho. Co. 15--04
Prohibiting in Howard County specified alcoholic beverages licenses from being issued, except by renewal, to persons, corporations, or limited liability companies that hold an alcoholic beverages license in any other state or Washington, D.C.
Howard County Delegation

HB 527
Chapter 71
Howard County -- Board of Education -- Membership Ho. Co. 9--04
Increasing the membership of the Howard County Board of Education from 5 to 7; and staggering the terms of office for the additional members.
Howard County Delegation

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


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April 27, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On April 27, 2004,  the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor;  the  Honorable Ida G. Ruben, President Pro Tem of the Senate; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, signed the following pieces of legislation which you passed:
 
SB 186
Chapter 72
Brownfields Redevelopment Reform Act
Allowing specified applicants and properties to participate in the Voluntary Cleanup Program in the Maryland Department of the Environment; altering the process by which a person may apply for, receive, and maintain inculpable person status; providing for application procedures and fees; altering procedures and deadlines for specified public participation; making some persons and properties eligible for money from the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program; creating a work group to make recommendations; etc.
The President (Administration), et al

HB 294
Chapter 73
Brownfields Redevelopment Reform Act
Allowing specified applicants and properties to participate in the Voluntary Cleanup Program in the Maryland Department of the Environment; altering the process by which a person may apply for, receive, and maintain inculpable person status; providing for application procedures and fees; altering procedures and deadlines for specified public participation; making some persons and properties eligible for money from the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program; creating a work group to make recommendations; etc.
The Speaker and The Minority Leader (Administration), et al

SB 903
Chapter 74
Office of Minority Affairs -- Special Secretary -- Minority Business Participation in Procurement Contracts
Designating the Special Secretary for the Office of Minority Affairs as head of the Office; providing for the appointment, powers, and duties of the Special Secretary; requiring a request for proposals, an invitation for bids, and a responsive bid to include information about minority business enterprise participation; etc.
The President (Administration)

SB 904
Chapter 75
Procurement -- Small Business Procurement Contracts -- Reserve Preference
Establishing a Small Business Reserve Program that requires designated procurement units to make specified contracts with small businesses; specifying procedures to be used under the Program; requiring designated units to report on the Program; providing for the application of specified provisions of the Act; etc.
The President (Administration)

HB 679
Chapter 76
Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program
Reestablishing the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to provide funding for the rehabilitation of historic properties and other properties contributing to a historic district or certified heritage area; requiring the Director of the Maryland Historical Trust in the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt regulations to establish procedures and standards, establish an application process, and establish a competitive award process under the Program; etc.
Delegate Hixson, et al

HB 298
Chapter 77
Public Ethics -- Judicial Review -- Alteration of Stay of Enforcement of an Order
Providing that an order of the State Ethics Commission is not stayed automatically by the filing of a petition for judicial review but that the Commission or court may stay the order; and providing that the Act applies only prospectively.
The Speaker and the Minority Leader (Administration), et al

SB 18
Chapter 78
Maryland Port Administration -- Report to General Assembly on Funding to Address Vulnerability Concerns
Requiring the Maryland Port Administration to provide a report to the General Assembly on or before December 1 of each year based on a specified vulnerability assessment provided to the United States Coast Guard under the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002; etc.
Senator Pipkin

SB 27
Chapter 79
Alcoholic Beverages -- Winery Special Event and Charity Wine Auction Permits
Altering the frequency for issuing winery special event permits from one per year to three per year; repealing a permit requirement that the event be organized and conducted by a nonprofit organization or government entity; and altering the fee for charity wine auction permits.
Senator Brinkley

SB 30
Chapter 80
Higher Education -- Student Financial Assistance -- Service Obligation Requirements
Altering the requirements for students who receive financial assistance from specified State scholarship programs containing service obligations.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 35
Chapter 81
Motor Vehicle Administration -- Driver's License Renewals -- Vision Test Requirements
Authorizing individuals between the ages of 21 and 40 to apply for renewal of a driver's license electronically or by mail or by other means authorized by the Motor Vehicle Administration without taking a vision test if the applicant has passed a vision test authorized by the Motor Vehicle Administration within the previous 6 years; etc.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 41
Chapter 82
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services -- Use of Lie Detector or Similar Test for Employment Purposes
Altering the application of specified provisions of law relating to a lie detector or similar test for employees of or applicants for assignment to the Internal Investigative Unit of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 50
Chapter 83
Natural Resources -- Fishing Licenses and Authorizations -- Suspension and Revocation
Altering the criteria for the suspension and revocation of specified commercial and recreational fishing licenses and authorizations under specified circumstances; authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to suspend or revoke commercial and recreational fishing licenses for specified convictions; making specified technical corrections and stylistic changes; etc.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 56
Chapter 84
State Ethics Law -- Architectural and Engineering Services -- Restrictions on Participation in Procurement
Providing that specified design activities do not disqualify an individual from participating in or assisting others in participating in specified procurements; requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to report to specified persons by September 30, 2005, regarding the implementation of the Act; and providing for the termination of specified provisions of the Act.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 59
Chapter 85
Natural Resources -- Hunting Licenses -- Licensing Procedures and Shoreline Licenses
Extending, at the option of the applicant, the term of a shoreline license; establishing the amount, timing, and disposition of the fee for obtaining an extended shoreline license; providing that specified unexpended funds shall be credited to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund and may not be transferred to or revert to the General Fund of the State; etc.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 61
Chapter 86
Department of Natural Resources -- Vessel Operation -- Regulations
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to adopt regulations relating to the operation of vessels so that each vessel of a type or size may be operated with equal freedom or under similar circumstances as other vessels of that type or size; etc.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 63
Chapter 87
Personnel and Pensions -- Dependents of Maryland Transit Administration Retirees -- Health Benefits
Altering the eligibility requirements for specified health insurance benefits to include specified surviving spouses and dependent children of a deceased Maryland Transit Administration retiree; providing that specified dependents who receive a lump--sum payment of benefits under the Maryland Transit Administration Retirement Plan are ineligible for specified health insurance benefits; and altering the definition of "creditable service" to include service while a member of the Maryland Transit Administration Retirement Plan.
Chairman B&T (Dept)

SB 66
Chapter 88
Department of Housing and Community Development -- Community Development Administration -- Grants to Home Buyers
Authorizing the Community Development Administration of the Department of Housing and Community Development to award grants to home buyers for settlement expenses under specified circumstances; making stylistic changes; etc.
Chairman EHE (Dept), et al

SB 70
Chapter 89
District Court -- Small Claim Action -- Member or Employee of Limited Liability Company
Exempting a member or an employee of a limited liability company appearing on behalf of the company in a small claim action in the District Court from the requirement of admission to the Bar of Maryland and other specified requirements.
Senators Greenip and Forehand

SB 85
Chapter 90
Higher Education -- Morgan State University -- Board of Regents Qualifications
Clarifying qualifications for service on the Board of Regents of Morgan State University; and reducing the number of Morgan State University Regents that must be residents of the State.
Senator Conway, et al

SB 101
Chapter 91
Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance -- Use of Credit History -- Repeal of Sunset
Repealing a provision that terminates, at the end of September 30, 2004, a provision that authorizes an insurer that rates a new private passenger motor vehicle insurance policy based on the credit history of the applicant to provide a discount of up to 40% or impose a surcharge of up to 40% if actuarially justified; and requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to submit a specified report to committees of the Maryland General Assembly by December 1, 2004.
Senators Astle and Middleton

SB 116
Chapter 92
Environment -- Applications for Licenses or Permits
Authorizing the Department of the Environment to consider violations of the Environment Article or regulations adopted under that article when considering whether to issue specified licenses or permits or to impose conditions on the issuance of specified licenses or permits.
Senator Kelley, et al

SB 131
Chapter 93
Maryland Health Care Commission and Maryland Insurance Administration -- Affordability of Health Insurance in Maryland -- Study and Recommendations
Requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Maryland Insurance Administration to conduct specified studies; requiring the Commission and the Administration to develop recommendations on ways to make private health insurance more affordable for Maryland residents; requiring the Commission and the Administration to submit an interim report by January 1, 2005, and a final report by January 1, 2006; etc.
Senator Teitelbaum, et al

HB 845
Chapter 94
Maryland Health Care Commission and Maryland Insurance Administration -- Affordability of Health Insurance in Maryland -- Study and Recommendations
Requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Maryland Insurance Administration to conduct specified studies; requiring the Commission and the Administration to develop recommendations on ways to make private health insurance more affordable for Maryland residents; requiring the Commission and the Administration to submit specified reports to the General Assembly by specified dates; etc.
Delegate Kach, et al

SB 136
Chapter 95
Commercial Law -- Uniform Commercial Code -- Title 7 Revisions
Repealing Title 7 of the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code relating to documents of title; adding Title 7 of the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code, revised to provide a framework for the further development of electronic documents of title and updated in light of State, federal, and international developments; making specified conforming changes to Titles 1, 2, 2A, 4, 8, and 9 of the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code; etc.
Senator Mooney

SB 141
Chapter 96
Board of Public Works -- Baltimore Zoo -- Lease Payments
Requiring that any payments due by the State for the Baltimore Zoo under a lease or sublease agreement be included in the annual budget for the Board of Public Works; and stating the intent of the General Assembly that the name of the Zoo be altered to be the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Senators McFadden and Hughes

SB 170
Chapter 97
Racing Act of 2004
Repealing the Maryland Racing Facility Redevelopment Program, including the authority of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to issue specified bonds; altering the termination date of specified changes to the allocations of specified amounts bet on specified thoroughbred and harness races; etc.
Senator Hooper, et al

SB 172
Chapter 98
Consumer Protection -- Late Fee Requirements in Consumer Contracts -- Repeal of Sunset
Repealing a provision that, as of October 1, 2005, would have repealed specified provisions relating to the inclusion in a consumer contract of a requirement to pay specified late fees.
Senator Middleton, et al

SB 175
Chapter 99
Public Service Commission -- Declaratory Judgments
Providing that petitions to challenge the validity of a regulation of the Public Service Commission shall be filed in accordance with a specified section of law; providing that specified persons, in seeking to challenge a specified decision of the Commission to act by order rather than by regulation, shall seek judicial review within a specified time period; etc.
Chairman FIN (Dept)

SB 179
Chapter 100
Public Service Commission -- Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Requiring the Public Service Commission to adopt and enforce safety standards for gas service installations serving at least 2 and fewer than 10 customers through a liquefied gas storage tank when a portion of the system is located in a public place; and repealing a requirement that the Commission adopt and enforce safety standards for gas service installations where service is provided to 10 or more separate residential units.
Chairman FIN (Dept)

SB 201
Chapter 101
Baltimore County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Hunt Valley Commercial/Mixed Use Focal Point
Authorizing the Baltimore County Board of License Commissioners to transfer two beer, wine and liquor (on--sale) retail alcoholic beverages licenses in existence in Election District 15 into the Hunt Valley Commercial/Mixed Use Focal Point; requiring the licenses to be converted into Class B (HV) restaurant beer, wine and liquor licenses; etc.
Chairman, Baltimore County Senators

SB 202
Chapter 102
Anne Arundel County -- Right to Farm
Authorizing the County Council of Anne Arundel County to adopt an ordinance, resolution, or regulation or take other action that the County Council considers necessary to protect a person's right to farm or engage in agricultural or forestry operations; and requiring the County Council to hold a public hearing and provide reasonable notice of the hearing before adopting a specified ordinance, resolution, or regulation or taking other action under specified circumstances.
Senator Greenip, et al

HB 825
Chapter 103
Anne Arundel County -- Right to Farm
Authorizing the County Council of Anne Arundel County to adopt an ordinance, resolution, or regulation or take other action that the County Council considers necessary to protect a person's right to farm or engage in agricultural or forestry operations; and requiring the County Council to hold a public hearing and provide reasonable notice of the hearing before adopting a specified ordinance, resolution, or regulation or taking other action under specified circumstances.
Delegate Costa, et al

SB 203
Chapter 104
Criminal Law -- Carjacking -- Possessor of Motor Vehicle
Establishing that it is not a defense to the crimes of carjacking or armed carjacking for a defendant to not intend to permanently deprive the possessor of a motor vehicle of the possession of the motor vehicle.
Senators Stone and Giannetti (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

SB 204
Chapter 105
Criminal Law -- Contradictory Statements -- Prosecution and Charging
Prohibiting a person from willfully and falsely making an oath or affirmation as to a material fact; expanding the application of a violation of the Act to include affidavits required by any state, federal, or local government or government official; providing for the prosecution of a violation of the Act involving two contradictory statements in either county in which the statements are made; etc.
Senators Stone and Giannetti (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

SB 225
Chapter 106
Harford County Liquor Control Board -- Service of Summonses by Inspectors of the Board
Authorizing, in Harford County, summonses for witnesses issued by the Liquor Control Board for the purpose of hearings and inquiries that the board is authorized to hold or make to be served by inspectors employed by the board.
Harford County Senators

SB 228
Chapter 107
Harford County -- Light Wines Produced at Wineries -- Retail Sale to Consumers
Authorizing in Harford County a winery that has been issued a Class A light wine license to sell in any quantity to consumers at retail at the winery light wines and port wines produced at the winery not in excess of 23 percent of alcohol by volume.
Harford County Senators

SB 230
Chapter 108
Harford County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Issuance on Basis of Population
Including Class A--1 and Class A--2 off--sale alcoholic beverages licenses in Harford County in the provisions of law that limit the issuance of Class A off--sale licenses by the Harford County Liquor Control Board to one for each 3,000 individuals of the county's population; deleting Class B--1 and B--2 alcoholic beverages licenses from the limitation; etc.
Harford County Senators

SB 257
Chapter 109
Criminal Procedure -- Identity Theft -- Venue for Prosecution
Authorizing a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute offenses relating to personal identifying information fraud; authorizing the Attorney General to exercise all the powers and duties of a State's Attorney to investigate and prosecute specified violations; and establishing that a prosecution for a violation of specified offenses relating to personal identifying information fraud or other crimes based on a violation may be commenced in a county in which an element of the crime occurred or in which the victim resides.
Senator Frosh, et al

SB 276
Chapter 110
Commercial Law -- Interest on Abandoned Property
Repealing specified provisions that require the administrator of abandoned property to pay interest to specified claimants.
Senator Lawlah (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

SB 280
Chapter 111
Vehicle Laws -- Failing to Stop for a School Vehicle with Activated Flashing Lights -- Penalties
Increasing the maximum fine that a person is subject to for failing to stop or remain stopped for a school vehicle with activated alternately flashing red lights to $1,000; etc.
Senator Hafer, et al

SB 294
Chapter 112
Transportation -- Maryland Senior Rides Demonstration Program
Establishing the Maryland Senior Rides Demonstration Program within the Maryland Transit Administration; establishing the purpose of the Program and the criteria for participating in and awarding grants under the Program; authorizing a Program participant to provide door--to--door transportation to an eligible senior who does not reside in a specified geographic area under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Middleton, et al

HB 626
Chapter 113
Transportation -- Maryland Senior Rides Demonstration Program
Establishing the Maryland Senior Rides Demonstration Program within the Maryland Transit Administration; establishing the purpose of the Program and the criteria for participating in and awarding grants under the Program; authorizing a Program participant to provide door--to--door transportation to an eligible senior who does not reside in a specified geographic area under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate McIntosh, et al

SB 324
Chapter 114
Task Force on Lending Equity within Financial Institutions Providing State Depository Services
Establishing a Task Force on Lending Equity within Financial Institutions Providing State Depository Services; providing for the purpose of the Task Force; providing for the composition, cochairmen, and staff of the Task Force; and requiring the Task Force to submit an interim report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2004, and a final report by September 1, 2005.
Senator Jones, et al

HB 415
Chapter 115
Task Force on Lending Equity within Financial Institutions Providing State Depository Services
Establishing a Task Force on Lending Equity within Financial Institutions Providing State Depository Services; providing for the purpose of the Task Force; providing for the composition, cochairmen, and staff of the Task Force; and requiring the Task Force to submit an interim report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2004, and a final report by September 1, 2005.
Delegate Vaughn, et al

SB 328
Chapter 116
Family Law -- Child Support Guidelines
Revising the schedule of basic child support obligations used to calculate the amount of a child support award under the child support guidelines; and clarifying that revision of the child support guidelines may not be grounds for a modification request except under specified circumstances.
Senator Grosfeld, et al

SB 353
Chapter 117
Criminal Law -- Extortion -- Damages and Penalties
Prohibiting a person, with the intent to unlawfully extort money, property, or anything of value, from falsely accusing, verbally threatening to accuse, or knowingly sending a writing threatening to accuse another of a crime or of anything that, if true, would tend to bring the other into contempt or disrepute, or from verbally threatening or knowingly sending a writing threatening to cause physical injury or economic damage to a person, inflict emotional distress on a person, or cause damage to the property of a person.
Senators Stone and Giannetti (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

SB 355
Chapter 118
Criminal Law -- Resisting or Interfering with Arrest
Prohibiting a person from intentionally resisting a lawful arrest; prohibiting a person from intentionally interfering with a police officer who is making or attempting to make a lawful arrest or detention of another person; providing for the unit of prosecution under the Act; etc.
Senators Stone and Giannetti (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

HB 316
Chapter 119
Criminal Law -- Resisting or Interfering with Arrest
Prohibiting a person from intentionally resisting a lawful arrest; prohibiting a person from intentionally interfering with a police officer who is making or attempting to make an arrest or detention of another person; providing for the unit of prosecution under the Act; etc.
Delegate Hennessy, et al

SB 365
Chapter 120
Criminal Law -- Animal Cruelty -- Dogfighting and Cockfighting
Prohibiting a person from knowingly attending as a spectator a deliberately conducted event that uses a fowl, cock, or other bird to fight with another fowl, cock, or other bird; prohibiting a person from possessing, owning, selling, transporting, or training a dog or a fowl, cock, or other bird with the intent to use the animal for specified purposes; prohibiting a person from possessing implements or devices relating to a fowl, cock, or other bird fighting with another fowl, cock, or other bird under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Giannetti, et al

HB 24
Chapter 121
Criminal Law -- Animal Cruelty -- Dogfighting and Cockfighting
Prohibiting a person from knowingly attending as a spectator a deliberately conducted event that uses a fowl, cock, or other bird to fight with another fowl, cock, or other bird; prohibiting a person from possessing, owning, selling, transporting, or training a dog or a fowl, cock, or other bird with the intent to use that animal for specified purposes; prohibiting a person from possessing specified implements or devices relating to a fowl, cock, or other bird fighting with another fowl, cock, or other bird; etc.
Delegate Boutin

SB 394
Chapter 122
State Employees -- Military Administrative Leave -- Sunset Extension
Extending the termination date for the use of military administrative leave or specified paid leave for specified State employees who are on active military duty on a specified date or are activated for military duty on or after a specified date.
Senator Harris, et al

SB 425
Chapter 123
Baltimore City -- Issuance of Citations -- Gambling
Authorizing the issuance of citations for specified offenses in Baltimore City relating to gambling; establishing that a citation may be issued by a police officer authorized to make arrests in Baltimore City; establishing that a citation can be issued only if there is probable cause to believe a specified offense was committed; establishing the required contents of a citation; requiring the agency issuing the citation to forward the citation to the appropriate court; etc.
Senator McFadden (Baltimore City Administration)

SB 433
Chapter 124
General Obligation Bonds -- Payment and Accounting for Principal and Interest
Requiring the State's fiscal agents to provide an accounting of specified State bonds and coupons that have not been redeemed in a specified period and the total unredeemed principal and interest on specified State bonds and coupons; requiring the Treasurer to deposit unredeemed principal and interest into the unpresented bond and coupon account; requiring the Treasurer to dispose of specified money according to specified statutes; etc.
Senator Lawlah (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds)

SB 443
Chapter 125
Frederick County -- Highways -- Prohibition on Use for Solicitations
Authorizing the County Commissioners of Frederick County to prohibit the use of a controlled access highway in the county's jurisdiction by a person soliciting money, donations, employment, business, or a ride from an occupant of a vehicle on the controlled access highway; and prohibiting in Frederick County a person from standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations from an occupant of a vehicle.
Senator Brinkley

SB 457
Chapter 126
Vehicle Laws -- Interference with Operation of Traffic Control Device or Railroad Sign or Signal -- Prohibitions
Clarifying that a person without lawful authority may not interfere with the operation of a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal; prohibiting a person without lawful authority from possessing, with intent to use, specified devices capable of transmitting signals for the purpose of altering or interfering with the operation of the traffic control signal device or railroad sign or signal; etc.
Senator Ruben, et al

SB 460
Chapter 127
Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance -- Coverage for Claims of Family Members
Requiring an insurer to offer to the first named insured under a policy or binder of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance liability coverage for claims made by family members in a specified amount under specified circumstances; requiring that the offer be made on a specified form; etc.
Senator Gladden, et al

SB 485
Chapter 128
Solar Energy Grant Program
Establishing the Solar Energy Grant Program in the Maryland Energy Administration to provide grants to individuals, local governments, and businesses for specified portions of the costs of acquiring and installing photovoltaic property and solar water heating property; etc.
Senator Garagiola, et al

SB 507
Chapter 129
Anne Arundel County -- Public School Employees -- Service or Representation Fee
Authorizing the Anne Arundel County Board of Education to negotiate with specified employee organizations a reasonable service or representation fee to be charged to nonmembers for representing them in specified matters; requiring a specified employee organization to indemnify and hold harmless the Board against specified claims, demands, suits, or other forms of liability; and making the Act applicable only to employees hired on or after October 1, 2004.
Senator Jimeno, et al

SB 513
Chapter 130
Criminal Law -- Theft, Bad Checks, and Credit Card Crimes -- District Court Offenses
Establishing determinations as to the value of property or services involving specified theft crimes; establishing penalties for theft of property or services with a value of less than $100; establishing that action or prosecution for specified crimes must be commenced within 2 years; etc.
Chairman JPR (Maryland Judicial Conference)

SB 523
Chapter 131
Queen Anne's County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Wine Tasting License
Authorizing the Board of License Commissioners of Queen Anne's County to issue a wine tasting license; establishing the scope, licensee requirements, conditions, and fee for the license; creating a specified exception to a specified prohibition against holding an interest in more than one alcoholic beverages license; and authorizing the Board to adopt specified regulations.
Senator Pipkin

SB 550
Chapter 132
Health -- General -- Nursing Referral Service Agencies -- Licensing
Requiring a nursing referral service agency to obtain a license from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene prior to operating specified agencies; requiring specified applicants to meet specified requirements; requiring specified agencies to institute a complaint investigation process; requiring a nursing referral service agency to apply for a criminal history records check or request a background check; requiring the Department to issue a license under specified circumstances; etc.
Senators Harris and Hollinger

SB 565
Chapter 133
Montgomery County -- Kensington Community Center Loan of 1993
Amending Chapter 611 of the Acts of 1993, as amended by Chapter 208 of the Acts of 2002, to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for specified purposes by June 1, 2005.
Senator Grosfeld

SB 671
Chapter 134
Dorchester County -- Authorization to Harvest Seafood and Engage in the Seafood Industry
Authorizing the County Council of Dorchester County to adopt an ordinance, resolution, or regulation or take other action to authorize a person to engage in specified activities related to the seafood industry and to harvest seafood; requiring the County Council to hold a public hearing and obtain the written consent of the Secretary of Natural Resources before adopting a specified ordinance, resolution, or regulation; providing that an ordinance, resolution, or regulation adopted without written consent of the Secretary is void; etc.
Senator Colburn

SB 713
Chapter 135
State Finance -- State Projects or Programs -- Funding
Providing that specified funds provided for Program Open Space shall be provided to the Department of Natural Resources; providing that the Department shall allocate funds to local jurisdictions using an apportionment formula; etc.
Senator Middleton

SB 741
Chapter 136
Baltimore City -- Pimlico Road Arts and Community Center Loan of 2001
Altering the location of the project funded in Chapter 411 of the Acts of 2001, Baltimore City -- Pimlico Road Arts and Community Center Loan of 2001.
Senator Hughes

SB 773
Chapter 137
Comptroller -- Tax Liens -- Reports by Financial Institutions
Altering the content requirements for reports by a financial institution to the State Comptroller concerning persons whose property is subject to a tax lien if the financial institution submits reports under the Federal Parent Locator Service.
Senator Lawlah

SB 783
Chapter 138
Public Safety -- Task Force to Study Criminal Offender Monitoring by Global Positioning Systems
Establishing a Task Force to Study Criminal Offender Monitoring by Global Positioning Systems to study how the State can utilize Global Positioning technology to monitor individuals who have committed criminal offenses, how law enforcement can benefit from linkage to Global Positioning technology, and the feasibility of implementing a Global Positioning technology program, admissibility of evidence issues, and other issues; specifying the membership, duties, and staffing of the Task Force; etc.
Senator Munson, et al

HB 1242
Chapter 139
Public Safety -- Task Force to Study Criminal Offender Monitoring by Global Positioning Systems
Establishing a Task Force to Study Criminal Offender Monitoring by Global Positioning Systems to study how the State can utilize Global Positioning technology to monitor individuals who have committed criminal offenses, how law enforcement can benefit from linkage to Global Positioning technology to solve crimes and streamline workload, the feasibility of implementing a specified program, admissibility of evidence issues, and other issues; specifying the membership, duties, and staffing of the Task Force; etc.
Delegate Shank, et al

SB 784
Chapter 140
Carroll County -- Public Facilities Bonds
Authorizing and empowering the County Commissioners of Carroll County, from time to time, to borrow not more than $31,000,000 in order to finance the construction, improvement, or development of specified public facilities in Carroll County, and to effect such borrowing by the issuance and sale at public or private sale of its general obligation bonds; etc.
Carroll County Senators

SB 796
Chapter 141
Baltimore County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Class BDR (Deluxe Restaurant) (On--Sale) Beer, Wine and Liquor Licenses
Repealing a provision of law that requires, with respect to the authorization of the issuance of up to four additional Class B (on--sale -- hotels and restaurants) beer, wine and liquor licenses in Baltimore County to individuals for the use of specified business entities, that one of the licenses must be a Class BDR (deluxe restaurant) (on--sale) beer, wine and liquor license.
Chairman, Baltimore County Senators (Baltimore County Administration)

SB 822
Chapter 142
Vehicle Laws -- Drivers' Licenses -- Vision Requirements
Repealing the termination date of a specified provision of law establishing vision requirements for holders of a Class C noncommercial driver's license; etc.
Senator Munson

SB 831
Chapter 143
Procurement -- Primary Procurement Unit -- Participation under a Federal Contract
Repealing a provision that prohibits a primary procurement unit from participating under a federal contract under specified circumstances.
Senator Astle

SB 846
Chapter 144
Campaign Finance -- Contributions -- Credit Cards
Altering a limitation on the amount of contributions that may be made by credit card to candidates and political committees.
Senator Harris

SB 860
Chapter 145
Inheritance Tax -- Stepchildren and Stepparents of a Decedent
Defining terms for purposes of inheritance tax exemptions to include former stepchildren and former stepparents within an exemption under the inheritance tax for property that passes from a decedent to or for the use of specified relatives of a decedent or to or for the use of a corporation owned by specified relatives of a decedent; altering a specified exemption to include spouses and lineal descendants of a child of a decedent; and applying the Act to decedents dying on or after July 1, 2004.
Senators Hafer and Harris

SB 881
Chapter 146
State's Right of Recovery -- Grant Programs -- Exemption for Lease of Federal Land
Exempting real property leased from the federal government from the State's right to recover, under specified circumstances, funds disbursed to specified community mental health, addiction, and developmental disabilities facilities grant programs; and exempting real property leased from the federal government from the State's right, under specified circumstances, to create a lien against real property used for community mental health, addiction, and developmental disabilities facilities grant programs.
Senator Astle

SB 883
Chapter 147
Correctional Services -- Standards for Correctional Facilities -- Victim Notification and Restitution
Requiring the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services to adopt regulations that establish minimum mandatory standards applicable to victim notification and restitution.
Senator Miller

SB 894
Chapter 148
Education Fiscal Accountability and Oversight Act of 2004
Requiring the State Superintendent and the State Department of Education to monitor the financial status of each county board of education and report to the Governor and General Assembly on a biannual basis; requiring the local superintendent or chief executive officer of a local school system to file a specified biannual report and to make a specified attestation; providing that if a local school system does not file a specified annual audit, the State Superintendent shall take a specified action; etc.
Senator Currie, et al

SB 910
Chapter 149
Baltimore County -- Arbutus Community Center Loan of 2000
Changing the name of the project, the purpose, and altering the date by which the County Executive and County Council of Baltimore County are required to provide a matching fund, from June 1, 2004, to June 1, 2006, pursuant to Chapter 317 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2000, as amended by Chapter 168 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2002, Baltimore County -- Arbutus Community Center Loan of 2000; and generally relating to the Baltimore County -- Arbutus Community Center Loan of 2000.
Senator Stone (Baltimore County Administration) and Senator Kasemeyer

HB 65
Chapter 150
Vehicle Laws -- School Buses -- Repeal of Special Speed Limit
Repealing a provision of law that establishes a special maximum speed limit of 50 miles per hour for school buses carrying passengers, thereby making school buses carrying passengers subject to the vehicle speed limits otherwise applicable under law.
Delegate McKee

HB 95
Chapter 151
Maryland Horse Industry Board -- Penalties
Authorizing the Maryland Horse Industry Board, rather than pursuing criminal penalties, to impose an administrative penalty on any person who violates specified laws executed and enforced by the Board; requiring penalties collected from violations of the Maryland Horse Industry Board's regulatory requirements to be paid to the General Fund of the State; and requiring the Maryland Horse Industry Board to adopt regulations to enforce its regulatory requirements.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 97
Chapter 152
Department of State Police -- School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund -- Reporting Date
Altering the date, from March 1 to September 1 of each year, by which the Secretary of State Police is required to report to the Governor and General Assembly on the status of the School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund.
Chairman ENV (Dept) and Delegate Wood

HB 99
Chapter 153
Advisory Committee on Tourism -- Repeal
Repealing the provisions establishing the Advisory Committee on Tourism within the Department of Business and Economic Development.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 109
Chapter 154
Environment -- Electronic Waste Collection Systems
Requiring the Department of the Environment to study, in collaboration with specified persons and organizations, the establishment and implementation, by January 2006, of an electronic waste collection system in the State for the collection and recycling of electronic waste, including cathode--ray tubes; requiring the Department to report its recommendations by specified dates; etc.
Delegates Morhaim and Bobo

HB 123
Chapter 155
Health Insurance -- Prompt Payment of Claims
Requiring an insurer, nonprofit health service plan, and health maintenance organization to mail or otherwise transmit payment for a claim, or undisputed portion of a claim, for reimbursement from specified persons within 30 days after receipt of the claim or specified information relating to the claim.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 187
Chapter 156
Anne Arundel County -- Highways -- Solicitation of Money or Donations from Occupants of Vehicles -- County Licensing Program Authorized
Authorizing the Anne Arundel County Council to enact, by ordinance, a specified licensing program for individuals who are 18 years old or older and specified organizations that wish to solicit money or donations from the occupants of vehicles by standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection in Anne Arundel County; providing that the licensing program, if enacted, may impose a fee of up to $100 for the license and may provide an exemption for an individual who is unable to pay the fee; etc.
Anne Arundel County Delegation

HB 194
Chapter 157
Crimes -- Theft -- Use of Interactive Computer Service
Providing jurisdiction for prosecution of the crime of theft by use of an interactive computer service; and defining "interactive computer service".
Delegate Lee, et al

HB 211
Chapter 158
Family Law -- Adoption -- Certificates of Birth
Repealing the provision of law making the entry of an adoption order by a court grounds for the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to make a new certificate of birth for an individual who was born outside the United States; and repealing a specified qualification that a foreign--born adopted person must meet before the Secretary may prepare and register a certificate of foreign birth.
Delegate Cane, et al

HB 219
Chapter 159
Job Creation Tax Credit -- Extension
Extending by 3 years the termination date for a job creation tax credit and the date by which a business must commence operations in order to qualify for a job creation tax credit.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 224
Chapter 160
Baltimore City -- U.S.S. Constellation Museum Loan of 2000
Changing the name of the loan from the U.S.S. Constellation Loan of 2000 to the U.S.S. Constellation Museum Loan of 2000; and changing the name of the grantee from the Constellation Foundation, Inc., to the Constellation Museum, Inc.
Delegate Hammen, et al

HB 228
Chapter 161
Motor Fuel Tax -- Refunds -- Concrete Pump Trucks
Allowing a refund of 35% of the motor fuel tax paid on fuel that is used by a concrete pump truck.
Delegate Mitchell

HB 231
Chapter 162
Life Insurers -- Funding Agreements -- Priority in Liquidation Proceedings
Stating expressly the priority of specified claims made by holders of specified funding agreements in liquidation proceedings against specified insurers.
Delegate Hammen, et al

HB 246
Chapter 163
Frederick County -- Participation in the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority
Authorizing Frederick County to become a participating county in the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority under specified circumstances.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 262
Chapter 164
Maryland Transportation Authority -- Transportation Facilities Projects -- Tolls
Requiring the Maryland Transportation Authority to provide information on proposed toll charges to the fiscal committees of the General Assembly prior to fixing or revising tolls on any part of any transportation facilities project.
Delegate Hixson, et al

HB 307
Chapter 165
Criminal Law -- Motion Picture Theaters -- Prohibition against Audiovisual Recording
Prohibiting a person from knowingly operating an audiovisual recording function of a device in a motion picture theater, except in the lobby area, without the consent of the owner or lessee of the theater; providing immunity from civil liability to an owner, lessee, agent, or employee of a motion picture theater who detains or causes the arrest of any person if there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a violation of the prohibition against audiovisual recording in the theater; etc.
Delegate Sophocleus, et al

HB 308
Chapter 166
Natural Resources -- Oysters -- Dredge Devices
Repealing a prohibition on a person on a dredge boat possessing or using a devil catcher, devil diver, or similar oyster dredge devices; and requiring the Department of Natural Resources to report to specified committees of the General Assembly by September 30, 2007, regarding the environmental impacts of the use of "devil catchers", "devil divers", and similar oyster dredge devices.
Delegate Elmore, et al

HB 313
Chapter 167
Public Safety -- Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer -- Increased Penalties
Increasing the maximum criminal penalties for impersonating a law enforcement officer from imprisonment for 6 months or a fine of $100 or both to imprisonment for 2 years or a fine of $2,000 or both.
Delegate DeBoy, et al

HB 334
Chapter 168
Harford County -- Wine, Beer, and Other Alcoholic Beverages -- Tasting and Sampling
Expanding the provisions of the wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages tasting and sampling laws in Harford County by allowing specified licenses to be issued by the Harford County Liquor Control Board to the holders of Class A1 beer, wine, and liquor licenses and Class A beer and wine licenses in the county for specified periods of time; providing for the fees for the licenses; repealing specified provisions made inconsistent by the Act; making technical changes; etc.
Harford County Delegation

HB 337
Chapter 169
Harford County Liquor Control Board -- Appeal of Decisions -- Remand of Proceedings
Granting the Circuit Court for Harford County the authority to remand to the Harford County Liquor Control Board proceedings before the court relating to the appeals of decisions of the board.
Harford County Delegation

HB 338
Chapter 170
Harford County Liquor Control Board -- Operating Expenses -- Salaries
Providing that the full amount of the salaries of the members of the Harford County Liquor Control Board are to be included as specified operating expenses under specified circumstances; making specified tecnical and conforming changes; etc.
Harford County Delegation

HB 339
Chapter 171
Harford County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Transfers
Altering the criteria required to be used by the Harford County Liquor Control Board when transferring an alcoholic beverages license for use in a business in Harford County.
Harford County Delegation

HB 356
Chapter 172
Education -- School Vehicles -- Length of Operation
Authorizing specified school vehicles to be operated for 15 years; defining a term; expanding the types of school vehicles that are subject to limitations on the length of operation; and providing that specified vehicles must be maintained under a preventive maintenance plan.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 394
Chapter 173
Procurement -- Security for Construction Contracts -- Retainage
Providing that the specified provisions regarding retainage in a construction contract awarded by a public body do not apply to an entity that is subject to specified other provisions regarding retainage in a State procurement contract for construction.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

HB 448
Chapter 174
Cecil County -- Sheriff's Department -- Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers
Specifying that law enforcement officers and correctional officers of the Sheriff's department in Cecil County may be terminated only for just cause.
Cecil County Delegation

HB 449
Chapter 175
Dealers -- Precious Metal Objects -- Transfer of Records
Requiring the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to encourage specified dealers and law enforcement units to develop a system for transmitting records electronically; and requiring a dealer of precious metal objects to submit transaction records by one of two methods, including by electronic transmittal, in a format acceptable to the receiving law enforcement unit, by the end of each business day.
Delegate Petzold, et al

HB 472
Chapter 176
Allegany County and Garrett County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Out--of--State Restriction
Prohibiting in Allegany County and Garrett County specified alcoholic beverages licenses from being issued, except by renewal, to persons, corporations, or limited liability companies that hold an alcoholic beverages license in any other state or Washington, D.C.
Allegany County Delegation

HB 474
Chapter 177
Education -- High School Diploma -- World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict Veterans
Allowing an individual honorably discharged from military service to apply to specified county boards of education to obtain a high school diploma if the individual withdrew from a specified full--time public or private high school under specified circumstances.
Delegate Burns, et al

HB 475
Chapter 178
Individuals with Developmental Disabilities -- Respite Care
Requiring State residential centers operated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide respite care; requiring State residential centers to reserve a specified percentage of beds for respite care; providing that families caring in their homes for specified individuals with developmental disabilities shall have a specified choice of respite care; requiring the Governor to provide a specified appropriation in the State budget bill; etc.
Delegate Conway, et al

HB 483
Chapter 179
Minority Business Enterprise Program -- Personal Net Worth
Increasing from $750,000 to $1,500,000 the maximum personal net worth threshold for participation in the minority business enterprise program.
Delegate Murray, et al

HB 492
Chapter 180
Natural Resources -- Waterfowl Outfitter and Waterfowl Hunting Guide Licenses
Repealing law providing for master hunting guide licenses; requiring licenses for waterfowl outfitters and waterfowl hunting guides; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to adopt regulations for the issuance of the licenses; establishing fees and term limits for the licenses; authorizing the Department to suspend or revoke the licenses; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 503
Chapter 181
Environmental Trust Fund -- Extension of Environmental Surcharge
Extending the environmental surcharge on specified electrical energy generated in the State until 2010.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 514
Chapter 182
Worcester County -- Liquor Dispensaries -- Homeowners Associations
Authorizing liquor dispensaries in Worcester County to be in a housing development with a population of at least 10,000 that is overseen by a homeowners association and that has a special police force commissioned under State law; and requiring that a specified percentage of net profits from operation of dispensaries be paid to a specified homeowners association for the benefit of its police force according to a specified formula.
Delegates Bozman and Conway

HB 540
Chapter 183
Washington County -- Deputy Clerk or Sheriff -- Oath of Office
Requiring that every deputy clerk or sheriff in Washington County take and sign the oath or affirmation prescribed by the Maryland Constitution.
Washington County Delegation

HB 548
Chapter 184
Washington County -- Special Wine Tasting License and Alcohol Awareness Program
Authorizing the issuance of a special wine tasting license to specified alcoholic beverages license holders in Washington County; requiring in Washington County that either the alcoholic beverages licensee or a supervisor employed by the licensee be certified by an approved alcohol awareness program and be present during the hours that the alcoholic beverages are sold; and providing for a limited exemption.
Washington County Delegation

HB 549
Chapter 185
Washington County Board of License Commissioners -- Issuing Licenses -- Restrictions
Prohibiting the Washington County Board of License Commissioners from issuing a license to sell alcoholic beverages to licensees or applicants for a license until the outstanding proceeds, payments, and fines have been paid or judicially satisfied; etc.
Washington County Delegation

HB 568
Chapter 186
Prince George's County -- Wine Consumption -- Continuing Care Retirement Communities PG 343--04
Allowing, under specified circumstances, residents and their guests in a continuing care retirement community in Prince George's County that holds a Class C (on--sale) beer, wine and liquor license to consume wine not purchased from the continuing care retirement community.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 589
Chapter 187
Education -- Prince George's County -- Telecommunications Tax -- School Renovations
Requiring that a specified percentage of the sales and use tax on telecommunications service in Prince George's County be used for operating expenditures of the county school system; etc.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 596
Chapter 188
Prince George's County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Open Containers PG 310--04
Making it a misdemeanor for a person in Prince George's County to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage under specified circumstances; establishing a penalty; etc.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 606
Chapter 189
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program -- Installment Purchase Agreements, Schedule of Installments, and Termination of Easements
Authorizing the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to purchase agricultural easements through installment purchase agreements; requiring that the Foundation make annual payments of interest on the outstanding balance; requiring the Foundation to pay the balance at the end of the term; requiring the agreement to contain the terms; providing that an easement purchased under an installment purchase agreement cannot be terminated; etc.
Delegate Glassman, et al

HB 625
Chapter 190
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation -- Grants -- Installment Purchase Programs
Authorizing the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to make grants to purchase easements on specified properties to counties with approved installment purchase programs; authorizing the Foundation to approve only installment purchase programs that purchase easements using installment purchase agreements with specified characteristics; providing that an easement purchased using a specified grant may not terminate; etc.
Delegate Glassman, et al

HB 638
Chapter 191
Environment -- Landfills -- Bonds
Increasing the amount of the bond for each acre to which a specified landfill permit applies; altering the amount of the minimum bond required for specified landfills; etc.
Delegate Costa, et al

HB 641
Chapter 192
Higher Education -- Community Colleges -- Unrestricted Grants
Requiring that Allegany College of Maryland and Garrett Community College continue to receive additional ongoing unrestricted grants after fiscal year 2005; and repealing the termination date of a specified Act.
Delegates Heller and Hixson

HB 644
Chapter 193
Disability Retirement Benefits -- Reduction for Workers' Compensation Benefits -- Occupational Diseases
Repealing the requirement that the Board of Trustees for the State Retirement and Pension System reduce a disability retirement benefit by any related workers' compensation benefits, if the disability retirement benefit is received for an occupational disease.
Delegate James (Chairman Joint Committee on Pensions)

HB 649
Chapter 194
Criminal Procedure -- State Fire Marshal -- Search Warrants
Adding the State Fire Marshal and full--time investigative and inspection assistants of the Office of the State Fire Marshal to duly constituted police officers as individuals who may be directed by a search warrant issued by a court to search a suspected person, building, apartment, premises, place, or thing and to seize any property found subject to seizure under the criminal laws of the State.
Chairman JUD (Dept)

HB 663
Chapter 195
Maryland Historical Trust -- Historic Preservation Loan Fund -- Refinancing Properties
Authorizing the Historic Preservation Loan Fund of the Maryland Historical Trust to make loans to specified entities to refinance historic properties.
Delegate Elmore, et al

HB 673
Chapter 196
Prince George's County -- State's Attorney's Office -- Support Staff -- Collective Bargaining PG 307--04
Providing that eligible full--time nonexempt employees of the State's Attorney's Office are subject to the county personnel law; providing that specified employees are subject to collective bargaining provisions for compensation; providing for the participation of the County Executive and the State's Attorney in collective bargaining; etc.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 718
Chapter 197
Procurement -- Reciprocal Preference for Resident Offerors
Authorizing a unit of State government to give specified preferences to competitive sealed proposals from resident offerors under specified circumstances; requiring, at the request of the unit, a nonresident offeror of a competitive sealed proposal to give specified information concerning the treatment of nonresident offerors in specified states; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 721
Chapter 198
Procurement -- Minority Business Enterprises -- Directory
Requiring a specified certification agency to develop and maintain a directory of minority business enterprises; establishing specified criteria for the directory; and requiring the directory to be accessible to the public through the Internet.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 746
Chapter 199
Marriage Ceremonies -- Authorized Officials -- Fees
Clarifying the judges who are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in the State; establishing a fee of $30 in Cecil County and $25 in any other county for a marriage ceremony performed by a Maryland judge; and providing that the fee is nonrefundable and payable before a marriage license is issued.
Chairman JUD (Maryland Judicial Conference)

HB 750
Chapter 200
State Lottery -- Licensed Agents -- Banks -- Commingling of Proceeds
Authorizing a licensed agent of the State lottery to deposit receipts from the sale of lottery tickets or shares with a bank the agent selects; and authorizing a licensed agent to commingle proceeds from the sale of State lottery tickets with business receipts of the agent.
Delegate C Davis

HB 754
Chapter 201
Anne Arundel County -- Commercial Motor Vehicles -- Stopping, Standing, or Parking
Establishing penalties for the first and subsequent convictions of stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle where prohibited by an official sign while operating a commercial motor vehicle in Anne Arundel County; etc.
Anne Arundel County Delegation

HB 757
Chapter 202
Anne Arundel County -- London Town Publik House and Gardens Loan of 1996
Providing that the proceeds of the Anne Arundel County -- London Town Publik House and Gardens Loan of 1996 must be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act by June 1, 2006.
Delegate V Clagett

HB 776
Chapter 203
Workers' Compensation -- Montgomery County Deputy Sheriffs MC 412--04
Providing for enhanced workers' compensation benefits for a compensable permanent partial disability of less than 75 weeks for Montgomery County deputy sheriffs; and providing for the application of the Act.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 792
Chapter 204
Charles County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- License Fees
Increasing specified alcoholic beverages license fees in Charles County by 20%.
Charles County Delegation

HB 794
Chapter 205
Washington County -- Public Facilities Bonds
Authorizing the County Commissioners of Washington County to issue $75,000,000 in general obligation bonds for public facilities in Washington County; providing for the issuance and terms of the debt; authorizing the county to impose and collect specified taxes; exempting the bonds, refunding bonds, and interest from specified taxes; etc.
Washington County Delegation

HB 806
Chapter 206
Economic Development Financial Assistance -- Minority Business Enterprise Procurement Goals
Requiring that a recipient of specified financial assistance awarded under the Economic Development Opportunities Program Fund and the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund comply with specified minority business enterprise procurement goals under specified circumstances; requiring that specified minority business enterprise procurement goals be included in specified financial assistance agreements; etc.
Delegate Kirk, et al

HB 848
Chapter 207
Vessel Excise Tax -- Exemption -- Vessel Commissioning
Altering specified exemptions from the vessel excise tax; authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to adopt specified regulations; defining specified terms and altering specified definitions under the State vessel excise tax; making a technical change; and providing for a delayed effective date for specified provisions of the Act.
Delegate Edwards

HB 894
Chapter 208
Procurement -- College Savings Plans of Maryland Board -- Exemption
Exempting from specified provisions of the procurement law specified activities of the College Savings Plans of Maryland.
Chairman APP (Dept)

HB 905
Chapter 209
Department of Housing and Community Development -- Neighborhood Business Development Program
Authorizing financial assistance under the Neighborhood Business Development Program to be provided to microenterprises; requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to make a reasonable, good faith effort to make 25% of Program loans and grants to microenterprises; authorizing the Community Development Administration to provide funds to eligible programs under the Neighborhood Business Development Fund to eligible programs; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept), et al

HB 918
Chapter 210
State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy -- Sentencing Guidelines Worksheet -- Information Relating to Economic Crimes
Requiring the State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy to include specified entry information on the sentencing guidelines worksheet for a court to report specified information with respect to offenses involving theft or fraud.
Delegate Simmons

HB 941
Chapter 211
Insurance -- Premium Financing -- Electronic Payment Fee
Requiring a premium finance agreement to include a specified disclosure; authorizing a premium finance agreement to require the insured to pay an electronic payment fee if the insured elects to pay the premium finance company by means of an electronic payment; limiting the amount to be charged as an electronic payment fee to $8; etc.
Delegate Harrison, et al

HB 945
Chapter 212
Worcester County -- Liquor Control Board -- Salaries
Increasing the annual salary of the members of the Liquor Control Board of Worcester County; providing that a member of the Board is entitled to a mileage fee when performing official duties as a member of the Board; and providing that the Act does not apply to the salary or compensation of the incumbent members of the Board.
Delegates Bozman and Conway

HB 971
Chapter 213
Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards -- Sanctions
Requiring the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards to send a compliance plan if the Commission determines that a correctional facility is in violation of specified minimum mandatory standards; requiring the Commission to reinspect a correctional facility and send a letter of reprimand if the Commission determines that a correctional facility is in violation of the minimum mandatory standards; etc.
Delegate Cadden, et al

HB 1020
Chapter 214
Litter Control -- Fines
Increasing fines for specified littering violations; and generally relating to litter control fines.
Delegate Kelley, et al

HB 1022
Chapter 215
Washington County -- Tip Jar Gaming -- Licenses
Altering the requirements to sell or wholesale for profit a tip jar packet in Washington County; clarifying that a person must have a license to sell or wholesale for profit a tip jar packet; applying a 1--year residency requirement only to volunteer fire companies or volunteer rescue companies and prohibiting specified persons from being a tip jar licensee or a holder of an interest in a tip jar license; repealing the $250 maximum limit for gross profits from a tip jar; etc.
Washington County Delegation

HB 1064
Chapter 216
Economic Development -- Smart Growth Economic Development Infrastructure Fund -- Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund
Authorizing financial assistance in qualified distressed counties for specified economic development projects; setting criteria for the projects; specifying the source of money for the assistance; providing an application process for the assistance; etc.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 1094
Chapter 217
Crimes -- Fourth Degree Sexual Offense -- Penalty for Subsequent Offender
Establishing a penalty for a person convicted of a sexual offense in the fourth degree if the person has previously committed a specified offense not arising out of the same incident.
Delegate Quinter

HB 1116
Chapter 218
Anne Arundel County -- Charles Carroll House of Annapolis, Inc. Loan of 1997
Amending Chapter 205 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1997 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for specified purposes by June 1, 2005.
Delegate V Clagett

HB 1191
Chapter 219
Kent County -- Echo Hill Outdoor School Improvements Loan of 2001
Altering the purpose of the project in Chapter 243 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2001, Kent County -- Echo Hill Outdoor School Improvements Loan of 2001, to include capital equipping for expanding the uses of the loan proceeds.
Delegate Walkup, et al

HB 1228
Chapter 220
Condominiums -- Conditions on the Right to Expand -- Calvert County
Altering the amount of time, from 15 years to 18 years from the date of the recording of a declaration, during which a right shall be deemed reserved in a developer in Calvert County to add to a condominium an additional section; altering the abrogation date from September 30, 2005, to September 30, 2008, for a specified condition on the reservation of the right of a developer in Calvert County to add to a condominium an additional section; etc.
Delegates O'Donnell and Owings

HB 1264
Chapter 221
Natural Resources -- Tidal Fisheries -- Nets
Repealing specified prohibitions on the use of stake nets; changing the type of net that is subject to a specified minimum distance requirement; and decreasing the minimum distance a person must maintain between fyke and pound nets, under specified circumstances, from 1200 feet to 300 feet.
Delegate Weir

HB 1288
Chapter 222
Education -- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Program
Requiring a county board of education and the Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore City to require specified elementary schools to implement a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Program or a specified alternative program under specified circumstances; defining a specified term; and requiring the State Board of Education to adopt specified regulations.
Delegate Marriott, et al

HB 1303
Chapter 223
Education -- Carroll County Board of Education -- Salaries
Altering the salary of the Chairman and other members of the Carroll County Board of Education; and providing that the Act does not apply to the salary of the incumbent members of the Carroll County Board of Education.
Carroll County Delegation

HB 1314
Chapter 224
Higher Education -- National Guard Student
Requiring a public institution of higher education to allow a national guard student to withdraw from courses the national guard student is currently enrolled in without negative consequences to the national guard student's academic standing if the national guard student's unit is activated and deployed; requiring a public institution of higher education to try to assist the national guard student in completing the course requirements under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Heller, et al

HB 1333
Chapter 225
St. Mary's County -- St. Clement's Island -- Potomac River Museum Loan of 1997
Amending Chapter 205 of the Acts of 1997 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the repair, renovation, expansion, and capital equipping of the St. Clement's Island -- Potomac River Museum by June 1, 2006.
Delegate Bohanan

HB 1334
Chapter 226
Allegany County Board of Education -- Membership -- Qualifications
Altering the requirement that an individual nominated for membership as an elected member on the Allegany County Board of Education be a resident of Allegany County for 3 years to a requirement that the individual be a resident for 1 year before the election.
Allegany County Delegation

HB 1335
Chapter 227
Natural Resources -- Hunting License Requirements -- Exceptions
Creating an additional exception to a prohibition against hunting without a resident or nonresident hunter's license; and making stylistic changes.
Delegate Edwards

HB 1354
Chapter 228
Correctional Services -- Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services -- Advisory Council on Offender Employment Coordination Membership
Adding the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to the Advisory Council on Offender Employment Coordination; extending the terms of membership of Council members; eliminating the position of full--time Executive Director of the Council; and extending the termination date of the Advisory Council until August 31, 2007.
Delegate Cadden

HB 1369
Chapter 229
Transportation -- Board of Property Review -- Membership Qualifications
Altering the qualification criteria applicable to a specified member of a county board of property review.
Delegate Vallario

HB 1396
Chapter 230
Environmental Sanitarians -- Milk Safety Inspector Exception
Creating an exception to a requirement to be licensed as an Environmental Sanitarian for a milk safety inspector performing duties under the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments and employed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; etc.
Delegate Stull, et al

HB 1398
Chapter 231
Anne Arundel County -- Annapolis Maritime Museum Loan of 2001
Extending the deadline for the Board of Directors of Annapolis Maritime Museum, Inc., and the City of Annapolis to present evidence to the Board of Public Works that a matching fund will be provided, for the Anne Arundel County -- Annapolis Maritime Museum Loan of 2001 to June 1, 2005.
Delegate Busch

HB 1400
Chapter 232
Historic Preservation Commission of Harford County -- McComas Institute and Hosanna School Loan of 1994
Amending Chapter 329 of the Acts of 1994 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act no later than June 1, 2005.
Harford County Delegation

HB 1450
Chapter 233
Anne Arundel County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Class B--LSH License
Establishing in Anne Arundel County a Class B--LSH (limited service hotel) beer and light wine license; specifying that the license is for use in a hotel that meets specified requirements; specifying a $2,000 annual license fee; and authorizing a licensee to sell beer and light wine in containers to registered guests, who may consume the beverage in their hotel rooms or remove unopened containers from the hotel premises.
Anne Arundel County Delegation

HB 1480
Chapter 234
Worcester County -- Liquor Control Board -- Net Profits from Dispensaries
Specifying that net profits arising from the operation of dispensaries in Worcester County be first applied towards the payment of sums advanced to or borrowed by the Liquor Control Board that are currently due and owing.
Delegates Bozman and Conway

HB 1486
Chapter 235
Howard County Board of Education -- Election to Fill Vacancy Ho. Co. 12--04
Requiring a vacancy on the Howard County Board of Education to be filled at a general election if the vacancy occurs before a date in the second year of the term; authorizing the County Executive of Howard County to fill a vacancy until a successor is elected at a general election; specifying that candidates for a vacated office may be nominated at a primary election; and specifying that when Board of Education terms of offices vary in an election, the candidate receiving the most votes shall fill the office with the longer term.
Howard County Delegation

HB 1522
Chapter 236
Leonardtown -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Location of Premises with Class B License
Exempting applications for Class B (on--sale) beer, wine and liquor licenses for premises in Leonardtown from the prohibition against alcoholic beverages license applications being approved for premises in St. Mary's County within 300 feet of schools or places of worship.
St. Mary's County Delegation

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


Top

May 11, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On May 11, 2004, the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, signed the following pieces of legislation which you passed:
 
SB 194
Chapter 237
Crimes -- Substance Abuse -- Parole -- Civil Commitment -- Diversion
Establishing parole eligibility for specified nonviolent offenders who are ordered to undergo drug or alcohol treatment; authorizing a State's Attorney, on request of the defendant or on the State's Attorney's own motion, to agree to the disposition of nolle prosequi with a requirement for drug or alcohol treatment or stet with a requirement for drug or alcohol treatment for specified defendants; authorizing a court, under specified circumstances, to enter a specified order; etc.
The President (Administration), et al

HB 295
Chapter 238
Crimes -- Substance Abuse -- Parole -- Civil Commitment -- Diversion
Establishing parole eligibility for specified nonviolent offenders who are ordered to undergo drug or alcohol treatment; authorizing the State's Attorney, on request of the defendant or on the State's Attorney's own motion, to agree to the disposition of nolle prosequi with a requirement for drug or alcohol treatment or stet with a requirement for drug or alcohol treatment for specified defendants; authorizing a court, under specified circumstances, to enter a specified order; etc.
The Speaker and The Minority Leader (Administration), et al

SB 738
Chapter 239
Higher Education -- University System of Maryland -- Governing Authority
Providing that the authority of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland may not be superseded by any other State agency or office in management affairs except by a provision of law that specifically references the University System; and allowing the University System to create personnel positions under specified conditions without requiring a specific provision in the State budget.
The President (Administration)

SB 1
Chapter 240
Education -- Teachers -- State and Local Aid Program for Certification
Extending the termination provision applicable to the State and Local Aid Program for Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Senator Pinsky

SB 5
Chapter 241
Attorney General -- Prosecution of Criminal Offenses Reported by the Office of Legislative Audits
Repealing a requirement that the Legislative Auditor report a specified alleged default by an officer or employee who is subject to audit or review to the Attorney General and a specified State's Attorney; requiring the Legislative Auditor to report to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney any alleged criminal violation discovered during the course of an audit, review, or investigation; etc.
Senator McFadden (Chairman Joint Audit Committee), et al

HB 124
Chapter 242
Attorney General -- Prosecution of Criminal Offenses Reported by the Office of Legislative Audits
Repealing a requirement that the Legislative Auditor report a specified alleged default by an officer or employee who is subject to audit or review to the Attorney General and a specified State's Attorney; requiring the Legislative Auditor to report to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney any alleged criminal violation by a person discovered during the course of an audit, review, or investigation; etc.
Delegate Mitchell (Chairman Joint Audit Committee)

SB 22
Chapter 243
Cecil County -- County Expenses -- Records and Statements of Accounts
Repealing a requirement that the Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County publish all records of county expenses in its minutes; requiring that records of county expenses be on file in the Cecil County Treasurer's office; altering the amount of specified expense payments above which the Board of County Commissioners must include on a specified statement of accounts to be $500 instead of $200.
Cecil County Senators

SB 45
Chapter 244
Home Improvement Commission -- Notice of License Application Approval or Denial
Altering the procedures for the Home Improvement Commission to notify an applicant of approval or denial of a license application.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 51
Chapter 245
Agriculture -- State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners Fund
Creating the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners Fund; establishing the source of the Fund; providing for the collection, distribution, and use of the Fund; providing for the administration and auditing of the Fund.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 67
Chapter 246
Corrections -- Local Correctional Facilities -- Financial Assistance for Counties
Authorizing a county to apply for financial assistance for the construction of a new or enlarged existing correctional facility if the anticipated confinement of inmates serving specified sentences would exceed specified capacity; altering a requirement that the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services annually review specified growth rates relating to confinement of inmates by requiring a specified comparison; etc.
Chairman B&T (Dept)

SB 72
Chapter 247
Respiratory Care Professional Standards Committee -- Sunset Extension and Program Evaluation
Continuing the Respiratory Care Professional Standards Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland Program Evaluation Act (Sunset Law) by extending to July 1, 2013 the termination provisions relating to the statutory and regulatory authority of the Committee; and requiring that an evaluation of the Committee and the statutes and regulations that relate to the Committee be performed on or before July 1, 2012.
The President (By Request)

SB 76
Chapter 248
Recordation Tax -- Refinancing Instrument -- Trusts
Including within the definition of "original mortgagor", for purposes of an exemption under the recordation tax for specified refinancing instruments, the trustee of an inter vivos trust if the mortgaged property is used as a principal residence of the settlor of the trust and the trustee or the settlor of the trust originally assumed or incurred the debt secured by the mortgage or deed of trust; etc.
Senator Astle

SB 78
Chapter 249
Judges' Retirement System -- Death Benefits -- Surviving Spouses
Removing the age restriction for a surviving spouse to receive the death benefit of a former member or retiree of the Judges' Retirement System.
The President (By Request--Judicial Compensation Commission)

SB 127
Chapter 250
State Board of Social Work Examiners -- Appointment of Board Members -- Vacancies
Providing for the filling of a vacancy of a licensed certified social worker or a licensed certified social worker--clinical on the State Board of Social Work Examiners with a qualified licensee of any license level if a licensed certified social worker is not appointed to the Board within 6 months; etc.
Senator Hollinger

SB 134
Chapter 251
Baltimore County Code -- 2003 Edition -- Legalization
Legalizing the 2003 Edition of the Baltimore County Code and any supplement to the extent to which that code or supplement contains laws enacted by the General Assembly.
Senator Stone, Chairman, Baltimore County Senators

SB 139
Chapter 252
Criminal Procedure -- United States Park Police -- Authority to Enforce Maryland Law in National Park System
Granting a United States Park Police officer specified powers to enforce Maryland Law within areas of the National Park System; authorizing a United States Park Police officer to issue a citation under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Garagiola, et al

SB 147
Chapter 253
Insurance -- Regulation of Insurance Producers -- Written Documentation of Appointment
Altering the condition under which an insurance producer may act on behalf of an insurer; and prohibiting an insurance producer from acting on behalf of an insurer unless the insurance producer has received written documentation of the appointment from the insurer.
Senator Astle

SB 153
Chapter 254
Trusts -- Termination by Corporate Fiduciary
Altering from $50,000 to $100,000 the maximum amount of the fair market value of a trust that a corporate fiduciary acting as a trustee may terminate without an order of court; repealing the registered mail option for sending specified notices and objections; providing that the Act applies to all trusts existing on or after June 1, 2004; etc.
Senators Garagiola and Giannetti

SB 236
Chapter 255
Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance -- Personal Injury Protection Coverage -- Waiver
Providing that a waiver of specified personal injury protection benefits made by a person that is insured continuously by the insurer is effective until the waiver is withdrawn in writing.
Senator Kelley

SB 238
Chapter 256
Insurance -- Surplus Lines Brokers -- Policy and Inspection Fees
Altering specified authority of specified surplus lines brokers to charge specified policy fees on specified policies procured by specified licensed producers to whom the surplus lines broker pays a commission; specifying a limit on the policy fee that a specified surplus lines broker may charge on a policy issued by an authorized insurer that was procured by specified licensed producers to whom the surplus lines broker pays a commission; etc.
Senator Astle

HB 341
Chapter 257
Regulation and Acquisition of Nonprofit Health Entities
Extending the statute of limitations to 3 years for specified criminal violations under the Insurance Article; altering the purpose of provisions of law relating to nonprofit health service plans; altering specified provisions of law relating to the regulation and acquisition of nonprofit health entities; altering the mission of a nonprofit health service plan; requiring board members of a nonprofit health service plan to act in a specified manner in furtherance of the mission of a nonprofit health service plan; etc.
Delegate Hurson

SB 242
Chapter 258
Criminal Procedure -- Statute of Limitations -- Prosecutions for Criminal Violation of Insurance Law
Extending from 1 year to 3 years the period within which a prosecution of a misdemeanor offense under the Insurance Article of the Annotated Code may be instituted following the commission of the offense; and establishing an exception to a limitation on the prosecution of a fine or penalty.
Senator Frosh

SB 256
Chapter 259
Allegany County -- Property Tax Credit -- Gilchrist Museum
Authorizing the governing body of Allegany County or of a municipal corporation in Allegany County to grant a property tax credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on property owned by the Cumberland Cultural Foundation known as the Gilchrist Museum; and providing for the applicability of the Act.
Senator Hafer

SB 262
Chapter 260
Unemployment Insurance Funding Task Force -- Extension
Extending the termination date of the Unemployment Insurance Funding Task Force; and extending the date by which a specified report is due.
Senator Middleton, et al

SB 291
Chapter 261
State Treasury -- Deposits by Units of State Government
Removing a requirement that units of State government deposit specified revenue into the State Treasury monthly; providing that units of State government must deposit specified revenue into depositaries designated by the Treasurer in accordance with regulations and policies adopted by the Treasurer and the Comptroller; etc.
Senator Lawlah (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds)

SB 296
Chapter 262
Maryland Health Care Foundation and Maryland Health Care Trust
Terminating the Maryland Health Care Foundation; altering the entitiy to which the fair value of specified assets must be distributed for specified acquisitions to be in the public interest; codifying, and making specified stylistic and conforming changes to, specified provisions of law relating to the Maryland Health Care Trust; altering the trustee of the Maryland Health Care Trust to be the State Treasurer; requiring the Governor to transfer specified funds of the Maryland Health Care Foundation to Medbank of Maryland, Inc.; etc.
Senator Della

SB 297
Chapter 263
Nursing Homes -- Notice of Change in Condition
Requiring a nursing home to provide a written specified notice concerning a specified change in the resident's condition and care to the resident and, if applicable, the resident's representative or interested family member under specified circumstances; providing for the contents of the written notice; etc.
Senator Della, et al

SB 301
Chapter 264
Election Law -- Payment for Walk--Around Services
Requiring campaign finance entities that pay a person for walk--around services to make the payment by a check drawn from the campaign finance entity's campaign account; and requiring campaign finance entities to report these payments in accordance with the provisions of the State Election Law.
Senator Della

SB 319
Chapter 265
Prince George's County -- Property Tax Credit -- Property Owned by a Community Development Corporation
Authorizing the governing body of Prince George's County to grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county property tax or special district tax imposed on property owned by a nonprofit community development corporation under specified circumstances; and providing for the application of the Act.
Senator Exum

SB 335
Chapter 266
Security Guards -- Certification Renewal -- Late Fees
Requiring the Secretary of the State Police to assess a $5 per day late fee to applicants whose application for renewal of a security guard certification is not received on or before a specified date except if the renewal is late due to specified hardships; capping the amount of total late fees assessed on an applicant for late certification renewals at $150; and prohibiting the Secretary from certifying an applicant if the applicant has outstanding late fees.
Senator Jacobs

SB 366
Chapter 267
Real Estate Brokers -- Trust Money -- Distribution and Liability
Requiring a real estate broker to maintain trust money in a specified account until specified actions occur including the failure of the owner or beneficial owner of trust money to complete the real estate transaction for which the trust money was entrusted and the real estate broker, in the broker's sole discretion, decides to distribute the trust money according to provisions of law; and prohibiting a real estate broker from being held civilly liable to the owner or beneficial owner of trust money for specified decisions.
Senator Dyson

SB 368
Chapter 268
Task Force on Parking for Individuals with Disabilities
Establishing a Task Force on Parking for Individuals with Disabilities; providing for the appointment of the chairman of the Task Force; providing for the membership and duties of the Task Force; providing for the staffing of the Task Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving compensation; authorizing a member of the Task Force to receive reimbursement for specified expenses; requiring the Task Force to report to the General Assembly by a specified date; providing for the termination of the Act; etc.
Senator DeGrange, et al

SB 377
Chapter 269
Access to Public Records -- Required Denials -- Alarm and Security Systems
Requiring a custodian to deny inspection of a public record that identifies or contains personal information about a person, including a commercial entity, that maintains an alarm or security system, except under specified circumstances; requiring a custodian to permit inspection of specified public records by specified persons; making the Act an emergency measure; etc.
Senator Ruben, et al

SB 406
Chapter 270
State Board of Nursing -- Skilled Nursing Assistants -- Establishment and Certification
Requiring the State Board of Nursing to adopt regulations establishing categories of skilled nursing assistants in specified settings; requiring the Board to adopt regulations establishing qualifications for each category of skilled nursing assistant; requiring skilled nursing assistants within a category of nursing assistant to meet requirements set by the Board to qualify for certification; requiring skilled nursing assistants to meet specified additional requirements to renew a certification; etc.
Senator Hollinger

SB 414
Chapter 271
State Health and Welfare Benefits Program -- Employees of Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. -- Repeal of Sunset
Repealing a termination provision that applies to the inclusion of the employees of the Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., in the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program.
Senator McFadden

SB 428
Chapter 272
State Government -- Designations
Designating the Patuxent River stone as the State gem; designating lacrosse as the State team sport; etc.
Senator Miller, et al

SB 430
Chapter 273
Higher Education -- Morgan State University -- Coordination and Governance
Providing that the powers of the Board of Regents regarding the management of Morgan State University are subject to restrictions imposed by law if the law makes specific reference to the University; authorizing the University to borrow specified money; authorizing the Board of Regents to acquire, lease, encumber, sell, or dispose of specified real or personal property; etc.
Senator Conway, et al

SB 431
Chapter 274
State Treasury -- Undeliverable Checks Fund
Removing a specified limit on the reissuance of undeliverable checks; clarifying when an undeliverable check may be returned to its source or transferred to other accounts; reducing the time period for retaining specified money in the Undeliverable Checks Fund; clarifying the circumstances under which the money in the Fund may be transferred to the General Fund; providing that undeliverable checks credited to the Fund are not subject to specified statutes regarding abandoned property; etc.
Senator Lawlah (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds)

SB 439
Chapter 275
Insurance -- Viatical Settlement Providers and Viatical Settlement Brokers
Requiring viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers to register with the Maryland Insurance Commissioner under specified circumstances; providing that the Act applies only to specified contracts between viators and viatical settlement providers; establishing specified registration requirements; requiring viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers to make specified disclosures in a specified manner to viators under specified circumstances; providing for renewal of registrations; etc.
Senator Kelley

SB 441
Chapter 276
Frederick County -- Hotel Rental Tax
Authorizing Frederick County to impose a hotel rental tax at not more than 5%; providing that the hotel rental tax does not apply to a hotel with a specified number of rooms in Frederick County; requiring a hotel located in Frederick County to collect the tax and to file a specified tax return and pay taxes collected on or before the 21st day of each month; and requiring Frederick County to distribute specified hotel rental tax revenue in a specified manner.
Senator Brinkley

SB 446
Chapter 277
Frederick County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Bed and Breakfast and Country Inn Establishments
Establishing in Frederick County separate alcoholic beverages licenses for bed and breakfast and country inn establishments; establishing license requirements and restrictions on the use of the licenses; specifying license fees; etc.
Senators Brinkley and Mooney

SB 451
Chapter 278
Health Care Providers -- Collection of Medicare Approved or Limiting Amounts
Authorizing a health care provider to collect Medicare approved or limiting amounts from individual subscribers or enrollees when Medicare is the primary insurer and a health maintenance organization is the secondary insurer.
Senators Astle and Stoltzfus

SB 464
Chapter 279
Qualified Immunity from Civil Liability -- SLAPP Suits
Granting qualified immunity from civil liability to a defendant in a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit) who, when communicating with a government body or the public at large, without constitutional malice, exercises rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or specified articles of the Maryland Declaration of Rights regarding specified matters; allowing a defendant to move to dismiss the alleged SLAPP suit; etc.
Senator Green

HB 930
Chapter 280
Qualified Immunity from Civil Liability -- SLAPP Suits
Granting qualified immunity from civil liability to a defendant in a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit) who, when communicating with a government body or the public at large, without constitutional malice, exercises rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or specified articles of the Maryland Declaration of Rights regarding specified matters; allowing a defendant to move to dismiss the alleged SLAPP suit; etc.
Delegate Rosenberg, et al

SB 477
Chapter 281
Medically Fragile Children -- Study
Requiring the Governor's Office for Individuals with Disabilities, with the assistance of the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, to study the placement of medically fragile children in Maryland; requiring a report by December 1, 2004; etc.
Senator Brinkley, et al

SB 493
Chapter 282
Municipal Corporations -- Decisions of Port Wardens -- Appeals
Authorizing an aggrieved party to appeal a decision of a board of port wardens concerning the discharge of the duties of the port wardens to the circuit court for the appropriate county, if authorized by the municipal corporation by ordinance.
Senator Astle

SB 499
Chapter 283
State Council on Cancer Control -- Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
Establishing a Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to staff the Committee; providing for the duties of the Committee; and requiring the Committee to present findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly annually for 5 years beginning October 1, 2004.
Senator Lawlah, et al

SB 504
Chapter 284
Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System -- Membership -- Salisbury Fire Department
Providing specified firefighters and paramedics who are employed by the Salisbury Fire Department membership in the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System; and specifying the procedural requirements that a participating governmental unit must meet to have its firefighters or paramedics participate in the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System.
Senators Stoltzfus and Colburn

SB 512
Chapter 285
Criminal Law -- Sexual Solicitation of a Minor
Prohibiting a person, with the intent to commit sexual offenses, from knowingly soliciting a minor, or a law enforcement officer posing as a minor, to engage in activities that would be unlawful for the person to engage in under provisions for rape in the second degree, sexual offense in the second degree, and sexual offense in the third degree; providing that a specified violation is considered to be committed in the State for purposes of determining jurisdiction if the solicitation originated or is received in the State; etc.
Senator Jimeno, et al

SB 568
Chapter 286
Cooperative Housing Corporations, Condominiums, and Homeowners Associations -- Electronic Transmission of Notices and Votes
Authorizing a cooperative housing corporation, a council of unit owners of a condominium, and a homeowners association to provide notice of a meeting or deliver information by electronic transmission if specified conditions are met; providing that the notice or delivery by electronic transmission shall be considered ineffective if specified conditions are met; etc.
Senator Green, et al

SB 570
Chapter 287
Health Insurance -- Small Group Market -- Limited Health Benefit Plan
Requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission to adopt regulations that specify the Limited Health Benefit Plan to be offered in the small group health insurance market; establishing that a purpose of the Commission is to develop a uniform set of effective benefits to be included in the Limited Health Benefit Plan; establishing an exception for the Limited Health Benefit Plan to the prohibition on a carrier offering a health benefit plan that has fewer benefits than those in the Comprehensive Standard Health Benefit Plan; etc.
Senator Teitelbaum, et al

SB 571
Chapter 288
Criminal Law -- Fictitious and Fraudulent Government Identification Documents -- Prohibition
Prohibiting, with fraudulent intent, the possession, display, and the causing to be displayed of a fictitious or fraudulently altered government identification document; prohibiting, with fraudulent intent, the loan of a government identification document to another or knowingly allowing the use of a government identification document by another; prohibiting a person, with fraudulent intent, from displaying or representing as the person's own a government identification document not issued to the person; etc.
Senator Forehand

SB 584
Chapter 289
Insurance Producers -- Continuing Education Requirements
Requiring specified insurance producers to receive continuing education directly relating to flood insurance.
Senator Stone, et al

SB 586
Chapter 290
Insurance -- Public Adjusters -- Regulation
Establishing a criminal penalty for a person who fails to obtain a license from the Insurance Commissioner before acting as a public adjuster; requiring specified entities to obtain a license from the Commissioner before acting as a public adjuster; establishing specified qualifications for licensure as a public adjuster; establishing examination requirements; etc.
Senator Stone, et al

HB 15
Chapter 291
Insurance -- Public Adjusters -- Regulation
Establishing a criminal penalty for a person who fails to obtain a license from the Insurance Commissioner before acting as a public adjuster; requiring specified entities to obtain a license from the Commissioner before acting as a public adjuster; establishing specified qualifications for licensure as a public adjuster; establishing examination requirements; etc.
Delegate Feldman

SB 603
Chapter 292
Commercial Law -- Hotels and Retirement Communities -- Operating Agreements
Providing that if a conflict exists between the express terms and conditions of an operating agreement and the terms and conditions implied by the law governing the relationship between a principal and agent, the express terms and conditions of the operating agreement shall govern; authorizing a court to order a specified remedy notwithstanding the existence of an agency relationship between the parties to an operating agreement; etc.
Senator Garagiola, et al

SB 606
Chapter 293
Frederick County -- Solid Waste Disposal Fee or Tax
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County to establish, charge, levy, and collect a fee or tax for specified costs for the collection and disposal of solid waste; specifying that the Board's authority extends to all municipal corporations in the County; etc.
Senator Brinkley

SB 608
Chapter 294
Frederick County -- Nursing or Convalescent Homes
Authorizing the Frederick County Commissioners to establish, maintain, and operate a nursing or convalescent home and specified other facilities and services.
Senators Brinkley and Mooney

SB 613
Chapter 295
Vehicle Laws -- Manufacturers, Distributors, and Factory Branches -- Dealer Claims
Prohibiting a failure by a dealer of vehicles to comply with the specific requirements of a manufacturer or distributor for processing specified claims from constituting grounds for denial of the claim or reduction of the amount of compensation paid to the dealer under specified circumstances; altering specified time periods during which specified claims may be charged back under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Forehand, et al

SB 614
Chapter 296
State Employee Retirees -- Retention of Prescription Benefits Plan
Requiring the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program to include a prescription drug benefit plan for State retirees notwithstanding any changes in federal law permitting a state to discontinue prescription drug benefit plans for state retirees.
Senator Hollinger, et al

SB 642
Chapter 297
Natural Resources -- Boating -- Disclosure of Personal Information
Providing an additional exception to a prohibition on the disclosure of personal information by the Department of Natural Resources to specified business entities or their agents, employees, or contractors under specified circumstances.
Senator Astle

SB 646
Chapter 298
Estates -- Right to Letters
Authorizing an individual who is not a United States citizen to serve as personal representative of an estate if that individual is a permanent resident of the United States and a spouse, a descendant, an ancestor, or a sibling of the decedent.
Senator Giannetti

SB 652
Chapter 299
Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund -- Extension of Time to File Claim
Extending the time for filing a claim for criminal injuries compensation with the Board of Criminal Injuries Compensation under specified circumstances; and extending the time for filing a claim with the Board in a case of child abuse.
Senators Ruben and Forehand

SB 667
Chapter 300
Dorchester County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Fines and Suspensions
Authorizing the Board of License Commissioners for Dorchester County to impose a specified fine in addition to or instead of suspending a license for a violation that is a cause for suspension under alcoholic beverages laws that apply in Dorchester County.
Senator Colburn

SB 681
Chapter 301
Wicomico County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Licenses and Open Containers
Authorizing the Wicomico County Board of License Commissioners to issue a caterer's license for a specified fee to a holder of a Class B restaurant or hotel (on--sale) beer and light wine license; authorizing a holder of a Class B beer and light wine catering license to provide beer and light wine at specified events off the Class B licensed premises; etc.
Senator Colburn

SB 688
Chapter 302
State Employees -- Unused Annual Leave -- Special Pay Plan
Establishing a Special Pay Plan for the purpose of allowing State employees to contribute to a plan with tax--qualified status under the Internal Revenue Code; requiring the Secretary of Budget and Management or the Secretary's designee to adopt regulations; authorizing the Secretary or the Secretary's designee to adopt, implement, and maintain the Special Pay Plan qualified under the Internal Revenue Code; requiring the Secretary or the Secretary's designee to hire specified entities; etc.
Senator Hogan

SB 706
Chapter 303
Community--Based Services
Altering the uses of the Waiting List Equity Fund; clarifying the purpose of the Community--Based Services Fund in the Mental Hygiene Administration; requiring that Administration property be sold or leased if not transferred to another governmental entity; requiring the funds from the sale or lease of Administration property to be used for community services; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and specified groups to report to committees of the General Assembly by September 1, 2004; etc.
Senator Kelley, et al

SB 711
Chapter 304
Child Welfare Services -- Children in Out--of--Home Placement
Requiring local departments of social services to consider specified criteria in developing a permanency plan for a child in an out--of--home placement; altering recommendations that may be made by a local board; requiring the Social Services Administration to adopt regulations; requiring the Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families, in consultation with specified departments, to conduct a study, develop a plan, and report by January 1, 2006; etc.
Senators Jacobs and Giannetti

SB 756
Chapter 305
Maryland Medical Assistance Program -- Carve--Out of Specialty Mental Health Services
Prohibiting the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene from ending the exclusion of specialty mental health services from the program requiring Medical Assistance Program recipients to enroll in managed care organizations without specified approval; and prohibiting the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from contracting with a behavioral managed care organization to provide specialty mental health services without specified approval.
Senator Middleton, et al

SB 787
Chapter 306
Public School Facilities Act of 2004
Authorizing a county to finance the construction or renovation of public school facilities, under specified circumstances, using alternative financing methods; clarifying that the requirements of specified provisions of the State Finance and Procurement Article apply to specified projects; authorizing specified counties to issue bonds under specified circumstances; altering the amount of grants provided to counties under the Aging Schools Program; etc.
Senators Hogan and McFadden (Task Force to Study Public School Facilities)

HB 1230
Chapter 307
Public School Facilities Act of 2004
Authorizing a county to finance the construction or renovation of public school facilities, under specified circumstances, using alternative financing methods; clarifying that the requirements of specified provisions of the State Finance and Procurement Article apply to specified projects; authorizing specified counties to issue bonds under specified circumstances; altering the amount of grants provided to counties under the Aging Schools Program; etc.
Delegates Hixson and Edwards (Task Force to Study Public School Facilities), et al

SB 808
Chapter 308
Carroll County Republican Party Central Committee -- Composition
Increasing the composition of the Carroll County Republican Party Central Committee from seven members to nine members.
Carroll County Senators

SB 810
Chapter 309
Assisted Living Programs -- Assisted Living Managers -- Training Requirements
Requiring specified individuals employed by assisted living programs that are licensed for 17 or more beds to complete a specified training course by January 1, 2006; subjecting specified assisted living programs to a civil money penalty not to exceed $10,000 under specified circumstances; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with specified organizations, to develop guidelines and to conduct a specified evaluation; requiring the Department to submit a specified report by January 1, 2005; etc.
Senator Teitelbaum, et al

HB 1190
Chapter 310
Assisted Living Programs -- Assisted Living Managers -- Training Requirements
Requiring specified individuals employed by assisted living programs that are licensed for 17 or more beds to complete a specified training course by January 1, 2006; subjecting specified assisted living programs to a civil money penalty not to exceed $10,000 under specified circumstances; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with specified organizations, to develop specified guidelines and to conduct a specified evaluation; requiring the Department to submit a specified report by January 1, 2005; etc.
Delegate Mandel, et al

SB 812
Chapter 311
Higher Education -- Approval of New Programs
Altering specified procedures governing the proposal and approval of new programs at specified institutions of higher education; altering specified reporting requirements; repealing a specified termination provision relating to procedures governing the approval of new programs at constituent institutions of the University System of Maryland; etc.
Senator Hogan

SB 839
Chapter 312
Bed and Breakfast Establishments -- Food Service -- Regulation
Exempting specified bed and breakfast establishments from Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and local government regulations relating to the required use of commercial grade kitchen equipment; requiring bed and breakfast establishments be licened as food establishments; providing that bed and breakfast establishments that intend to serve a hot meal to renters are subject to State and local health regulations that govern food safety and contamination; etc.
Senator Middleton, et al

SB 841
Chapter 313
Department of Natural Resources -- Electronic System for Transactions
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to implement an electronic system for the sale and issuance of licenses, permits, and registrations and the recording and releasing of security interests; requiring the Department to develop the system consistent with the statewide information technology master plan; authorizing the Department to adopt regulations; etc.
Senator Astle

SB 858
Chapter 314
Department of Business and Economic Development -- Realignment and Closure of Military Installations
Requiring the Secretary of Business and Economic Development to designate an entity within the Department to be the single contact for issues relating to realignment and closure of military installations in the State.
Senator Astle

SB 873
Chapter 315
Mental Health -- Emergency Evaluation -- Psychiatric Nurses
Authorizing clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric and mental health nursing and psychiatric nurse practitioners to file and present a petition for an emergency evaluation of an individual; and requiring an authorized individual who makes a petition for emergency evaluation to include the individual's license number on the petition.
Senator Hollinger

SB 884
Chapter 316
Correctional Services -- Concurrent and Consecutive Sentences -- Offenders on Parole
Repealing the requirement that a new sentence run consecutively to the time to be served on the original term when an individual is convicted of a crime committed while on parole; requiring a court to determine if a new sentence is to run concurrently or consecutively, as required under Maryland Rule 4--351(a)(5); requiring that if a new sentence is to run consecutively, the new sentence shall begin at a specified time; etc.
Senator Miller

HB 18
Chapter 317
Election Law -- Polling Places -- Access by Minors
Prohibiting more than two individuals under the age of 13 from accompanying a voter in a voting room or voting booth under specified circumstances.
Delegate Cryor, et al

HB 76
Chapter 318
Crimes -- Knowingly and Willfully Causing Another to Ingest Bodily Fluid
Prohibiting a person from knowingly and willfully causing another to ingest bodily fluid without consent or by force or threat of force; establishing specified penalties; etc.
Delegate Miller

HB 86
Chapter 319
Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
Establishing the Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; requiring the Director of the Office to report to the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; establishing the duties and responsibilities of the Office; requiring the Director to promote health and prevention of disease among members of specified groups; etc.
Delegate Nathan--Pulliam, et al

HB 92
Chapter 320
Vehicle Laws -- Clarification of Rights for Wheelchair Use
Defining "wheelchair"; requiring an individual using a wheelchair to comply with specified laws at traffic control signals; clarifying that an individual using a wheelchair enjoys the same rights and is subject to the same restrictions applicable to pedestrians; providing an exception for wheelchair use to a prohibition against vehicle use on a sidewalk or sidewalk area; eliminating a restriction relating to the times during which an individual may use a special vehicle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 122
Chapter 321
Health Insurance -- Coverage for Young Adults
Requiring specified insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations, within 60 days before a child age 19 or older who is covered under a parent's individual, group, or blanket health insurance policy or contract as a full--time student attains a specified age, to notify the parent of the impending loss of the child's coverage and to provide specified information; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 125
Chapter 322
Health Insurance -- Medicare Supplement Policies -- Individuals Enrolled in the Maryland Health Insurance Plan
Requiring health insurance carriers that issue Medicare supplement policies to issue a Medicare supplement policy to an individual who transferred from a substantial, available, and affordable coverage plan to the Maryland Health Insurance Plan on July 1, 2003, is terminated from the Maryland Health Insurance Plan as a result of elilibility for Medicare, and applies for the Medicare supplement policy within a specified period of time; etc.
Delegate Goldwater, et al

HB 127
Chapter 323
Nonprofit Health Service Plans and Health Maintenance Organizations -- Underwriting Standards
Requiring a nonprofit health service plan and a health maintenance organization to file with the Insurance Commissioner a copy of their underwriting standards; and authorizing a nonprofit health service plan and a health maintenance organization to request a finding by the Commissioner that the underwriting standards be considered confidential commercial information.
Delegate Hammen, et al

HB 130
Chapter 324
Searches of Students -- School--Sponsored Trips -- Teachers
Authorizing a county board of education to authorize a specified teacher to make a reasonable search of specified students on a school--sponsored trip under specified circumstances.
Delegate King, et al

HB 172
Chapter 325
Higher Education -- Resident Tuition Charges -- United States Military Personnel, Spouses, and Dependents
Establishing that specified military personnel, spouses and dependents of military personnel, and veterans are exempt from paying nonresident tuition at public institutions of higher education under specified circumstances; and requiring the Maryland Higher Education Commission to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of the Act.
Delegate G Clagett, et al

HB 199
Chapter 326
Education -- Public School Construction -- Modular Construction
Requiring the Board of Public Works to include modular construction as an approved public school construction or capital cost; and requiring the Board of Public Works, at the recommendation of the Interagency Committee on School Construction, to adopt specified regulations.
Delegate F Turner, et al

HB 207
Chapter 327
Health Care Decisions Act -- Appointment of Agent -- Prohibition
Prohibiting a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of specified persons affiliated with a health care facility from serving as a resident's health care agent; providing for a specified exception to the prohibition against a specified person serving as a health care agent; etc.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 240
Chapter 328
Public Schools -- Interstate Transfer of Military Personnel Dependents -- Reciprocity Agreements
Requiring the State Board of Education to pursue reciprocity agreements with other states regarding the terms of transfer of school--aged student dependents of military personnel to or from the public schools of this State; requiring reciprocity agreements to include procedures for the transfer of student records and the awarding of credit for completed course work; allowing a student to satisfy State graduation requirements using credits from comparable completed course work; etc.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

HB 259
Chapter 329
Frederick County -- Loans to Volunteer Fire or Rescue Companies
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County to provide loans to approved volunteer fire or rescue companies for land or buildings to be used by the companies.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 350
Chapter 330
Nonprofit Health Service Plans -- Compensation of Officers and Executives -- Authority of Insurance Commissioner
Making changes to conform specified provisions of the Insurance Article relating to nonprofit health service plans to the Order and Consent Judgment rendered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in the case of State of Maryland v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association and CareFirst, Inc.; altering the authority of the Maryland Insurance Commissioner for the review and approval of compensation guidelines for officers and executives of nonprofit health service plans; making the Act an emergency measure; etc.
Delegate Hurson

HB 358
Chapter 331
Public Schools -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Requiring the State Department of Education to establish procedures for the administration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey; authorizing the State Department to omit a maximum of one--third of the survey questions if the State Department considers the content of the questions inappropriate; requiring the Department to require a local school system to obtain parental consent using a specified form before administering the survey; etc.
Delegate Stern, et al

HB 361
Chapter 332
Somerset County -- County Commissioners -- Expense Reimbursement
Increasing from $1,500 to $2,500 the limit on the amount of money the members of the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners may receive each year for reimbursement for food and mileage expenses in connection with their official duties.
Delegate Elmore

HB 363
Chapter 333
Somerset County -- Sale of Portion of Harbaugh Road in Lawson Election District
Authorizing the County Roads Board of Somerset County to sell a specified portion of Harbaugh Road in the Lawson Election District in Somerset County without public sale and when the property is no longer needed for public purposes; providing a description of the property that is the subject of the sale authorized by the Act; and providing that the County Roads Board may arrange terms, conditions, and amount of consideration for and execute any deeds or instruments necessary to complete any sale made in accordance with the Act.
Delegate Elmore

HB 373
Chapter 334
Vehicle Laws -- Driving While Impaired by Controlled Dangerous Substance -- Penalties
Altering specified penalties for a conviction for a violation of driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance; requiring a person convicted of driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance to undergo a specified assessment and participate in a specified program under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Menes (Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse), et al

HB 376
Chapter 335
Probation before Judgment -- Alcohol-- or Drug--Related Offenses -- Evaluation
Authorizing a court, before imposing a period of probation in a case where judgment is being stayed for specified alcohol-- or drug--related offenses, to order the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to evaluate the defendant as to whether the defendant needs or would benefit from specified treatment; requiring a court to review the evaluation before imposing a period of probation; etc.
Delegate Menes (Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse), et al

HB 380
Chapter 336
Somerset County -- Hotel Rental Tax -- Rate
Increasing from 3% to 5% the maximum hotel rental tax rate in Somerset County.
Delegate Elmore

HB 382
Chapter 337
Howard County -- Work Release Program -- Condition for Participation Ho. Co. 2--04
Changing a condition for participation in a work release program established by the Howard County Department of Correction; authorizing the court, in addition to the sentencing judge, to allow specified individuals to participate in the work release program; and clarifying that an inmate employed in a work release program is not an agent or employee of the court.
Howard County Delegation

HB 383
Chapter 338
Candidates' Residencies -- Challenges -- Expedited Judicial Review
Authorizing a registered voter to file a petition with a specified circuit court to challenge the residency of a candidate; requiring the petition to be filed within a specified period of time; providing for the application of the Act; and requiring the circuit court to expedite the judicial review of the petition within 7 days from the date the petition is filed.
Delegates Menes and Patterson

HB 384
Chapter 339
Maryland Pharmacy Act -- Practice of Pharmacy -- Administration of the Influenza Vaccination
Altering the definition of the term "practice pharmacy" to include administering influenza vaccinations; authorizing specified pharmacists to administer influenza vaccinations; requiring the Board of Pharmacy to set fees; requiring the Board, in consultation with the State Board of Physicians and the State Board of Nursing, to adopt specified regulations; providing for the effective date of specified provisions of the Act; providing for the termination of specified provisions of the Act; etc.
Delegate Elliott, et al

HB 416
Chapter 340
Children's Group Homes -- Use of Subcabinet Resources Directory for Notification and Identification
Requiring the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, in coordination with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Juvenile Services, to conduct an analysis and make recommendations on how the Subcabinet Resources Directory may be used for specified notifications and identifications regarding children's group homes; etc.
Delegate Vaughn, et al

HB 418
Chapter 341
Counties -- Coal Tax -- Annual Meeting and Notice
Requiring specified counties or their designees to notify officials of municipal corporations and other counties receiving coal tax revenue that they may request a meeting; and modifying the requirement that the governing body of a county that collects the coal tax meet with officials of municipalities and other counties that receive the coal tax so that the meeting is only held on request.
Allegany County Delegation

HB 423
Chapter 342
Banking Institutions -- Savings Banks
Authorizing a savings bank to have any banking institution in this State, any other bank in this State, or any State or federal savings and loan association in this State merge into the savings bank if the Commissioner, after receiving the advice of the Banking Board, gives written consent to the transaction; requiring a plan of reorganization of a savings bank to provide that as a result of the reorganization, the mutual holding company shall hold more than 50% of the stock of the subsidiary savings bank; etc.
Delegate Moe

HB 424
Chapter 343
Somerset County -- Volunteer Fire Departments -- Appropriations
Increasing appropriations to be made by the Somerset County Commissioners to specified volunteer fire companies and departments in Somerset County, for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, inclusive.
Delegate Elmore

HB 427
Chapter 344
State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech--Language Pathologists -- Voting Powers
Limiting the voting power of two members of the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech--Language Pathologists.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

HB 431
Chapter 345
Calvert County, Queen Anne's County, and St. Mary's County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Class A Light Wine License
Authorizing a Class A light wine license to be issued in Calvert County, Queen Anne's County, and St. Mary's County.
Delegate Sossi, et al

HB 435
Chapter 346
Property Tax -- Special Assessments -- Damaged or Destroyed Real Property
Extending the special assessment of damaged or destroyed real property to all real property other than that used for commercial purposes.
Delegate Cardin, et al

HB 469
Chapter 347
Cecil County -- Palm Readers, Fortune--Tellers, and Soothsayers -- Licensing
Repealing specified licensing requirements for palm readers, fortune--tellers, soothsayers, and other similar persons in Cecil County.
Delegate Smigiel, et al

HB 477
Chapter 348
Tobacco Product Manufacturers -- Master Settlement Agreement -- Escrow Requirements
Specifying that the amounts tobacco product manufacturers are required to place into escrow accounts are based on account of units sold in the State; altering the circumstances under which the funds in escrow accounts may be released; making the provisions of the Act severable; providing for the termination of the Act under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Doory, et al

HB 484
Chapter 349
Health Facilities -- Nursing Homes -- Family Council
Providing for the composition of a family council; authorizing a family council to be created or led by the owner, operator, or staff of a nursing home under specified circumstances; requiring a nursing home to give new and prospective residents specified information about a family council in the nursing home; requiring the nursing home to respond in writing to any written grievance or other communication from the family council within 14 calendar days after receiving a communication; etc.
Delegate Murray, et al

HB 523
Chapter 350
Frederick County -- Bond Rating Enhancement Reserve and Appropriation
Requiring the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County to establish and maintain a bond rating enhancement reserve and establish criteria for maintaining the reserve; authorizing the County Commissioners to increase appropriations and expend the increased appropriations; requiring the County Commissioners to establish, by ordinance, criteria for increasing appropriations and expending the increased appropriations and requiring the increase to be derived from the reserve or a specified general fund; etc.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 534
Chapter 351
Commissioner of Labor and Industry -- Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety -- Authority and Inspection Intervals
Exempting model steam boilers from specified inspection requirements; requiring that specified boilers are to be inspected on the schedule fixed by regulations adopted under the Act and in accordance with Title 10 of the State Government Article; specifying that the inspection interval shall be set to protect public safety; requiring that an inspection certificate specify an inspection interval; and requiring the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to report to specified committees of the General Assembly by December 1, 2004.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 539
Chapter 352
Garrett County -- Unpaid Hotel Rental Tax -- Liens
Making unpaid hotel rental tax in Garrett County a lien against specified real and personal property; and authorizing the collection of unpaid hotel rental tax in Garrett County in the same manner as the county property tax is collected.
Garrett County Delegation

HB 541
Chapter 353
Washington County -- Deputy State's Attorneys
Requiring the State's Attorney to appoint at least one but not more than two deputy State's Attorneys in Washington County.
Washington County Delegation

HB 543
Chapter 354
Baltimore City -- Tax Sales -- Auctioneer's Fee
Altering the auctioneer's fee in Baltimore City allowed as an expense relating to a tax sale of property; and making the Act an emergency measure.
Delegate Marriott (By Request -- Baltimore City Administration), et al

HB 551
Chapter 355
Vehicle Laws -- Trailers and Semitrailers -- Surge Brakes
Exempting specified vehicles from specified brake requirements; authorizing a trailer or semitrailer to be equipped with surge brakes if the trailer or semitrailer meets specified requirements relating to weight, design, and use; etc.
Delegate Shank, et al

HB 557
Chapter 356
Advance Directive Information Availability Act
Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop an information sheet that provides specified information relating to advance directives; requiring the Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop and implement a plan for making specified information relating to advance directives widely available, and to make information on advance directives available at specified local departments; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 558
Chapter 357
State Board of Dental Examiners -- Regulation of Sedation -- Issuance of Permits
Altering the authority of the State Board of Dental Examiners to adopt regulations relating to the regulation of a specified form of sedation; prohibiting the Board from requiring specified facilities or specified dentists to obtain specified permits under specified cicumstances; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 575
Chapter 358
Criminal Law -- First and Second Degree Escape -- Home Detention, Juvenile, and Custodial Confinement Programs
Modifying the elements and penalties for escape in the first degree and escape in the second degree; repealing specified violations of escape in the first degree involving specified juvenile facilities, home detention orders, temporary releases from confinement, custodial confinement, and juvenile community detention orders; establishing specified violations as escape in the second degree; prohibiting a person from escaping from specified types of confinement or restrictions; etc.
Delegate Brown (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

HB 580
Chapter 359
Disease Prevention -- Laboratory Examination Reports
Requiring a director of an out--of--state medical laboratory to submit a report on specified diseases or conditions to the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene under specified circumstances; requiring the Secretary to inform a local health officer about specified reports from an out--of--state laboratory; adding specified diseases to the list of reportable diseases or conditions; etc.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 608
Chapter 360
Ethics -- Financial Disclosure Statements -- Sources of Earned Income
Providing that under the Maryland Public Ethics Law a specified financial disclosure statement may not be required to include a listing of a minor child's employment or business entities of which the child is sole or partial owner, except under specified circumstances; and clarifying that a specified financial disclosure statement is required to include the name and address of each place of secondary employment of specified individuals.
Delegate Miller, et al

HB 613
Chapter 361
Crimes -- Visual and Camera Surveillance -- Penalties
Increasing the penalties for the crime of visually observing, with prurient interest, an individual without the consent of that individual; increasing the penalties for the crime of placing or procuring another to place a camera on real property where a private residence is located to conduct deliberate or surreptitious observation of an individual inside the residence; providing a specified exception; etc.
Delegate Quinter, et al

HB 624
Chapter 362
Criminal Procedure -- Expungement -- Notice to Defendant
Requiring a court to advise a specified defendant that the defendant may be entitled to expunge specified records under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Carter, et al

HB 670
Chapter 363
Health Insurance -- Inducements
Making the prohibitions on the making of payments, promises, offers, favors, agreements, or other inducements with respect to contracts of health insurance applicable to health maintenance organizations.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 678
Chapter 364
Prince George's County -- Employees -- Criminal History Records Checks PG 314--04
Authorizing the Chief Administrative Officer of Prince George's County to request a State or national criminal history records check from the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository for prospective employees; requiring the Chief Administrative Officer to submit specified items to the Central Repository; requiring the County Executive to propose and the County Council to adopt guidelines to carry out the Act; etc.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 688
Chapter 365
State Treasury -- Unpresented Checks Fund
Altering the procedures the Treasurer must follow in asking the Comptroller to credit the amount of specified unpresented checks to the Unpresented Checks Fund; altering the procedures for transferring a specified portion of the balance of the Fund to the General Fund; removing a prohibition on reissuing checks after a specified period; specifying the procedures to be followed in voiding an unpresented check; exempting unpresented checks credited to the Fund from specified statutory provisions; etc.
Delegate Heller (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

HB 690
Chapter 366
State Treasury -- Banking Services Agreements
Expanding the entities with which the Treasurer may enter into an agreement for banking services to include financial institutions; authorizing an agreement for banking services to include the terms and conditions of the services; requiring an agreement to specify the charges for banking services; requiring interest earnings in excess of charges for banking services to be credited to the General Fund; etc.
Delegate Heller (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

HB 699
Chapter 367
Calvert County -- Public Facilities Bonds
Authorizing and empowering the County Commissioners of Calvert County, from time to time, to borrow not more than $5,100,000 in order to finance the construction, improvement, or development of specified public facilities in Calvert County, and to effect such borrowing by the issuance and sale at public or private sale of its general obligation bonds; etc.
Calvert County Delegation

HB 717
Chapter 368
Vehicle Laws -- Size, Weight, and Load Restrictions -- Emergency Vehicles
Specifying that specified size, weight, and load provisions do not apply to any emergency vehicle.
Delegate Moe, et al

HB 723
Chapter 369
Real Property -- Residential Leases -- Security Deposits -- Interest Rates
Decreasing from 4% to 3% the annual interest rate paid on a security deposit under a residential lease within 45 days after the end of a tenancy; etc.
Delegate Stocksdale

HB 729
Chapter 370
Calvert County -- Pretrial Release Program
Authorizing the Sheriff of Calvert County to establish a pretrial release program that offers alternatives to pretrial detention and to adopt regulations; authorizing a court to order an individual to participate in the pretrial release program; authorizing the court to make the order; and establishing eligibility requirements.
Calvert County Delegation

HB 738
Chapter 371
Anne Arundel County -- Property Tax Credit -- Village Commons Community Center and Anne Arundel Community College
Authorizing the governing body of Anne Arundel County to grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county property tax for real property owned by the Village Commons Community Center, Incorporated, or leased to the Anne Arundel Community College at Arundel Mills; and providing for the application of the Act to tax years beginning after June 30, 2004.
Delegates Boschert and Love

HB 741
Chapter 372
Education -- Maryland School for the Blind -- Notice to Parents or Guardians of Availability of Programs
Requiring local education agencies to notify the parents or guardians of blind or visually impaired children, including children with multiple disabilities, of the availability of the educational programs offered by the Maryland School for the Blind.
Delegate C Davis, et al

HB 767
Chapter 373
Procurement -- Board of Contract Appeals -- Jurisdiction over State Claims
Authorizing an interested party to appeal a final action on a procurement contract claim made by a State agency to the State Board of Contract Appeals; altering the jurisdiction of the Appeals Board; clarifying that specified claims procedures for a procurement contract apply only to a claim by a contractor; and authorizing the award of interest to a State agency under a procurement contract claim.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 770
Chapter 374
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation -- Tenant Houses -- Construction
Making the construction of specified tenant houses subject to the approval of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation that are on farms subject to an agricultural land preservation easement; authorizing the Foundation to grant an exception, based on a showing of compelling need, to a specified construction requirement; etc.
Delegate Cane, et al

HB 777
Chapter 375
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation -- Easement Termination
Requiring that the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation provide a landowner with the opportunity for a hearing before deciding on a request for termination of an agricultural land preservation easement whose purchase is approved by the Board of Public Works on or before September 30, 2004; requiring that easements whose purchase is approved by the Board of Public Works on or after October 1, 2004, be held by the Foundation in perpetuity; etc.
Delegate Cane, et al

HB 780
Chapter 376
Food Establishments -- Volunteer Fire Companies -- Unlicensed Operation
Altering the number of days each year that a volunteer fire company may operate a food establishment without a license to 30 days; and requiring a volunteer fire company to provide a specified notice to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene under specified circumstances.
Delegate Cane, et al

HB 784
Chapter 377
Montgomery County -- Fire and Explosive Investigators -- Authority MC 409--04
Extending to a Montgomery County fire and explosive investigator operating in Montgomery County the authority of the State Fire Marshal and full--time investigative and inspection assistants in that office to make warrantless arrests and exercise powers of arrest; authorizing a Montgomery County fire and explosive investigator to exercise specified authority while operating outside Montgomery County under specified cirscumstances; authorizing the County Fire Adminstrator to limit specified authority in a written policy; etc.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 810
Chapter 378
Consumer Protection -- Household Goods Movers -- Receipts
Requiring a household goods mover, on completion of household goods moving services for an intrastate move, to provide a consumer with a written receipt that states the household goods mover's legal name and the address and telephone number of the household goods mover's resident agent in the State or, if the household goods mover does not have a resident agent in the State, the household goods mover's principal place of business; etc.
Delegate Cardin, et al

HB 820
Chapter 379
Property Tax and Transfer and Recordation Taxes -- Land Trusts -- Credits and Exemptions
Altering requirements for specified conservation land to qualify for a tax credit against the State and local property tax; and altering requirements for exemptions from recordation and transfer taxes for instruments of writing conveying specified interests in property to land trusts.
Delegates V Clagett and Jennings

HB 829
Chapter 380
Business Regulation -- Registration of Service Station Dealers and Sale of Gasoline Products
Extending to October 1, 2009, the expiration date of the conditional prohibition against the Comptroller of the State on the issuance of a certificate of registration to a retail service station dealer who markets motor fuel through a retail service station that has been altered, enlarged, or structurally modified; etc.
Delegate Moe, et al

HB 855
Chapter 381
Vehicle Laws -- Commercial Driver's License -- Hazardous Materials Endorsement -- Criminal History Records Checks
Requiring the operator of a commercial motor vehicle placarded for hazardous materials to obtain a criminal history records check before the Motor Vehicle Administration may issue an endorsement of the operator's license to drive the vehicle; establishing specified procedures for obtaining a criminal history records check; authorizing an operator's employer to pay specified fees; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 879
Chapter 382
Cooperative Housing Corporations, Condominiums, and Homeowners Associations -- Books and Records
Requiring all books and records of a cooperative housing corporation to be made available for examination and copying by a member or other specified persons except under specified circumstances; authorizing a cooperative housing corporation and a council of unit owners of a condominium to impose a reasonable charge for a person to review or copy the books and records; altering the kinds of books and records a homeowners association may withhold from public inspection; etc.
Delegate Bobo, et al

HB 892
Chapter 383
State Retirement and Pension System -- Administrative and Operational Expenses -- Allocation of Cost
Altering the means for allocating the cost of administrative and operational expenses of the State Retirement and Pension System.
Delegate James (Chairman Joint Committee on Pensions)

HB 897
Chapter 384
Talbot County -- Hotel Rental Tax Rate
Increasing the maximum hotel rental tax rate in Talbot County from 3% to 4% from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2006; and providing for a delayed effective date.
Delegates Haddaway and Eckardt

HB 912
Chapter 385
Municipal Corporations -- Annexations -- Limitations on Uses of Land and Densities of Development
Authorizing a municipal corporation to impose specified limitations on the uses of land or densities of development in an annexation agreement on the zoning or rezoning of land under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Barve, et al

HB 933
Chapter 386
Health Insurance -- Small Group Market -- Modified Health Benefit Plan for Medical Savings Accounts
Repealing a requirement that the Maryland Health Care Commission develop a modified health benefit plan for medical savings accounts; repealing a requirement that the Commission adopt regulations that specify a modified health benefit plan for medical savings accounts that meet specified federal qualifications; etc.
Delegate Hammen, et al

HB 944
Chapter 387
State Acupuncture Board -- Maryland Acupuncture Act -- Revisions
Requiring that prosecutions for a misdemeanor under the Maryland Acupuncture Act be instituted within 3 years after the offense was committed; extending the term of the members of the State Acupuncture Board; establishing additional grounds for disciplinary action against licensees; increasing specified penalties for a violation of the Maryland Acupuncture Act; etc.
Delegate Menes, et al

HB 954
Chapter 388
Vehicle Laws -- Violation of Pedestrian Right--of--Way -- Penalties
Altering the penalties for violations of vehicle laws that establish a pedestrian right--of--way in a marked crosswalk.
Delegate Bronrott, et al

HB 965
Chapter 389
Harford County School Construction Financing Act of 2004
Authorizing the County Council of Harford County to fix, impose, and collect, by ordinance, a development impact fee, not to exceed a specified amount, for new construction or development; requiring the revenues from the development impact fee to be deposited in a specified special fund and to be used for specified purposes; requiring municipal corporations in Harford County to assist the county in the collection of the development impact fee within the municipal corporations; etc.
Harford County Delegation

HB 981
Chapter 390
Health and Human Services Referral System
Establishing the Health and Human Services Referral Board; providing for the membership, tenure, chairperson, and staff of the Board; providing oversight for pilot programs; requiring the Board to make specified determinations; requiring reports to the Governor and General Assembly; providing that funding for the Board is subject to the availability of appropriate funds; and defining terms.
Delegate Hurson, et al

HB 997
Chapter 391
St. Mary's County -- Sheriff -- Home Detention and Work Release Programs
Authorizing the Sheriff of St. Mary's County to establish programs for home detention and work release; authorizing the Sheriff and the Board of County Commissioners of St. Mary's County to determine and collect a reasonable monetary amount or program participation fee to pay for costs incurred by the county for providing specified items for the inmate to participate in the work release program; establishing specified penalties for violating a specified trust or condition established for participating in a program; etc.
St. Mary's County Delegation

HB 1000
Chapter 392
Maryland Cancer Fund -- Income Tax Checkoff
Establishing the Maryland Cancer Fund within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to be used to provide grants for cancer research, prevention, and treatment; requiring that Fund expenditures be made only through an appropriation in the annual State budget or through an approved budget amendment; requiring the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to adopt regulations to implement a Maryland cancer grant program; requiring a specified report; establishing an income tax checkoff for voluntary contributions to the Fund; etc.
Delegate Barkley, et al

HB 1001
Chapter 393
Continuing Care Facilities -- Internal Grievance Procedure
Requiring a provider of continuing care to include a description of the facility's internal grievance procedure in the disclosure statement to potential subscribers; requiring a provider of continuing care to establish a specified internal grievance procedure; providing for the components of the internal grievance procedure; and requiring continuing care agreements executed between providers and subscribers to state that there is an internal grievance procedure to investigate subscriber grievances.
Delegate Goldwater, et al

HB 1005
Chapter 394
St. Mary's County Metropolitan Commission -- Membership
Altering the number of members of the St. Mary's County Metropolitan Commission to include a nonvoting member to represent specified interests of the United States Navy; providing for the qualifications and term of a nonvoting member of the Commission; and providing that a nonvoting member may not receive compensation for serving on the Commission.
St. Mary's County Delegation

HB 1011
Chapter 395
Allegany County -- Paper Gaming -- Licensing and Taxing
Repealing a restriction on specified alcoholic beverages licenses held by for profit businesses that engage in paper gaming in Allegany County; altering the time frame in which a wholesale vendor licensee must provide a specified list to the Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County to be monthly; prohibiting a paper gaming licensee from having on its premises a paper gaming device that does not display a gaming sticker; etc.
Allegany County Delegation

HB 1030
Chapter 396
Real Property Sales -- Disclosure Requirements -- Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area
Requiring a contract or an addendum to a contract for the sale of real property to contain a conspicuous statement advising the buyer that the property may be located in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, that specified regulations apply in the critical area, and that a buyer may determine if critical area regulations apply by contacting the local planning and zoning agency.
Delegate Frush (Chairman, Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area), et al

HB 1044
Chapter 397
Procurement -- State Contractor Employees -- Whistleblower Protection
Requiring specified employers that enter State procurement contracts to provide written notice of specified protections and remedies to employees; prohibiting employers from taking or refusing to take specified personnel actions against employees who disclose unlawful behavior, refuse to participate in unlawful behavior, or seek specified remedies following specified disclosures; etc.
Delegates Rosenberg and Weldon

HB 1049
Chapter 398
Washington County -- Revenues -- Education
Altering the uses for which the revenues from the Washington County building excise tax may be expended to include primary, secondary, and higher education capital expenditures; altering the uses for which the revenues from the Washington County transfer tax may be expended to include primary, secondary, and higher education capital expenditures; etc.
Washington County Delegation

HB 1134
Chapter 399
Maryland Medical Assistance Program -- Managed Care Organizations -- Dental Services
Requiring a managed care organization that participates in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, in coordination with specified dentists, Program enrollees, and families of Program enrollees, to develop a specified process to arrange to provide dental therapeutic treatment to specified Program enrollees; etc.
Delegate Haynes, et al

HB 1135
Chapter 400
Town of Sudlersville (Queen Anne's County) -- Urban Renewal Authority for Slum Clearance
Authorizing the Town of Sudlersville, Queen Anne's County, to undertake and carry out specified urban renewal projects for slum clearance and redevelopment; prohibiting any land or property from being taken under the Act without just compensation being first paid to the party entitled to the compensation; declaring that all land or property taken under the Act is needed for public uses or purposes; etc.
Delegate Sossi, et al

HB 1161
Chapter 401
Dorchester County -- County Council -- Building Excise Tax
Authorizing the County Council to fix and impose, by ordinance, a building excise tax on all types of building construction within Dorchester County; requiring the County Council to specify in the ordinance the types of building construction subject to the tax, the criteria and formulas used to assess the tax, and the tax rates; requiring the revenues from the building excise tax be deposited in a special fund and only be used for specified capital costs of certain public works, improvements and facilities; etc.
Delegates Eckardt and Cane

HB 1167
Chapter 402
Higher Education -- Maryland Digital Library -- Established
Establishing the Maryland Digital Library in the Maryland Higher Education Commission; providing for the purpose of the Maryland Digital Library; establishing the composition of the Maryland Digital Library; authorizing the Maryland Higher Education Commission to encourage specified institutions to meet specified goals; authorizing the Maryland Digital Library, in collaboration with specified entities, to develop specified programs; etc.
Delegate Hixson, et al

HB 1177
Chapter 403
Montgomery County -- Sheriff's Office -- Collective Bargaining MC 414--04
Granting collective bargaining rights to specified deputy sheriffs and civilian employees in the Sheriff's office; providing that collective bargaining may be engaged in with respect to wages, pensions, fringe benefits, hours, performance evaluation procedures, and other terms and conditions of employment with the Sheriff's office; etc.
Montgomery County Delegation

HB 1183
Chapter 404
Carroll County -- Raffles
Increasing the number of single--drawing raffles that specified organizations in Carroll County may hold during a year.
Carroll County Delegation

HB 1203
Chapter 405
Baltimore City -- General Powers -- Tax Increment Financing
Altering the purposes for which the proceeds shall be applied of bonds issued by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City under specified provisions authorizing tax increment financing for the development of specified areas in Baltimore City, to include the construction or rehabilitation of buildings that are abandoned property or distressed property or will provide units of affordable housing.
Delegate Marriott (Baltimore City Administration), et al

HB 1210
Chapter 406
Washington County -- Adequate Public Facilities
Authorizing the Washington County Board of County Commissioners to adopt an ordinance that grants the Washington County Board of County Commissioners specified powers with regard to adequate public facilities; providing for the provisions that may be included in an ordinance adopted by the Washington County Board of County Commissioners with regard to adequate public facilities; etc.
Washington County Delegation

HB 1211
Chapter 407
Washington County Water and Sewer Infrastructure Commission
Establishing a Washington County Water and Sewer Infrastructure Commission; specifying the membership of the Commission and the work groups within the Commission; specifying the duties of the Commission; requiring the Commission to issue an interim report by January 1, 2005, and a final report by June 30, 2006, to the Washington County Delegation, the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, and the Hagerstown City Council; etc.
Washington County Delegation

HB 1219
Chapter 408
Baltimore County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Additional Class B (Restaurant) License
Authorizing an individual, for the use of specified business entities, to obtain an additional Class B license in Baltimore County, up to a total of five Class B (on--sale) (hotels and restaurants) licenses by making application in the regular manner and paying the usual fee and if the restaurant for which the additional license authorized by the Act is sought meets specified requirements; providing for the construction of the Act; etc.
Chairman, Baltimore County Delegation (Baltimore City Administration)

HB 1274
Chapter 409
Public Health -- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention -- Public Awareness Campaign
Requiring, to the extent that funds are available for the purpose, the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, collaboration with other State agencies, to establish and promote a statewide public information, awareness, and education campaign relating to the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; providing for the components of the campaign; and authorizing the Secretary to use specified resources to carry out the provisions of the Act.
Delegate Menes, et al

HB 1277
Chapter 410
Income Tax -- Payments -- Sale of Property by Nonresidents
Altering the circumstances under which specified documentation is required to be filed with specified instruments of writing effecting a change of ownership of assessment books; altering the documentation required to be filed; altering the definition of "net proceeds"; and defining specified terms for purposes of a requirement that specified payments be made before a deed or other instrument of writing may be recorded under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegates Gordon and Cardin

HB 1286
Chapter 411
St. Mary's County -- Transfer Tax -- Termination Provision
Extending from July 1, 2005, to July 1, 2010, the termination provision relating to the county's authority to impose a real property transfer tax.
St. Mary's County Delegation

HB 1295
Chapter 412
St. Mary's County -- Emergency Services Tax
Establishing an emergency services tax on all real and personal property in St. Mary's County for fire companies, rescue squads, and specified support services organizations; authorizing the Board of County Commissioners to set separate emergency services tax rates in each Election District in St. Mary's County; establishing maximum allowable emergency services tax rates on the assessed value of all real and personal property in the county; etc.
St. Mary's County Delegation

HB 1307
Chapter 413
Higher Education -- William Donald Schaefer Scholarship Program
Establishing the William Donald Schaefer Scholarship Program; establishing the William Donald Schaefer Scholarship Advisory Council within the Maryland Higher Education Commission; authorizing the Commission to make scholarship awards in a specified amount which may be used at specified institutions of higher education for specified purposes; establishing eligibility criteria for award recipients; requiring recipients to engage in specified public service employment; etc.
Delegate Rosenberg, et al

HB 1351
Chapter 414
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene -- State Facilities -- Cemeteries
Prohibiting the State from selling a cemetery owned by the State and on the grounds of a State facility if the State facility is downsized, consolidated, closed, or sold; requiring the State to maintain and to mark with a commemorative monument a cemetery owned by the State; providing that a cemetery or an easement or right of entry to a cemetery owned by the State and located on the grounds of a State facility may be sold under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Rosenberg, et al

HB 1361
Chapter 415
Health Insurance -- Hearings on Appeals and Grievances
Requiring specified health insurance carriers to have the burden of persuasion on specified issues in specified hearings held by the Insurance Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee on specified health insurance decisions; defining "designee of the Commissioner"; etc.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 1376
Chapter 416
Howard County -- Property Tax -- Planned Development Land Ho. Co. 20--04
Providing that a planned development land assessment is available to qualified land in Howard County for a period of 20 consecutive years; providing for a delayed effective date; etc.
Howard County Delegation

HB 1397
Chapter 417
Milk Products -- Threat to Public Health -- Impoundment and Penalties
Requiring the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to impound a milk product that the Secretary determines is a specified threat to public health; authorizing the Secretary to issue specified orders if the Secretary impounds a milk product that is a threat to public health; authorizing the owner of a milk product that is disposed of or otherwise made unusable to bring an action for damages against the Secretary; providing that the Secretary has specified immunity from liability; etc.
Delegate Stull, et al

HB 1438
Chapter 418
Higher Education -- Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program -- Eligibility
Altering the eligibility requirements for the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to include specified students attending a Maryland high school at the time of application or persons who graduated from a Maryland high school within a specified time period; and providing for the termination of the Act.
Delegate McHale

HB 1444
Chapter 419
Dorchester County -- Sheriff -- Salary
Establishing the salary for the Sheriff of Dorchester County for specified calendar years; and providing that the Act does not apply to the incumbent.
Delegate Eckardt, et al

HB 1445
Chapter 420
Howard County -- Public School Facilities Surcharge Ho. Co. 7--04
Requiring the County Council for Howard County to impose a specified public school facilities surcharge on specified residential construction; providing that the school facilities surcharge, and a specified exemption amount for specified property, must be adjusted for inflation under specified circumstances; requiring the seller to pay the school facilities surcharge at a specified time; prohibiting the school facilities surcharge from being construed to be a settlement cost; providing for a specified rebate; etc.
Howard County Delegation

HB 1447
Chapter 421
Mortgages and Deeds of Trust -- Flood Insurance
Providing that a lender may not require a borrower to provide or purchase flood insurance in an amount exceeding the value of improvements on real property under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Minnick

HB 1528
Chapter 422
Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Corporation -- Actions for Claims Information of Insolvent Insurers
Authorizing the Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Corporation to bring an action against specified representatives of an insolvent insurer to obtain custody and control of claims information; providing that the Corporation has an absolute right to obtain claims information in a specified manner; providing that the Corporation is not subject to specified defenses or other grounds that might be asserted for refusal to surrender claims information; etc.
Delegate Harrison

HB 1533
Chapter 423
Baltimore City -- Alleys
Authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City to gate or close an alley under specified circumstances for specified purposes; and authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City to lease a specified closed or gated alley to a specified entity.
Delegate Hammen

HB 1547
Chapter 424
Dorchester County -- Hotel Surcharge -- Chesapeake Bay Conference Center
Establishing a Dorchester County Economic Development Fund in the Maryland Economic Development Corporation; requiring that the Fund be used to satisfy the full and final settlement of the pending construction claims relating to the Chesapeake Bay Conference Center and any bonds issued in connection with specified claims; imposing a hotel surcharge in Dorchester County on the sale of a right to occupy a room or lodgings as a transient guest in an establishment that offers at least 380 rooms; etc.
Delegate Eckardt

SB 188
Chapter 425
State Government -- Department of Disabilities
Creating the Department of Disabilities as a principal department of State government; providing for the qualifications, appointment, powers, duties, and salary of the Secretary of Disabilities; providing for the duties of the Department; requiring specified units of State government to provide specified information to the Secretary and to develop, implement, and evaluate specified plans; organizing the Maryland Commission on Disabilities and the Interagency Disabilities Board under the Department; etc.
The President (Administration), et al

SB 620
Chapter 426
Money Follows the Individual Accountability Act
Requiring a nursing facility to refer a resident to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or its designee for assistance in obtaining home-- and community--based services; requiring the Department or its designee to review quarterly assessments to identify individuals indicating a preference to live in the community; requiring the Department or its designee to provide specified residents with information and assistance, including assistance in moving from a nursing facility to a community--based setting; etc.
Senator Grosfeld, et al

HB 946
Chapter 427
Money Follows the Individual Accountability Act
Requiring a nursing facility to refer a resident to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or its designee for assistance in obtaining home-- and community--based services; requiring the Department or its designee to review quarterly assessments to identify individuals indicating a preference to live in the community; requiring the Department or its designee to provide specified residents with information and assistance, including assistance in moving from a nursing facility to a community--based setting; etc.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


Top

May 26, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On May 26, 2004, the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, signed the following pieces of legislation which you passed:
 
SB 320
Chapter 428
Water Pollution -- State Waters -- The Bay Restoration Fund
Adding an alternative to requirements for nutrient management plans; altering requirements relating to filings concerning nutrient management plans; eliminating the requirement that a farm owner or operator grant the Department of Agriculture the right of entry to evaluate compliance with the plan; establishing the Bay Restoration Fund in the Department of the Environment; etc.
The President (Administration), et al

Pursuant to Article III, Section 52(6) of the Constitution of Maryland, Senate Bill 125 of 2004 has become Chapter 429 of the Acts of 2004.
SB 125
Chapter 429
Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2005)
Making the proposed appropriations contained in the State Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, in accordance with Article III, Section 52 of the Maryland Constitution; etc.
The President (Administration)

Additional bills signed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Delegates:
SB 508
Chapter 430
Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2004
Altering specified provisions relating to State aid to local governments and State and local sharing of specified costs; repealing specified State programs; codifying and altering requirements that the Governor include specified funds in the State budget for specified purposes; altering and repealing specified grants and required appropriations; altering specified registration fees; altering specified audit and reporting requirements; etc.
The President (Administration)

SB 543
Chapter 431
Department of Juvenile Services -- Facilities and Reform Progress Reporting
Limiting to 3 years the term of an agreement or contract that the Department of Juvenile Services enters with a private vendor for juvenile services involving the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School; requiring the Department to provide to the Governor and specified members of the General Assembly a specified Facilities Master Plan and a specified report by specified dates; etc.
Senator Frosh, et al

SB 191
Chapter 432
Creation of a State Debt -- Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2004 and Other Consolidated Capital and Bond Loans
Authorizing the creation of a State Debt in the amount of $628,263,000 for specified purposes; altering provisions of prior capital budgets; etc.
The President (Administration)

SB 182
Chapter 433
Water Quality Improvement Act -- Nutrient Management
Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to accept specified data to develop a nutrient management plan; establishing the administrative requirements for the nutrient management plan; requiring the Department of Agriculture to renew an applicant's certificate or license for a specified term in specified instances; providing that the Department of Agriculture may issue a certificate for an operator to develop the operator's own nutrient management plan in specified instances; etc.
The President (Administration), et al

SB 37
Chapter 434
Child Care Administration Advisory Council -- Reimbursement for Expenses
Authorizing the reimbursement of travel expenses to specified members of the Child Care Administration Advisory Council.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 38
Chapter 435
Family Law -- Child Support Enforcement -- Earnings Withholding and Medical Support Notices
Repealing the requirement that the Child Support Enforcement Administration send specified documents to an obligor by certified mail; requiring the Administration to send documents to an obligor at the obligor's place of employment; altering the contents of a statement of the obligor's right to contest the accuracy of information provided in an earnings withholding notice; etc.
Chairman JPR (Dept)

SB 62
Chapter 436
Child Care -- Family Day Care Home Registrations and Child Care Center Licenses
Authorizing family day care home registrations and child care center licenses and letters of compliance to continue in effect without renewal under specified circumstances; establishing the expiration date of initial family day care home registrations and child care center licenses and letters of compliance; altering the agency responsible for the orientation of prospective family day care providers; and altering specified inspection requirements for family day care homes and child care centers.
Chairman EHE (Dept)

SB 88
Chapter 437
Commercial Law -- Maryland Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Prohibiting a person from violating the federal Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act or the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act; providing that a violation of the Act is an unfair or deceptive trade practice and is subject to specified enforcement and penalty provisions; requiring the Office of the Attorney General to report to specified committees of the General Assembly by July 1, 2005, on the status of enforcement of the Act.
Senator Frosh, et al

SB 99
Chapter 438
Residential Child Care Programs -- Certification of Program Administrator
Establishing the State Board for Certification of Residential Child Care Program Administrators and its duties and membership; establishing the terms and requirements for specified members of the Board; authorizing the Board to employ staff in accordance with the budget for the Board; establishing a State Board for Certification of Residential Child Care Program Administrators Fund; etc.
Senator Kelley, et al

SB 110
Chapter 439
State Board of Dietetic Practice -- Sunset Extension and Program Evaluation
Continuing the State Board of Dietetic Practice in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland Program Evaluation Act (Sunset Law) by extending to July 1, 2014, the termination of provisions relating to the statutory and regulatory authority of the Board; altering the composition of the Board; altering the nomination process for licensed Board member vacancies; eliminating separate licenses for dietitians and nutritionists; creating a single license for the practice of dietetics; etc.
Senator Hollinger (Chairman EHE Committee)

SB 111
Chapter 440
State Government -- Open Meetings Act -- Public Body
Including boards, commissions, and committees appointed by an official subject to the direction of the Governor or chief executive of a political subdivision in the definition of a public body; requiring a public body to submit specified materials to the Open Meetings Compliance Board upon request; requiring a public body to keep a copy of the advance notice of a session, written statements regarding the reason for closing a session, minutes, or tape recordings for at least 1 year after a session; etc.
Senators Hollinger and Dyson

SB 160
Chapter 441
Cecil County -- Bridge or Road Construction or Repair Contracts
Altering the threshold amount of specified expenditures that are required to be made by competitively bid contracts in Cecil County; repealing a limitation on the amount of specified contracts that a contractor may be awarded during a specified period; and providing for the termination of the Act.
Cecil County Senators

SB 163
Chapter 442
Juvenile Law -- Waiver of Counsel
Prohibiting a child from waiving the right to the assistance of counsel in specified proceedings except under specified circumstances; prohibiting a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child from waiving the child's right to the assistance of counsel; prohibiting the juvenile court from accepting a waiver of the child's right to the assistance of counsel except under specified circumstances; requiring the court to consider specified factors in determining whether a waiver is knowing and voluntary; etc.
Senator Kelley, et al

SB 177
Chapter 443
Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
Establishing the Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; requiring the Director of the Office to report to the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; establishing the duties and responsibilities of the Office; requiring the Director to promote health and prevention of disease among members of specified groups; etc.
Senator Exum, et al

SB 231
Chapter 444
Harford County and Cecil County -- Bookstores and Entertainment Venues -- Minors
Requiring a person who operates specified bookstores and entertainment venues in Harford County and Cecil County to verify the age of each individual entering the premises by requiring each individual entering to display a driver's license or an identification card that substantiates the individual's age; prohibiting a person who operates specified bookstores and entertainment venues from knowingly allowing a minor to remain on the premises; and establishing a maximum penalty and fine for violating the Act.
Senator Jacobs, et al

SB 259
Chapter 445
Somerset County -- Board of County Commissioners -- General Bonding Authority
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Somerset County to borrow in each fiscal year up to $10,000,000 on the full faith and credit of the county for the purpose of financing the construction of roads and bridges, the construction and equipping of public buildings, public schools, and solid waste facilities, and the purchase of real property for public purposes; etc.
Senator Stoltzfus

SB 275
Chapter 446
Real Property -- Task Force on Business Owner Compensation in Condemnation Proceedings
Establishing a Task Force on Business Owner Compensation in Condemnation Proceedings; providing for the membership of the Task Force; providing for the designation of a chairman of the Task Force; providing for staff for the Task Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving compensation; authorizing a member of the Task Force to receive reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations; requiring the Task Force to study specified issues; etc.
Senator Stone

SB 282
Chapter 447
Mass Transit Services -- Cost Recovery -- Performance Standards
Continuing for a specified period of time provisions relating to the percentage of operating costs that must be recovered from revenues collected by the Maryland Transit Administration for mass transit services; requiring a 50% cost recovery goal; requiring the continuation of performance indicators for mass transit services; requiring independent management audits; and continuing a requirement that the Department of Transportion submit specified projections in the Department's annual budget.
Senator Currie, et al

SB 316
Chapter 448
Court Fees and Costs -- Civil Cases -- Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund
Increasing the surcharge on civil cases in the circuit courts from $10 to $25; increasing the surcharge on civil cases in the District Court to $5 in summary ejectment cases and $10 in all other civil cases; etc.
Senator Green, et al

SB 323
Chapter 449
Economic Development Financial Assistance -- Minority Business Enterprise Procurement Goals
Requiring a recipient of specified financial assistance awarded under the Economic Development Opportunities Program Fund and the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund to comply with specified minority business enterprise procurement goals under specified circumstances; requiring that specified minority business enterprise procurement goals be included in specified financial assistance agreements; etc.
Senator Jones, et al

SB 332
Chapter 450
Hospitals -- Umbilical Cord Blood -- Donation
Requiring each hospital to allow pregnant patients the option of arranging for the donation of a newborn child's umbilical cord blood to certified public cord blood banks with a specified exception; prohibiting a patient from being charged for the collection, storage, or transportation of donated cord blood; providing that a hospital is not required to collect cord blood from a patient if a licensed physician determines that collection would threaten the health of the mother or child; etc.
Senator Jacobs, et al

HB 398
Chapter 451
Hospitals -- Umbilical Cord Blood -- Donation
Requiring each hospital to allow pregnant patients the option of arranging for the donation of a newborn child's umbilical cord blood to certified public cord blood banks with a specified exception; prohibiting a patient from being charged for the collection, storage, or transportation of donated cord blood; providing that a hospital is not required to collect cord blood from a patient if a licensed physician determines that collection would threaten the health of the mother or child; etc.
Delegate Amedori, et al

SB 381
Chapter 452
State Agencies -- Managing for Results
Requiring the Department of Budget and Management to develop a managing for results State comprehensive plan by January 31, 2005; requiring the Department to review and update goals, objectives, and performance measures; requiring State agencies to select no more than six agency goals that meet specified criteria; requiring the Management for Results Steering Committee within the Department, in consultation with the Office of Legislative Audits, to submit a specified report; etc.
Senator Jones, et al

SB 384
Chapter 453
Baltimore City -- 46th and 47th Alcoholic Beverages Districts -- License Issuance, Conversion, and Transfer
Authorizing the Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City to issue a Class B beer, wine and liquor license for use in a restaurant that has a specified capital investment and that exceeds the maximum seating capacity if the premises are located in a specified area under specified conditions; allowing a specified not for profit arts center that holds a specified license to apply to convert that license; etc.
Senator Della

SB 397
Chapter 454
Teachers' Pension System -- Former Members -- Military Service Credit
Allowing former members who meet specified criteria to receive service credit in the Teachers' Pension System for military service; and requiring those former members to complete a claim for service credit and submit proper military forms to the Board of Trustees by December 31, 2004.
Senator Jimeno

SB 405
Chapter 455
State Board of Nursing -- Nursing Assistants and Medication Technicians -- Miscellaneous Provisions
Altering the number of members on the State Board of Nursing Rehabilitation Committee; requiring that a registered nurse with expertise in pain management be a member of the rehabilitation committee; authorizing the Board to conduct a demonstration study to evaluate specified changes to specified nursing practice regulations; providing for the purpose of demonstration studies; etc.
Senator Hollinger

HB 602
Chapter 456
State Board of Nursing -- Nursing Assistants and Medication Technicians -- Miscellaneous Provisions
Altering the number of members on the State Board of Nursing Rehabilitation Committee; requiring that a registered nurse with expertise in pain management be a member of the rehabilitation committee; authorizing the Board to conduct a demonstration study to evaluate specified changes to specified nursing practice regulations; providing for the purpose of demonstration studies; etc.
Delegate Nathan--Pulliam, et al

SB 418
Chapter 457
Family Law -- Property Disposition -- Transfer of Family Use Personal Property
Authorizing a court, in a proceeding for annulment or absolute divorce, to transfer, subject to the consent of any lienholders, ownership of an interest in family use personal property from one or both parties to either or both parties and to determine the terms of the transfer.
Senator Grosfeld

SB 429
Chapter 458
Recreational Vessels -- Personal Flotation Devices for Children -- Additional Requirements
Requiring that specified children wear personal flotation devices on recreational vessels; authorizing, for a specified time, the inclusion of additional safety precautions on specified personal flotation devices; requiring that specified personal flotation devices feature additional specified safety precautions; altering the definitions of a specified term; etc.
Senator Conway

SB 437
Chapter 459
Health Insurance -- Required Reimbursement -- Podiatrists
Providing that, if a specified health insurance policy or contract provides for reimbursement for a service that is within the lawful scope of practice of a licensed podiatrist, the insured or any other person covered by or entitled to reimbursement under the health insurance policy or contract is entitled to the same amount of reimbursement for the service regardless of whether the service is performed by a physician or a licensed podiatrist; etc.
Senator Kelley, et al

SB 452
Chapter 460
State Boat Act -- Waterway Improvement Fund -- Authorized Uses
Increasing the amount of funds that may be used from the Waterway Improvement Fund by the Natural Resources Police for marine operations; repealing a provision that requires a payment to the Comptroller for the collection of the vessel excise tax; repealing the authority of the Department of Natural Resources to use the Waterway Improvement Fund for enforcement of the State Boat Act; and providing for a delayed effective date.
Senator Astle (Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Workgroup)

SB 490
Chapter 461
Courts -- Criminal Cases -- Release of Defendant Charged with Crime of Violence Pending Appeal by the State
Creating an exception to the provision of law that requires a defendant be released on personal recognizance bail pending the outcome of an appeal by the State; providing that a court may release a defendant on specified terms and conditions or may order the defendant remanded to custody pending the outcome of an appeal by the State; etc.
Senator Jimeno, et al

HB 80
Chapter 462
Courts -- Criminal Cases -- Release of Defendant Charged with Crime of Violence Pending Appeal by the State
Creating an exception to the provision of law that requires a defendant be released on personal recognizance bail pending the outcome of an appeal by the State; providing that a court may release a defendant on specified terms and conditions or may order the defendant remanded to custody pending the outcome of an appeal by the State; etc.
Delegate Sophocleus, et al

SB 515
Chapter 463
Courts and Judicial Proceedings -- Exemptions from Execution and Bankruptcy Exemptions
Increasing the monetary limits on specified amounts of cash and property exempt from execution on a judgment and in bankruptcy proceedings.
Senator Frosh

SB 533
Chapter 464
Homeowner's Insurance -- Cancellation
Authorizing an insurer to cancel a specified policy of homeowner's insurance under specified circumstances; and generally relating to the cancellation of a policy of homeowner's insurance.
Senator Astle

SB 541
Chapter 465
Maryland Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act
Revising the procedures for disclaimers of succession to property interests created by will, intestacy, or the exercise of testamentary powers of appointment; allowing fiduciaries the ability to disclaim specified interests and powers; providing for specified rules applying to a disclaimer of specified interests in property; providing for disclaimer of rights of survivorship in jointly held property; providing for disclaimer of interest by a trustee; etc.
Senator Giannetti

SB 548
Chapter 466
State Retiree Health Care Protection Act
Creating a Postretirement Health Benefits Trust Fund to assist in funding the postretirement health insurance subsidy for State employees; authorizing the Board of Trustees for the State Retirement and Pension System to commingle the assets of the Postretirement Health Benefits Trust Fund with the assets of specified other State retirement and pension systems; providing for the funding of the Postretirement Health Benefits Trust Fund; etc.
Senators Kasemeyer and McFadden

SB 589
Chapter 467
2020 Rural Maryland -- Agricultural and Resource--Based Industry Development Act
Establishing the Maryland Agricultural and Resource--Based Industry Development Corporation for specified purposes; authorizing the Corporation to acquire and dispose of property, to finance specified projects, to issue, redeem, and secure bonds and debt, including revenue bonds and refunding bonds; etc.
Senator Munson,et al

SB 592
Chapter 468
Drunk and Drugged Driving -- Death or Life Threatening Injury -- Mandatory Tests
Requiring a person to submit to a specified number of tests as directed by a police officer if the person is involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in the death of, or a life threatening injury to, another person and the police officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person has been driving or attempting to drive in violation of specified alcohol-- or drug--related driving offenses; etc.
Senator Jacobs

SB 600
Chapter 469
State Board of Contract Appeals -- State Procurement Law
Authorizing specified principals, without being admitted to practice law in the State, to represent a specified contractor in an expedited procedure before the State Board of Contract Appeals; providing that statutory requirements related to the practice of law in the State do not limit the right of principals to represent a specified contractor in the proceedings; clarifying that a person may be represented by counsel in an appeal before the Appeals Board; and providing for the termination of specified provisions of the Act.
Senator Grosfeld

SB 604
Chapter 470
Maryland Spam Deterrence Act
Prohibiting a person from using specified protected computers to relay or retransmit commercial electronic mail messages with the intent to deceive or mislead recipients or an electronic mail service provider under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from materially falsifying header information in commercial electronic mail messages under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from registering for electronic mail accounts or domain names under specified circumstances; providing specified penalties and fines; etc.
Senator Garagiola, et al

SB 639
Chapter 471
Workers' Compensation Benefits -- Fraud
Requiring the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to include specified information in an annual report; requiring the Insurance Fraud Division to notify the Workers' Compensation Commission of specified suspected cases of insurance fraud; requiring the Commission to refer specified persons to the Insurance Fraud Dividion under specified circumstances; requiring the Commission, in consultation with the Insurance Fraud Divison and in collaboration with specified persons and organizations, to conduct a study; etc.
Senator Astle

SB 640
Chapter 472
Natural Resources -- Special Funds and Accounts -- Administrative Costs
Authorizing the Secretary of Natural Resources to use money in specified funds or accounts under the Department of Natural Resources for administrative expenses related to the fund or account based on a generally accepted methodology for determining indirect costs; and requiring the Secretary to submit any changes to the indirect costs methodology for review and comment to the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee within 45 days before implementing the methodology; etc.
Senator Astle (Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Workgroup)

SB 643
Chapter 473
Mortgage Lenders -- Sole Proprietors -- Qualifications for Licensure
Authorizing the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to issue a mortgage lender license to an applicant who is a sole proprietor and who does not meet the 3--year experience requirement under specified circumstances; specifying the conditions under which a sole proprietor may be licensed under the Act; prohibiting a sole proprietor who is licensed under the Act from aiding or assisting a borrower to obtain a loan from a financial institution other than the institution identified in the license application; etc.
Senator Astle

SB 674
Chapter 474
Natural Resources -- Finfish -- Bait
Creating an additional exception to the prohibition on buying, selling, shipping, transporting, or otherwise dealing in finfish without a license from the Department of Natural Resources; and requiring the Department to adopt regulations defining which species of finfish may be caught and sold as bait under specified circumstances.
Senator Colburn

HB 1214
Chapter 475
Natural Resources -- Finfish -- Bait
Creating an additional exception to the prohibition on buying, selling, shipping, transporting, or otherwise dealing in finfish without a license from the Department of Natural Resources; and requiring the Department to adopt regulations defining which species of finfish may be caught and sold as bait under specified circumstances.
Delegate O'Donnell

SB 675
Chapter 476
Study of Nonnative Oyster Species -- Findings of the National Academy of Sciences
Repealing the requirement that study of nonnative oyster species proceed in accordance with findings of the National Academy of Sciences; and requiring that the study be consistent with specified National Academy of Sciences findings.
Senator Colburn

SB 686
Chapter 477
Estates -- Election for Modified Administration
Altering the modified administration requirements, as they relate to specified trusts, by requiring that a trust be a residuary legatee of a testate decedent.
Senators Gladden and Giannetti

SB 692
Chapter 478
Homeowners Associations -- Recorded Covenants or Restrictions -- Deletion of Ownership Restrictions Based on Race, Religious Belief, or National Origin
Authorizing a homeowners association to delete a recorded covenant or restriction that restricts ownership of property based on race, religious belief, or national origin if a specified percentage of owners agree to the deletion or as provided in specified deeds or declarations under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Gladden

SB 722
Chapter 479
Procurement Law and Process -- Auction Bids
Repealing a specified limitation on the amounts and types of contracts for which the use of auction bids may be authorized; and requiring the Department of Legislative Services to review and report on the impact of specified changes to the auction bid process by January 1, 2007.
Senator Pipkin

SB 748
Chapter 480
Baltimore City -- Extinguishment of Ground Rents
Providing that the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, after condemning property that is subject to an irredeemable ground rent, shall become the tenant of the ground rent and authorizing the City to apply as tenant to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to extinguish the ground rent; requiring a tenant seeking to extinguish a ground rent to give notice to the landlord and to make an application and pay specified fees to the Department; providing that a landlord is entitled to receive a specified amount on appeal; etc.
Senator McFadden (Baltimore City Administration)

SB 767
Chapter 481
Juvenile Services -- Step--Down Aftercare
Requiring a child discharged from a committed residential placement to receive step--down aftercare for a period to be determined by the Department of Juvenile Services; requiring a child in a step--down aftercare program to receive specified services; requiring step--down aftercare staff to keep specified records and file reports; etc.
Senator Giannetti

SB 791
Chapter 482
Environment -- Controlled Hazardous Substance Facility -- Permit Term
Extending the maximum term of controlled hazardous substance facility permits from 5 years to 10 years, with a specified exception.
Senator Stone, et al

HB 1132
Chapter 483
Environment -- Controlled Hazardous Substance Facility -- Permit Term
Extending the maximum term of controlled hazardous substance facility permits from 5 years to 10 years, with a specified exception.
Delegate Glassman, et al

SB 837
Chapter 484
Crimes -- Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Check, Letter of Credit, or Negotiable Instrument
Establishing the crimes of counterfeiting a check, letter of credit, or other negotiable instrument, or possessing a counterfeit check, endorsement or assignment of a check, letter of credit, or other negotiable instrument under specified circumstances; establishing penalties for violation of the Act; etc.
Senators Middleton and Klausmeier

SB 849
Chapter 485
Higher Education -- University System of Maryland -- Procurement
Exempting from specified policies and procedures of the State procurement law the procurement by the University System of Maryland of services relating to the investment and management of gift and endowment assets of the University System of Maryland; requiring the University System of Maryland Board of Regents to submit a specified annual report to the Governor, the Comptroller, the Treasurer, and the General Assembly; etc.
Senator Conway

SB 868
Chapter 486
Health Insurance -- Treatment of Morbid Obesity
Clarifying the circumstances under which insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations must provide coverage for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity; establishing a Task Force to Study Utilization Review of the Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity; etc.
Senator Middleton

SB 869
Chapter 487
Electricity Regulation -- Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Credit Trading -- Maryland Renewable Energy Fund
Requiring the Public Service Commission to establish renewable energy portfolio standards for retail electricity sales during specified years; requiring the standards to be met by accumulating renewable energy credits; providing for the eligibility of energy from specified sources; providing limited additional credit for energy from specified sources; providing that a customer who surrenders specified credits retains all rights and title to specified attributes; requiring electricity suppliers to submit an annual report; etc.
Senator Middleton, et al

HB 1308
Chapter 488
Electricity Regulation -- Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Credit Trading -- Maryland Renewable Energy Fund
Requiring the Public Service Commission to establish renewable energy portfolio standards for retail electricity sales during specified years; requiring the standards to be met by accumulating renewable energy credits; providing for the eligibility of energy from specified sources; providing limited additional credit for energy from specified sources; providing that a customer who surrenders specified credits retains all rights and title to specified attributes; requiring electricity suppliers to submit an annual report; etc.
The Speaker, et al

SB 917
Chapter 489
Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology
Establishing a Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology; providing for the membership, purposes, and staffing of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to report to specified persons by a specified date; and providing for the termination of the Act.
Senator Lawlah

HB 1538
Chapter 490
Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology
Establishing a Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology; providing for the membership, purposes, and staffing of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to report to specified persons by a specified date; and providing for the termination of the Act.
Delegate Cryor, et al

SB 928
Chapter 491
Family Law -- Child Support Guidelines -- Third Party Payments
Altering the definition of "actual income" under the child support guidelines to include specified third party payments to or for a minor child; requiring specified third party payments to or for a child to be set off against the child support obligation under the guidelines; requiring specified third party payments to or for a child that exceed the current support obligation to be credited toward existing child support arrearage; etc.
Senator Stone

HB 90
Chapter 492
Natural Resources -- Public Notice -- Natural Oyster Bars and Harvest Reserve Areas
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to designate by regulation an area as a harvest reserve area for oysters; authorizing the Department to establish requirements for natural oyster bars and harvest reserve areas by public notice; requiring the use of specified biological criteria in determining the opening and closing of harvest reserve areas; requiring a specified notice and effective date of notice of harvest reserve areas; requiring notice to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 120
Chapter 493
State Government -- Forms Management -- Submission of Annual Report
Requiring the Records Management Division of the Department of General Services to submit an annual report to the General Assembly, rather than the Joint Audit Committee, on the forms management activities of each Executive Branch department or independent unit during the previous fiscal year.
Delegate Mitchell (Chairman Joint Audit Committee)

HB 136
Chapter 494
Environment -- Products That Contain Mercury -- Labeling and Reclamation or Destination
Prohibiting manufacturers and retailers from selling, on or after April 1, 2006, specified products that contain mercury unless a specified label is affixed to the product; exempting specified products that contain mercury from the labeling and reclamation or destination requirements; requiring that specified information be included on a specified label; etc.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

HB 143
Chapter 495
State Board of Plumbing -- Disciplinary Actions
Authorizing the State Board of Plumbing to deny a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke a license for a violation of specified statutes and regulations relating to plumbing services.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 145
Chapter 496
State Board of Public Accountancy -- Grounds for Disciplinary Action
Authorizing the State Board of Public Accountancy to deny a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke a license if the applicant or licensee has been sanctioned in another state in a matter relating to the practice of public accountancy or the applicant or licensee has been sanctioned by a unit of a state or federal government for a specified act or omission.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 159
Chapter 497
Property Tax -- Exemptions
Establishing dates by which transferees of property exempt from the property tax must file an application for tax abatement; expanding the prerequisites for persons filing an amended personal property report to claim an exemption for personal property used in manufacturing; etc.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 164
Chapter 498
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation
Requiring a statement on specified agricultural land preservation easement releases that an owner's or owner's child's lot on an easement may not be transferred until a specified date except under specified circumstances.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 165
Chapter 499
Department of Housing and Community Development -- Community Legacy Program -- Neighborhood Intervention Projects
Altering the purposes of a community legacy project to include the financing of a neighborhood intervention project for the demolition of buildings under specified circumstances; establishing requirements for receipt of financial assistance for a neighborhood intervention project; altering specified definitions; adding definitions; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept), et al

HB 202
Chapter 500
Department of Natural Resources -- Finfishing -- Closure of State Waters
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to close an area of State waters to all finfishing if the Department satisfies specified requirements; requiring the Department to publicize specified information regarding public hearings in specified ways and to make a specified report available at a specified time; requiring the Department to prepare a specified report at specified times; etc.
Delegate Owings, et al

HB 323
Chapter 501
Homestead Tax Credit -- Agricultural Limited Liability Company
Altering the definition of "homeowner" under the Homestead Tax Credit to allow a person who has a legal interest in a dwelling or who is an active member of an agricultural limited liability company that has an interest in the dwelling to claim the credit under specified circumstances; authorizing semiannual property tax payment for specified limited liability companies under specified circumstances; etc.
Chairman W&M (Dept)

HB 400
Chapter 502
Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
Repealing the Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act; adopting the Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act; establishing the general procedures for child custody proceedings under the Act; specifying the basis for jurisdiction over child custody matters; and specifying the procedures for enforcing child custody determinations made under the Act.
Delegates Dumais and Feldman

HB 433
Chapter 503
Prescription Drug Safety Act
Requiring prescriptions to be legible; providing that specified penalties do not apply to a violation of the Act; and requiring the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to convene a specified workgroup and report to specified committees of the General Assembly by November 1, 2004.
Delegate Boutin, et al

HB 493
Chapter 504
Environment -- Hazardous Material Security
Creating a new subtitle regarding hazardous material security within the Environment Article; establishing a fee of $2,500 for specified hazardous material and related facilities; providing for the payment of specified fees to a separate account in the Community Right--to--Know Fund; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 494
Chapter 505
Tidal Wetlands -- Criminal Penalties
Requiring the Department of the Environment to provide a specified person with a written notice of the proposed penalty and an opportunity for an informal meeting prior to taking action against the person for an alleged violation of tidal wetlands provisions; altering criminal penalties for violations of tidal wetlands requirements; renaming the Wetland Compensation Fund to be the Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund; requiring specified money to be deposited into the Fund; etc.
Chairman ENV (Dept)

HB 556
Chapter 506
Health Care Decisions -- "Patient's Plan of Care" Form -- Communication of Patient Preferences
Authorizing specified health care providers to prepare specified forms under specified circumstances; requiring the Office of the Attorney General to develop a "Patient's Plan of Care" form that summarizes the plan of care for an individual; specifying that the form is voluntary; requiring the form to be consistent with specified health care decisions; providing that the form may be completed by a health care provider under supervision; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 566
Chapter 507
Homeowners Associations -- Annual Charges
Requiring the governing body of a homeowners association in a specified development to phase in a specified annual charge under specified circumstances; requiring the governing body of a homeowners association to provide a rebate or credit from an annual charge under specified circumstances; providing that, when calculating an annual charge, a homeowners association may not consider the rate of assessed value of property to have increased by more than 10% in a taxable year; etc.
Delegate Pendergrass, et al

HB 569
Chapter 508
Prince George's County -- Recordation -- Assessment Books PG 405--04
Providing that, in Prince George's County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court may, under specified circumstances, record instruments effecting change of ownership of property prior to the transfer of the property on the assessment records; and providing for the formulation of specified procedures.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 605
Chapter 509
Child Support -- Driver's License Suspension -- Grounds for Requesting an Investigation and Appealing
Establishing specified grounds on which a child support obligor may request an investigation and appeal the proposed action of the Child Support Enforcement Administration to send a notice to the Motor Vehicle Administration that the child support obligor is 60 days or more out of compliance with the most recent court order in making child support payments; prohibiting the Child Support Enforcement Administration from sending information about the obligor to the Motor Vehicle Administration if specified grounds exist; etc.
Delegate Dumais

HB 667
Chapter 510
Maryland Health Insurance Plan -- Authority and Composition of Board of Directors -- Plan Fund
Authorizing the Board of Directors of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan to adopt regulations to limit enrollment of otherwise eligible medically uninsurable individuals whose premium is paid for by a pharmaceutical manufacturer or its affiliate under specified circumstances; expanding sources of revenue for the Maryland Health Insurance Plan Fund to include money donated or awarded to the Fund; authorizing the Board to subsidize policy expenses based on a Plan member's income; altering the composition of the Board; etc.
Chairman HGO (Dept)

HB 671
Chapter 511
Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists -- Hearings -- Penalties
Increasing the statute of limitations for the prosecution of specified offenses; adding to the grounds of discipline; giving the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists authority to impose a monetary penalty on licensees or certificate holders; prohibiting a stay pending judicial review; allowing the Board to make specified appeals; adding injunctive actions and establishing procedures for them; and increasing specified penalties.
Delegate Hubbard, et al

HB 683
Chapter 512
Prince George's County -- Tax Sales -- High--Bid Premium PG 404--04
Altering the calculation of a high--bid premium imposed on the sale at public auction of property in Prince George's County to be 20% of the amount by which the highest bid exceeds the greater of the lien amount or 40% of the property's cash value; and making the Act an emergency measure.
Prince George's County Delegation

HB 694
Chapter 513
Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement
Adopting the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement as adopted by the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Project on November 12, 2002, contingent on the enactment of specified legislation by the U.S. Congress; requiring the Comptroller to prepare and submit proposed regulations and draft legislation regarding changes to the State's laws, regulations, or policies needed to bring the State into compliance with the Agreement and other changes recommended by the Comptroller; etc.
Delegate Hixson, et al

HB 701
Chapter 514
Business Occupations and Professions -- Real Estate Brokers -- Use of Designated Name
Prohibiting licensed real estate brokers from advertising unless the designated name of the broker is included in the advertisement and the name of the business with which the broker is affiliated is included, and is the full name of the business and not a logo; authorizing licensed real estate brokers to provide real estate brokerage services under a designated name approved by the State Real Estate Commission; etc.
Delegate Owings, et al

HB 702
Chapter 515
Procurement -- Request for Proposals or Invitation for Bids -- Notice
Requiring notice of specified procurements to be provided in a specified manner until a specified date and requiring that notice be provided in a specified different manner after a specified date; prohibiting a unit from charging a fee to access eMaryland Marketplace; providing for the assessment of a fee against specified persons to pay specified costs; requiring the Department of Budget and Management to adopt specified regulations; repealing references to the Maryland Contract Weekly; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 737
Chapter 516
Corporations -- Miscellaneous Provisions
Requiring a stock certificate to be signed by specified officers of a corporation; authorizing the board of directors of a corporation to amend the charter of the corporation to effect a reverse stock split without stockholder action under specified circumstances; requiring the corporation to give specified written notice of the reverse stock split to holders of record of the combined shares of stock as of the effective date of the reverse stock split; etc.
Delegates Doory and Feldman

HB 755
Chapter 517
Young Farmers Advisory Board
Establishing the Young Farmers Advisory Board; specifying the membership, terms of membership, and duties of the Advisory Board; requiring the Governor to appoint specified members; providing for the election of a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary of the Advisory Board; establishing meeting requirements for the Advisory Board; and requiring the Department of Agriculture to provide staffing.
Delegate Wood, et al

HB 799
Chapter 518
Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
Adding the position of vice chairman to the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners; providing for the appointment and duties of the vice chairman; altering the circumstances in which the Board may disclose information contained in the Board's records; authorizing the Board to disclose information to specified boards in specified situations; etc.
Delegate Donoghue

HB 804
Chapter 519
Property Tax Credit -- High Performance Buildings
Authorizing the governing body of a county or municipal corporation to grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on a high performance building; authorizing the county or municipal corporation to provide, by law, for the amount, duration, and application of the property tax credit and any other provision necessary to carry out the Act; and providing for the application of the Act to tax years beginning after June 30, 2004.
Delegate Cardin, et al

HB 884
Chapter 520
State Board of Pilots and State Board of Docking Masters
Abolishing the State Board of Docking Masters and transferring its functions and duties to the State Board of Pilots; adding a representative from the tugboat industry to the Board; establishing an Incident Committee in the Board; specifying the qualifications for an applicant who seeks to become a pilot--in--training; prohibiting piloting by a person under the influence of specified substances or under specified circumstances; prohibiting a licensed pilot from taking part in a port--wide job action or strike; etc.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 890
Chapter 521
Municipal Corporations -- Regulation of Junkyards, Dumps, and Other Facilities -- Ordinances
Authorizing the legislative body of a municipal corporation to adopt an ordinance for the licensing, control, location, or maintenance of specified junkyards, dumps, and other facilities; requiring ordinances to be designed to achieve specified purposes; authorizing an ordinance to prohibit the operation or maintenance of junkyards, dumps, or other facilities in a specified location until a license has been obtained; requiring the legislative body of a municipal corporation to give notice of a hearing on a proposed ordinance; etc.
Garrett County Delegation

HB 891
Chapter 522
Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System -- DROP -- Creditable Service
Requiring a member of the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System to have at least 25 and less than 30 years of creditable service to be eligible to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Program; and providing that one of the options for selecting the period of participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program be based on a specified amount of creditable service.
Delegate James (Chairman Joint Committee on Pensions)

HB 920
Chapter 523
Procurement -- Debarment
Adding a circumstance under which a competing contractor, or any officer, employee, representative, agent, or consultant of a competing contractor, may be debarred from entering into contract with the State.
Delegate Murray, et al

HB 923
Chapter 524
Sexual Offenses -- Spousal Defense
Modifying provisions relating to a specified crime against a person's legal spouse under specified circumstances.
Delegate Brown, et al

HB 966
Chapter 525
Task Force to Study the Dynamics of Elderly and Retiree Migration Into and Out of Maryland
Establishing a Task Force to Study the Dynamics of Elderly and Retiree Migration Into and Out of Maryland; requiring the Task Force to oversee and assist in preparing a specified study addressing tax policies and benefits of the State and other states as applied to the elderly and retirees; etc.
Delegate Cryor, et al

HB 1009
Chapter 526
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program -- Miscellaneous Enforcement Provisions
Requiring a local jurisdiction to make a specified presumption when considering a variance application under the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program; establishing the burdens of proof and persuasion in a variance application; requiring a local jurisdiction to make findings and authorizing the findings to be based on specified evidence and testimony; requiring a local jurisdiction's program to include buffer requirements and specified penalty provisions; etc.
Delegate Frush (Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area), et al

HB 1010
Chapter 527
Allegany County -- Property Tax Credit -- Residential Development Property
Authorizing the governing body of Allegany County or a municipal corporation in Allegany County to grant a property tax credit for a specified amount against the county and municipal corporation property tax imposed on property subdivided into five or more lots for purposes of future residential development; providing for a specified limitation on the tax credit; and providing for the application of the Act to tax years beginning after June 30, 2004.
Allegany County Delegation

HB 1016
Chapter 528
Task Force on Missing Vulnerable Adults
Establishing a Task Force on Missing Vulnerable Adults; providing for the composition of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to elect a chair and vice chair of the Task Force from among the Task Force's members; providing staff for the Task Force; prohibiting members from receiving compensation but entitling members to reimbursement of expenses under a specified law; establishing the duties of the Task Force; etc.
Delegate Cryor, et al

HB 1017
Chapter 529
Real Property -- Display of United States Flag by Homeowners and Tenants
Providing that a homeowner or tenant may not be prohibited from displaying in a respectful manner on the property in which the homeowner or tenant resides one United States flag regardless of the terms of any contract, deed, or other document regarding the display of flags or decorations; prohibiting a contract, deed, or other document from prohibiting or unduly restricting the right of a homeowner or tenant to display in a respectful manner one United States flag; etc.
Delegate Boteler, et al

HB 1040
Chapter 530
Education -- Social Workers -- Certified Professional Personnel
Requiring the State Board of Education and the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board to certify social workers employed by a local school employer as professional personnel.
Delegate Frank, et al

HB 1053
Chapter 531
Criminal Procedure -- Posting of Bail Bonds -- Authorization
Requiring express authorization by a court or District Court Commissioner before a defendant or surety may post a bail bond by executing the bond in the full penalty amount and depositing a specified amount with a court clerk or District Court Commissioner.
Delegate Anderson, et al

HB 1057
Chapter 532
State Retirement and Pension System -- Administration -- Simplification
Altering the location where the Board of Trustees for the State Retirement and Pension System may meet for investment and fiduciary training; amending the title of the investment manual; repealing the requirement that specified officials must work a specified number of days in order to participate in the Employees' Pension System; prohibiting members of the Employees' Retirement System to transfer to the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System after December 31, 2004, and receive specified benefits; etc.
Delegate James (Chairman Joint Committee on Pensions)

HB 1068
Chapter 533
Academic Facilities Bonding Authority
Increasing the bonding authority for the University System of Maryland; clarifying that a resolution or trust agreement need not be filed except in the records of a system; and approving the sale of bonds to finance a variety of projects in the System.
Chairman APP (Dept)

HB 1125
Chapter 534
Task Force on the Exemption of Law Enforcement Officers' Pensions from Taxation
Establishing a Task Force on the Exemption of Law Enforcement Officers' Pensions from Taxation; establishing the membership of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to study the issue of exempting members of specified retirement or pension systems from paying State income taxes on their pensions; requiring the Task Force to report to the Governor and General Assembly on or before December 31, 2004; etc.
Delegate Cluster, et al

HB 1139
Chapter 535
Department of Juvenile Services and Department of Education -- Enhancement of Programs
Establishing the Department of Juvenile Services Education Program; requiring the Department of Juvenile Services to cooperate with the State Department of Education to establish specified programs; establishing a Juvenile Services Education Program in the Department of Education; requiring the State Superintendent, in consultation with the Secretary, to appoint a director of the Juvenile Services Education Program; etc.
Delegate Zirkin, et al

HB 1146
Chapter 536
Juvenile Causes -- Children in Out--of--Home Placement -- Plan for a System of Outcomes Evaluation
Requiring the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, the Department of Juvenile Services, the Department of Human Resources, and the Developmental Disabilities Administration to plan and determine the cost of testing and implementing specified systematic evaluation of services provided to children in out--of--home placement; providing for the Office of Children, Youth, and Families to serve as the lead agency; etc.
Delegate Jones, et al

HB 1148
Chapter 537
Domestic Violence -- Protective Order -- Penalty
Providing penalties for failure to comply with specified relief ordered by the court in a final protective order.
Delegate McComas, et al

HB 1162
Chapter 538
Code Home Rule Counties -- Development Excise Taxes -- Maximum Amount Per Lot
Repealing the termination date of a specified provision altering the maximum development excise tax that a code home rule county is authorized to impose; altering the maximum amount per lot that an Eastern Shore code home rule county is authorized to impose; etc.
Delegates Eckardt and Walkup

HB 1208
Chapter 539
Crimes -- Internet Child Pornography -- Removal
Requiring an investigative or law enforcement officer who receives information that an item of alleged child pornography resides on a server or other storage device controlled or owned by an interactive computer service provider to contact the provider and request the provider's voluntary compliance in removing the item within a specified period of time; requiring the officer to apply for a court order if the provider does not voluntarily remove the item; etc.
Delegate Shank, et al

HB 1245
Chapter 540
Real Property -- Compliance with Lead Poisoning Prevention Requirements
Requiring a court to allow discovery limited solely to a specified issue, determine if there are any specified disputes, hold a hearing, and determine whether an owner is entitled to immunity from liability regarding specified lead poisoning prevention provisions; etc.
Delegate Oaks, et al

HB 1249
Chapter 541
Business Occupations and Professions -- Real Estate Licenses -- Requirements for Licensure and Renewal
Requiring an applicant for licensure as a real estate salesperson, associate real estate broker, or real estate broker to take a course in real estate ethics approved by the Real Estate Commission; altering the circumstances under which a real estate licensee qualifies for renewal of a license; authorizing specified licensees holding a license from another state to substitute specified clock hours of continuing education instruction; requiring the Commission to create a specified list; etc.
Delegate Vaughn, et al

HB 1269
Chapter 542
Electric Companies -- Net Energy Metering -- Wind Electric Generating Facilities
Expanding the provisions of law relating to net energy metering with respect to electricity generated by electric company customers who own solar electric generating facilities to include eligible customers who own specified wind electric generating facilities; altering the definition of an "eligible customer--generator" by repealing specified limitations; etc.
Delegate Walkup, et al

HB 1304
Chapter 543
St. Mary's County -- Impact Fees -- Exceptions
Authorizing the County Commissioners of St. Mary's County to waive, defer, or provide for the amortization of building impact fees under specified circumstances; limiting to $350,000 the total amount of building impact fees the county may waive, defer, or amortize in any fiscal year; and providing for the termination of the Act.
St. Mary's County Delegation

HB 1318
Chapter 544
State and Local Employees -- Public Disclosures -- Conflicts of Interest
Requiring the Governor to designate home inspectors, building code enforcement officers, inspectors of lead from the Department of the Environment, and environmental sanitarians employed in the executive unit to disclose specified ethics--related information with regard to their jobs; defining specified Baltimore City employees as "local officials" for purposes of disclosing specified information; etc.
Delegate Oaks

HB 1332
Chapter 545
Motor Homes and Travel Trailers -- Vehicle Excise Tax -- Definitions -- Extension of Sunset
Extending the termination of specified provisions that alter the definitions of "fair market value" and "total purchase price" for purposes of the vehicle excise tax imposed on a motor home or a travel trailer, to exclude from the computation of the tax the value of a specified vehicle as part of the consideration for the sale; extending the termination of specified provisions that provide that specified definitions do not apply to the calculation of the vehicle excise tax until specified bonds are no longer outstanding; etc.
Delegate Conroy

HB 1345
Chapter 546
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program -- Dwelling Units
Requiring a local jurisdiction to include all dwelling units in calculating the 1--in--20 acre density ratio under the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program, with a specified exception; defining the term "dwelling unit" as it applies to the critical area program; authorizing a local jurisdiction to consider one additional dwelling unit as part of a primary dwelling unit under specified circumstances; and providing for the prospective application of the Act.
Delegate Frush (Chairman, Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area)

HB 1357
Chapter 547
Talbot County -- Board of Education -- Selection of Members -- Straw Ballot
Requiring that a question be placed on the ballot in Talbot County at the November general election of 2004 to determine the sense of the voters of the county on the issue of changing the method of selecting members of the Talbot County Board of Education; and providing for carrying out the straw ballot.
Delegates Haddaway and Eckardt

HB 1387
Chapter 548
Carroll County -- Abatement of Zoning Violations and Violations of Codes Related to Construction
Authorizing the County Commissioners of Carroll County to assess the reasonable cost of abating specified zoning violations and violations of specified construction codes against a specified property under specified circumstances; providing that a specified assessment shall be added to a specified annual tax bill and collected in the same manner as specified ordinary taxes; providing that a specified assessment shall be subject to the same interest and penalty for nonpayment as specified taxes; etc.
Carroll County Delegation

HB 1390
Chapter 549
Elections -- Voting Equipment or Supplies -- Penalties
Providing that the District Court and the circuit court have concurrent jurisdiction in specified cases; and increasing the penalty for the violation of specified provisions of the State election law relating to voting equipment and supplies.
Delegate Gilleland, et al

HB 1414
Chapter 550
Department of Natural Resources -- Administration of Special Funds and Accounts
Establishing administrative provisions for specified special funds and accounts that are under the authority of the Department of Natural Resources; specifying the disposition of any unspent balances and investment earnings of specified special funds and accounts; specifying and clarifying the purposes of, accounting procedures for, financing for, authorized uses of, and investment and disbursement standards for specified special funds and accounts; establishing the State Boat Act Fund; etc.
Delegate Conway (Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Workgroup)

HB 1443
Chapter 551
Juvenile Causes -- Truancy Reduction Pilot Program
Authorizing the establishment of a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program in specified counties; establishing failure of specified children to attend school without lawful excuse as a Code violation; authorizing school officials to petition the juvenile court alleging that a child who is required under a specified law to attend school fails to attend school without lawful excuse; etc.
Delegate Conway, et al

HB 1471
Chapter 552
Dredged Material Disposal Alternatives Act of 2004
Establishing a Dredged Material Disposal Alternatives Program within the Department of Business and Economic Development; providing for the purposes, goals, and activities of the Program; requiring the Department of Business and Economic Development to seek specified money for the Program; making the Program contingent on the allocation to the Program of money appropriated in the annual State budget to the Maryland Department of Transportation; etc.
Delegate Walkup, et al

HB 1520
Chapter 553
Liability Insurance -- Minors -- Settlement of Claims
Clarifying that a parent of a minor or person in loco parentis of the minor may settle a claim under a liability insurance policy brought by the parent or person in loco parentis for the benefit of the minor; and requiring payment of the settlement to comply with specified provisions of the Estates and Trusts Article.
Delegate Brown

HB 1529
Chapter 554
Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Corporation -- Definition of "Covered Claim"
Altering the definition of "covered claim" to exclude claims filed with the Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Corporation after the earlier of 18 months after the date of the order of liquidation or the final date set by a court for filing claims against the liquidator or receiver; and altering the definition of "covered claim" to exclude specified claims filed with the Corporation or a liquidator.
Delegate Harrison

HB 1541
Chapter 555
Environment -- Well Permits -- Fees
Altering the cap on well permit fees that a county board of health may establish to defray county expenses in inspecting wells, collecting water samples, and issuing certificates of potability; requiring a county board of health to accept specified test results prepared by specified laboratories for the issuance of a specified certificate; and requiring a county board of health to issue a specified permit within a reasonable period of time after receipt of an application.
Delegate Cane, et al

On May 26, 2004, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House signed the following joint resolutions which you passed:
HJ 1
Res. No. 1
Judicial Compensation Commission Report
Providing for judicial salaries for fiscal years 2005 through 2008.
The Speaker (Judicial Compensation Commission)

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


Top

Vetoed Bills

May 26, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Below is a list of legislation passed by the General Assembly and vetoed by the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor. The reasons for the vetoes are indicated. Please note that the bills that were vetoed for policy reasons were vetoed on May 25, 2004 and the bills that were vetoed as duplicative were vetoed on May 26, 2004.

HOUSE BILLS

HB 73
Policy
Open Meetings Act -- Standing to File a Petition Alleging Violation of the Act
Authorizing any person to file with a circuit court that has venue a petition alleging violation of specified provisions of the Open Meetings Act if a public body fails to comply with these provisions; etc.
Delegate Bobo, et al

HB 108
Duplicative
Respiratory Care Professional Standards Committee -- Sunset Extension and Program Evaluation
Continuing the Respiratory Care Professional Standards Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland Program Evaluation Act (Sunset Law) by extending to July 1, 2013 the termination provisions relating to the statutory and regulatory authority of the Committee; and requiring that an evaluation of the Committee and the statutes and regulations that relate to the Committee be performed on or before July 1, 2012.
The Speaker (By Request -- Department of Legislative Services)

HB 140
Duplicative
Commercial Law -- Uniform Commercial Code -- Title 7 Revisions
Repealing Title 7 of the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code relating to documents of title; adding Title 7 of the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code, revised to provide a framework for the further development of electronic documents of title and updated in light of State, federal, and international developments; making specified conforming changes to Titles 1, 2, 2A, 4, 8, and 9 of the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code; etc.
Delegate Doory

HB 148
Duplicative
Judges' Retirement System -- Death Benefits -- Surviving Spouses
Removing the age restriction for a surviving spouse to receive the death benefit of a former member or retiree of the Judges' Retirement System.
The Speaker (By Request -- Judicial Compensation Commission)

HB 177
Duplicative
Insurance Producers -- Continuing Education Requirements
Requiring specified insurance producers to receive continuing education directly relating to flood insurance.
Chairman ECM (Dept), et al

HB 183
Policy
Procurement -- Services Rendered in Foreign Country
Establishing that specified provisions of law apply to specified procurements; requiring specified notice in invitations for bids and requests of proposals for service procurements; and authorizing a procurement unit to consider whether specified services are to be rendered by specified persons from a site that is located outside the United States except under specified circumstances.
Delegate Menes, et al

HB 201
Duplicative
State Employees -- Military Administrative Leave -- Sunset Extension
Extending the termination date for the use of military administrative leave or specified paid leave for specified State employees who are on active military duty on a specified date or are activated for military duty on or after a specified date.
Delegates Edwards and Frank

HB 206
Duplicative
Criminal Procedure -- United States Park Police -- Authority to Enforce Maryland Law in National Park System
Granting a United States Park Police officer specified powers to enforce Maryland law within areas of the National Park System; authorizing a United States Park Police officer to issue a citation under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Dumais, et al

HB 230
Duplicative
Baltimore County Code -- 2003 Edition -- Legalization
Legalizing the 2003 Edition of the Baltimore County Code and any supplement to the extent to which that code or supplement contains laws enacted by the General Assembly.
Delegate Minnick (Baltimore County Administration)

HB 232
Policy
Family Law -- Adoption Search, Contact, and Reunion Services -- Siblings
Expanding the adoption search, contact, and reunion services program within the Social Services Administration to include services to siblings of adopted individuals; authorizing a sibling of an adopted individual to apply to receive adoption search, contact, and reunion services; etc.
Delegate F Turner, et al

HB 282
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Nursing or Convalescent Homes
Authorizing the Frederick County Commissioners to establish, maintain, and operate a nursing or convalescent home and specified other facilities and services.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 283
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Highways -- Prohibition on Use for Solicitations
Authorizing the County Commissioners of Frederick County to prohibit the use of a controlled access highway in the county's jurisdiction by a person soliciting money, donations, employment, business, or a ride from an occupant of a vehicle on the controlled access highway; and prohibiting, in Frederick County, a person from standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations from an occupant of a vehicle.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 335
Duplicative
Harford County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Issuance on Basis of Population
Including Class A--1 and Class A--2 off--sale alcoholic beverages licenses in Harford County in the provisions of law that limit the issuance of Class A off--sale licenses by the Harford County Liquor Control Board to one for each 3,000 individuals of the county's population; deleting Class B--1 and B--2 alcoholic beverages licenses from the limitation; etc.
Harford County Delegation

HB 336
Duplicative
Harford County Liquor Control Board -- Service of Summonses by Inspectors of the Board
Authorizing, in Harford County, summonses for witnesses issued by the Liquor Control Board for the purpose of hearings and inquiries that the Board is authorized to hold or make to be served by inspectors employed by the Board.
Harford County Delegation

HB 347
Duplicative
Harford County -- Light Wines Produced at Wineries -- Retail Sale to Consumers
Authorizing in Harford County a winery that has been issued a Class A light wine license to sell in any quantity to consumers at retail at the winery light wines and port wines produced at the winery not in excess of 23 percent of alcohol by volume.
Harford County Delegation

HB 351
Policy
Maryland Health Care Foundation and Maryland Health Care Trust
Terminating the Maryland Health Care Foundation; altering the entity to which the fair value of specified assets must be distributed for specified acquisitions to be in the public interest; codifying, and making specified stylistic and conforming changes to, specified provisions of law relating to the Maryland Health Care Trust; altering the trustee of the Maryland Health Care Trust to be the State Treasurer; etc.
Delegate Hurson

HB 353
Duplicative
State Board of Dietetic Practice -- Sunset Extension and Program Evaluation
Continuing the State Board of Dietetic Practice in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland Program Evaluation Act (Sunset Law) by extending to July 1, 2014 the termination of provisions relating to the statutory and regulatory authority of the Board; altering the composition of the Board; altering the nomination process for licensed Board member vacancies; eliminating separate licenses for dietitians and nutritionists; creating a single license for the practice of dietetics; etc.
Delegate Hurson (Chairman HGO Committee)

HB 355
Duplicative
Redhouse Run Stormwater Systems Loan of 1984
Amending Chapter 389 of the Acts of 1984 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act no later than June 1, 2006.
Delegate Minnick (Baltimore County Administration)

HB 360
Duplicative
Somerset County -- Board of County Commissioners -- General Bonding Authority
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Somerset County to borrow in each fiscal year up to $10,000,000 on the full faith and credit of the county for the purpose of financing the construction of roads and bridges, the construction and equipping of public buildings, public schools, and solid waste facilities, and the purchase of real property for public purposes; etc.
Delegate Elmore

HB 367
Duplicative
Residential Child Care Programs -- Certification of Program Administrator
Establishing the State Board for Certification of Residential Child Care Program Administrators and its duties and membership; establishing the terms and requirements for specified members of the Board; authorizing the Board to employ staff in accordance with the budget for the Board; establishing a State Board for Certification of Residential Child Care Program Administrators Fund; etc.
Delegate Jones, et al

HB 377
Duplicative
Board of Public Works -- Baltimore Zoo -- Lease Payments
Requiring that any payments due by the State for the Baltimore Zoo under a lease or sublease agreement be included in the annual budget for the Board of Public Works; and stating the intent of the General Assembly that the name of the zoo be altered to be the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Delegate Marriott, et al

HB 381
Duplicative
Vehicle Laws -- Interference with Operation of Traffic Control Device or Railroad Sign or Signal -- Prohibitions
Clarifying that a person without lawful authority may not interfere with the operation of a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal; prohibiting a person without lawful authority from possessing, with an intent to use, devices capable of transmitting specified signals for the purpose of altering or interfering with the operation of a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal; etc.
Delegate Moe, et al

HB 386
Duplicative
Real Property -- Task Force on Business Owner Compensation in Condemnation Proceedings
Establishing a Task Force on Business Owner Compensation in Condemnation Proceedings; providing for the membership of the Task Force; providing for the designation of a chairman of the Task Force; providing for staff for the Task Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving compensation; authorizing a member of the Task Force to receive reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations; requiring the Task Force to study specified issues; etc.
Delegate Rosenberg, et al

HB 393
Duplicative
Alcoholic Beverages -- Winery Special Event and Charity Wine Auction Permits
Altering the frequency for issuing winery special events permits from one per year to three per year; repealing a permit requirement that the event be organized and conducted by a nonprofit organization or government entity; and altering the fee for charity wine auction permits.
Delegate V Clagett, et al

HB 411
Duplicative
Health Insurance -- Required Reimbursement -- Podiatrists
Providing that, if a specified health insurance policy or contract provides for reimbursement for a service that is within the lawful scope of practice of a licensed podiatrist, the insured or any other person covered by or entitled to reimbursement under the health insurance policy or contract is entitled to the same amount of reimbursement for the service regardless of whether the service is performed by a physician or a licensed podiatrist; etc.
Delegate Donoghue, et al

HB 422
Duplicative
Insurance -- Surplus Lines Brokers -- Policy and Inspection Fees
Altering specified authority of specified surplus lines brokers to charge policy fees on specified policies procured by licensed producers to whom the surplus lines broker pays a commission; specifying a limit on the policy fee that a specified surplus lines broker may charge on a policy issued by an authorized insurer that was procured by specified licensed producers to whom the surplus lines broker pays a commission; etc.
Delegate Moe

HB 429
Policy
State Government -- Administrative Procedure Act -- Proposed Regulations
Requiring agencies to submit proposed regulations to the Department of Legislative Services; prohibiting the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review from approving a request for emergency adoption of a proposed regulation during a specified period unless the Governor makes a specified declaration; etc.
Delegate Morhaim, et al

HB 436
Duplicative
Anne Arundel County -- Wiley H. Bates High School Loan of 1997
Amending Chapter 221 of the Acts of 1997 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act by June 1, 2005.
Anne Arundel County Delegation

HB 438
Duplicative
Prince George's County -- Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club Loan of 2001
Amending Chapter 680 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2001, as amended by Chapter 32 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2003, to extend the time by which the Board of Directors of the Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club, Inc. must provide a matching fund, for the Prince George's County -- Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club Loan of 2001, from June 1, 2004, to June 1, 2005.
Delegate Howard, et al

HB 455
Duplicative
Consumer Protection -- Late Fee Requirements in Consumer Contracts -- Repeal of Sunset
Repealing a provision that, as of October 1, 2005, would have repealed specified provisions relating to the inclusion in a consumer contract of a requirement to pay specified late fees.
Delegate Krysiak, et al

HB 457
Duplicative
Criminal Procedure -- Identity Theft -- Venue for Prosecution
Authorizing a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute offenses relating to personal identifying information fraud; authorizing the Attorney General to exercise all the powers and duties of a State's Attorney to investigate and prosecute specified violations; and establishing that a prosecution for a violation of specified offenses relating to personal identifying information fraud or other crimes based on a violation may be commenced in a county in which an element of the crime occurred or in which the victim resides.
Delegate Petzold, et al

HB 471
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Hotel Rental Tax
Authorizing Frederick County to impose a hotel rental tax at not more than 5%; providing that the hotel rental tax does not apply to a hotel with a specified number of rooms in Frederick County; requiring a hotel located in Frederick County to collect the tax and to file a specified tax return and pay taxes collected on or before the 21st day of each month; and requiring Frederick County to distribute specified hotel rental tax revenue in a specified manner.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 478
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Bed and Breakfast and Country Inn Establishments
Establishing in Frederick County separate alcoholic beverages licenses for bed and breakfast and country inn establishments; establishing license requirements and restrictions on the use of the licenses; specifying license fees; etc.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 479
Duplicative
Unemployment Insurance Funding Task Force -- Extension
Extending the termination date of the Unemployment Insurance Funding Task Force; and extending the date by which a specified report is due.
Delegate Doory, et al

HB 486
Duplicative
Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance -- Coverage for Claims of Family Members
Requiring an insurer to offer to the first named insured under a policy or binder of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance liability coverage for claims made by family members in a specified amount under specified circumstances; requiring that the offer be made on a specified form; etc.
Delegates Krysiak and Feldman

HB 504
Duplicative
Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance -- Use of Credit History -- Repeal of Sunset
Repealing a provision that terminates, at the end of September 30, 2004, a provision that authorizes an insurer that rates a new private passenger motor vehicle insurance policy based on the credit history of the applicant to provide a discount of up to 40% or impose a surcharge of up to 40% if actuarially justified; and requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to report to specified committees of the General Assembly by December 1, 2004.
Chairman ECM (Dept)

HB 511
Duplicative
Juvenile Law -- Waiver of Counsel
Prohibiting a child from waiving the right to the assistance of counsel in specified proceedings except under specified circumstances; prohibiting a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child from waiving the child's right to the assistance of counsel; prohibiting the juvenile court from accepting a waiver of the child's right to the assistance of counsel except under specified circumstances; requiring the court to consider specified factors in determining whether a waiver is knowing and voluntary; etc.
Delegate Kelley, et al

HB 522
Duplicative
Baltimore County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Hunt Valley Commercial/Mixed Use Focal Point
Authorizing the Baltimore County Board of License Commissioners to transfer two beer, wine and liquor (on--sale) retail alcoholic beverages licenses in existence in Election District 15 into the Hunt Valley Commercial/Mixed Use Focal Point; requiring the licenses to be converted into Class B (HV) restaurant beer, wine and liquor licenses; etc.
Delegates Minnick and Kach (Baltimore County Administration)

HB 529
Duplicative
State Board of Nursing -- Skilled Nursing Assistants -- Establishment and Certification
Requiring the State Board of Nursing to adopt regulations establishing categories of skilled nursing assistants in specified settings; requiring the Board to adopt regulations establishing qualifications for each category of skilled nursing assistant; requiring skilled nursing assistants within a category of nursing assistant to meet requirements set by the Board to qualify for certification; requiring skilled nursing assistants to meet specified additional requirements to renew a certification; etc.
Delegate Nathan--Pulliam, et al

HB 538
Duplicative
State Boat Act -- Waterway Improvement Fund -- Authorized Uses
Increasing the amount of funds that may be used from the Waterway Improvement Fund by the Natural Resources Police for marine operations; repealing a provision that requires a payment to the Comptroller for the collection of the vessel excise tax; repealing the authority of the Department of Natural Resources to use the Waterway Improvement Fund for enforcement of the State Boat Act; and providing for a delayed effective date.
Delegate Conway (Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Workgroup), et al

HB 578
Duplicative
Criminal Law -- Carjacking -- Possessor of Motor Vehicle
Establishing that it is not a defense to the crimes of carjacking or armed carjacking for a defendant to not intend to permanently deprive the possessor of a motor vehicle of the possession of the motor vehicle.
Delegates Brown and Doory (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

HB 604
Duplicative
Family Law -- Child Support Guidelines
Revising the schedule of basic child support obligations used to calculate the amount of a child support award under the child support guidelines; and clarifying that revision of the child support guidelines may not be grounds for a modification request except under specified circumstances.
Delegate Dumais

HB 617
Duplicative
Trusts -- Termination by Corporate Fiduciary
Altering from $50,000 to $100,000 the maximum amount of the fair market value of a trust that a corporate fiduciary acting as a trustee may terminate without an order of court; repealing the registered mail option for sending specified notices and objections; providing for the application of the Act; etc.
Delegates Vallario and Simmons

HB 634
Duplicative
Criminal Law -- Extortion -- Damages and Penalties
Prohibiting a person, with the intent to unlawfully extort money, property, or anything of value, from falsely accusing, verbally threatening to accuse, or knowingly sending a writing threatening to accuse another of a crime or of anything that, if true, would tend to bring the other into contempt or disrepute, or from verbally threatening or knowingly sending a writing threatening to cause physical injury or economic damage to a person, inflict emotional distress on a person, or cause damage to the property of a person.
Delegates Brown and Doory (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

HB 635
Duplicative
Criminal Law -- Contradictory Statements -- Prosecution and Charging
Prohibiting a person from willfully and falsely making an oath or affirmation as to a material fact; expanding the application of a violation of the Act to include affidavits required by any state, federal, or local government or government official; providing for the prosecution of a violation of the Act involving two contradictory statements in either county in which the statements are made; etc.
Delegates Brown and Doory (Committee to Revise Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments)

HB 682
Duplicative
Mass Transit Services -- Cost Recovery -- Performance Standards
Continuing for a specified length of time provisions relating to the percentage of operating costs that must be recovered from revenues collected by the Maryland Transit Administration for mass transit services; requiring a 50% cost recovery goal; requiring the continuation of performance indicators for mass transit services; requiring independent management audits; and continuing a requirement that the Department of Transportation submit specified projections in the Department's annual budget.
Delegate McIntosh, et al

HB 686
Duplicative
State Treasury -- Undeliverable Checks Fund
Removing a specified limit on the reissuance of undeliverable checks; clarifying when an undeliverable check may be returned to its source or transferred to other accounts; reducing the time period for retaining specified money in the Undeliverable Checks Fund; clarifying the circumstances under which the money in the Fund may be transferred to the General Fund; providing that undeliverable checks credited to the Fund are not subject to specified statutes regarding abandoned property; etc.
Delegate Heller (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

HB 687
Duplicative
Commercial Law -- Interest on Abandoned Property
Repealing specified provisions that require the administrator of abandoned property to pay interest to specified claimants.
Delegate Heller (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

HB 689
Duplicative
General Obligation Bonds -- Payment and Accounting for Principal and Interest
Requiring the State's fiscal agents to provide an accounting of specified State bonds and coupons that have not been redeemed in a specified period and the total unredeemed principal and interest on specified State bonds and coupons; requiring the Treasurer to deposit unredeemed principal and interest into the unpresented bond and coupon account; requiring the Treasurer to dispose of specified money according to specified statutes; etc.
Delegate Heller (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

HB 691
Duplicative
State Treasury -- Deposits by Units of State Government
Removing a requirement that units of State government deposit specified revenue into the State Treasury monthly; providing that units of State government must deposit specified revenue into depositaries designated by the Treasurer in accordance with regulations and policies adopted by the Treasurer and the Comptroller; etc.
Delegate Heller (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds), et al

HB 692
Duplicative
Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance -- Personal Injury Protection Coverage -- Waiver
Providing that a waiver of specified personal injury protection benefits made by a person that is insured continuously by the insurer is effective until the waiver is withdrawn in writing.
Delegate Feldman

HB 703
Duplicative
Commercial Law -- Hotels and Retirement Communities -- Operating Agreements
Providing that if a conflict exists between the express terms and conditions of an operating agreement and the terms and conditions implied by the law governing the relationship between a principal and agent, the express terms and conditions of the operating agreement shall govern; authorizing a court to order a specified remedy notwithstanding the existence of an agency relationship between the parties to an operating agreement; etc.
Delegate Doory, et al

HB 714
Duplicative
Solar Energy Grant Program
Establishing the Solar Energy Grant Program in the Maryland Energy Administration to provide grants to individuals, local governments, and businesses for specified portions of the costs of acquiring and installing photovoltaic property and solar water heating property; etc.
Delegate King, et al

HB 733
Duplicative
Campaign Finance -- Contributions -- Credit Cards
Altering a specified limitation on the amount of contributions that may be made by credit card to candidates and political committees.
Delegate Patterson, et al

HB 740
Policy
Safe Schools Reporting Act of 2004
Requiring the State Department of Education to require a county board to report incidents of harassment or intimidation against students attending public schools under the jurisdiction of the county board; authorizing specified persons to file a report regarding incidents of harassment or intimidation; requiring the Department to create a standard victim of harassment or intimidation report form; requiring a county board to submit summaries of victim of harassment or intimidation report forms to the Department; etc.
Delegates Simmons and King

HB 752
Duplicative
Security Guards -- Certification Renewal -- Late Fees
Requiring the Secretary of the State Police to assess a $5 per day late fee to applicants whose application for renewal of a security guard certification is not received on or before a specified date except if the renewal is late due to specified hardships; capping the amount of total late fees assessed on an applicant for late certification renewals at $150; and prohibiting the Secretary from certifying an applicant if the applicant has outstanding late fees.
Delegate Brown

HB 778
Duplicative
Wicomico County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Licenses and Open Containers
Authorizing the Wicomico County Board of License Commissioners to issue a caterer's license for a fee of $550 to a holder of a Class B restaurant or hotel (on--sale) beer and light wine license; authorizing a holder of a Class B beer and light wine catering license to provide beer and light wine at events off the Class B licensed premises; authorizing the Board to issue a special beer festival license for participation in a beer festival on nonlicensed premises in the county; etc.
Delegate Cane, et al

HB 787
Duplicative
Baltimore City -- Issuance of Citations -- Gambling
Authorizing the issuance of citations for specified offenses in Baltimore City relating to gambling; establishing that a citation may be issued by a police officer authorized to make arrests in Baltimore City; establishing that a citation can be issued only if there is probable cause to believe a specified offense was committed; establishing the required contents of a citation; requiring the agency issuing the citation to forward the citation to the appropriate court; etc.
Delegate Marriott (Baltimore City Administration)

HB 790
Duplicative
Baltimore City -- Pimlico Road Arts and Community Center Loan of 2001
Altering the location of the project funded in Chapter 411 of the Acts of 2001, Baltimore City -- Pimlico Road Arts and Community Center Loan of 2001.
Delegate Marriott, et al

HB 811
Policy
Procurement -- Percentage Price Preference -- Environmentally Preferable Products or Equipment
Providing a specified price preference for environmentally preferable products or equipment under specified circumstances; requiring the Board of Public Works to adopt specified regulations concerning the establishment of a specified percentage price preference; requiring specified units of State government to establish a list of acceptable environmentally preferable products or equipment; etc.
Delegate Cardin, et al

HB 819
Duplicative
Insurance -- Regulation of Insurance Producers -- Written Documentation of Appointment
Altering the condition under which an insurance producer may act on behalf of an insurer; and prohibiting an insurance producer from acting on behalf of an insurer unless the insurance producer has received written documentation of the appointment from the insurer.
Delegate Love, et al

HB 833
Duplicative
Homeowner's Insurance -- Cancellation
Authorizing an insurer to cancel a specified policy of homeowner's insurance under specified circumstances; and generally relating to the cancellation of a policy of homeowner's insurance.
Delegate McHale

HB 835
Duplicative
Personnel and Pensions -- Dependents of Maryland Transit Administration Retirees -- Health Benefits
Altering the eligibility requirements for specified health insurance benefits to include specified surviving spouses and dependent children of a deceased Maryland Transit Administration retiree; providing that specified dependents who receive a lump--sum payment of benefits under the Maryland Transit Administration Retirement Plan are ineligible for specified health insurance benefits; and altering the definition of "creditable service" to include service while a member of the Maryland Transit Administration Retirement Plan.
Delegate James

HB 836
Duplicative
Family Law -- Property Disposition -- Transfer of Family Use Personal Property
Authorizing a court, in a proceeding for annulment or absolute divorce, to transfer, subject to the consent of any lienholders, ownership of an interest in family use personal property from one or both parties to either or both parties and to determine the terms of the transfer.
Delegate Dumais

HB 837
Duplicative
Workers' Compensation Benefits -- Fraud
Requiring the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to include specified information in an annual report; requiring the Insurance Fraud Division to notify the Workers' Compensation Commission of specified suspected cases of insurance fraud; requiring the Commission to refer specified persons to the Insurance Fraud Division under specified circumstances; requiring the Commission, in consultation with the Insurance Fraud Division and in collaboration with specified persons and organizations, to conduct a study; etc.
Delegate Feldman

HB 864
Duplicative
Anne Arundel County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Baltimore--Washington International Airport
Allowing specified persons at Baltimore--Washington International Airport to hold one airport concessionaire license for multiple locations within the airport terminal building even if they already hold specified other alcoholic beverages licenses; etc.
Anne Arundel County Delegation

HB 876
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Solid Waste Disposal Fee or Tax
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County to establish, charge, levy, and collect a fee or tax for specified costs for the collection and disposal of solid waste; specifying that the Board's authority extends to all municipal corporations in the County; etc.
Frederick County Delegation

HB 878
Duplicative
Cooperative Housing Corporations, Condominiums, and Homeowners Associations -- Electronic Transmission of Notices and Votes
Authorizing a cooperative housing corporation, a council of unit owners of a condominium, and a homeowners association to provide notice of a meeting or deliver information by electronic transmission if specified conditions are met; providing that the notice or delivery by electronic transmission shall be considered ineffective if specified conditions are met; etc.
Delegate Bobo, et al

HB 926
Duplicative
Criminal Law -- Theft, Bad Checks, and Credit Card Crimes -- District Court Offenses
Establishing determinations as to the value of property or services involving specified theft crimes; establishing penalties for theft of property or services with a value of less than $100; establishing that action or prosecution for specified crimes must be commenced within 2 years; etc.
Chairman JUD (Maryland Judicial Conference)

HB 943
Duplicative
Maryland Medical Assistance Program -- Carve--Out of Specialty Mental Health Services
Prohibiting the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene from ending the exclusion of specialty mental health services from the program requiring Medical Assistance Program recipients to enroll in managed care organizations without specified approval; and prohibiting the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from contracting with a behavioral managed care organization to provide specialty mental health services without specified approval.
Delegate Hurson, et al

HB 951
Policy
Access to Public Records -- Study
Creating a Study Commission to Study the Public's Access to Public Records; providing for the membership of the Study Commission; requiring the Department of Legislative Services to staff the Study Commission; requiring the Study Commission to review specified provisions of law, make recommendations and propose changes to effectuate its findings, and submit a report to the Governor and to the General Assembly by a specified date; terminating the Study Commission; etc.
Delegate Bobo, et al

HB 1031
Duplicative
Health Care Providers -- Collection of Medicare Approved or Limiting Amounts
Authorizing a health care provider to collect Medicare approved or limiting amounts from individual subscribers or enrollees when Medicare is the primary insurer and a health maintenance organization is the secondary insurer.
Delegate Donoghue, et al

HB 1042
Duplicative
Homeowners Associations -- Recorded Covenants or Restrictions -- Deletion of Ownership Restrictions Based on Race, Religious Belief, or National Origin
Authorizing a homeowners association to delete a recorded covenant or restriction that restricts ownership of property based on race, religious belief, or national origin if a specified percentage of owners agree to the deletion or as provided in specified deeds or declarations under specified circumstances; etc.
Delegate Rosenberg, et al

HB 1062
Policy
St. Mary's County -- Deputy Sheriffs -- Command--Level Appointees
Altering in St. Mary's County an appointed personnel position in the Sheriff's office from a Captain to a command--level position; requiring the County Commissioners and the Sheriff to set the number, rank, and salaries of the command--level positions and approve the creation, continued existence, funding, or reestablishment of a command--level position; authorizing the Sheriff to appoint command--level personnel with the approval of the County Commissioners; etc.
St. Mary's County Delegation

HB 1067
Duplicative
State Council on Cancer Control -- Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
Establishing a Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to staff the Committee; providing for the duties of the Committee; and requiring the Committee to present findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly annually for five years beginning October 1, 2004.
Delegate McIntosh, et al

HB 1087
Duplicative
Baltimore City -- Extinguishment of Ground Rents
Providing that the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, after condemning property that is subject to an irredeemable ground rent, shall become the tenant of the ground rent and authorizing the City to apply as tenant to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to extinguish the ground rent; requiring a tenant seeking to extinguish a ground rent to give notice to the landlord and to make an application and pay specified fees to the Department; providing that a landlord is entitled to receive a specified amount on appeal; etc.
Delegate Marriott (Baltimore City Administration), et al

HB 1095
Duplicative
State Retiree Health Care Protection Act
Creating a Postretirement Health Benefits Trust Fund to assist in funding the postretirement health insurance subsidy for State employees; authorizing the Board of Trustees for the State Retirement and Pension System to commingle the assets of the Postretirement Health Benefits Trust Fund with the assets of specified other State retirement and pension systems; providing for the funding of the Postretirement Health Benefits Trust Fund; etc.
Delegates Busch and James

HB 1096
Duplicative
Mortgage Lenders -- Sole Proprietors -- Qualifications for Licensure
Authorizing the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to issue a mortgage lender license to an applicant who is a sole proprietor and who does not meet the 3--year experience requirement under specified circumstances; specifying the conditions under which a sole proprietor may be licensed under the Act; prohibiting a sole proprietor who is licensed under the Act from aiding or assisting a borrower to obtain a loan from a financial institution other than the institution identified in the license application; etc.
Delegate Love, et al

HB 1133
Duplicative
Municipal Corporations -- Decisions of Port Wardens -- Appeals
Authorizing an aggrieved party to appeal a decision of a board of port wardens concerning the discharge of the duties of the port wardens to the circuit court for the appropriate county, if authorized by the municipal corporation by ordinance.
Delegates V Clagett and McMillan

HB 1165
Duplicative
Comptroller -- Tax Liens -- Reports by Financial Institutions
Altering the content requirements for reports by a financial institution to the State Comptroller concerning persons whose property is subject to a tax lien if the financial institution submits reports under the Federal Parent Locator Service.
Delegate Hixson, et al

HB 1179
Duplicative
2020 Rural Maryland -- Agricultural and Resource--Based Industry Development Act
Establishing the Maryland Agricultural and Resource--Based Industry Development Corporation for specified purposes; authorizing the corporation to acquire and dispose of property, to finance specified projects, to issue, redeem, and secure bonds and debt, including revenue bonds and refunding bonds; etc.
Delegate Wood, et al

HB 1188
Policy
Higher Education Affordability and Access Act of 2004 -- Supplementary Appropriation
Limiting the annual increase in tuition that may be charged to a resident undergraduate student at specified public senior higher education institutions to 5% for specified academic years; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget submission for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 an increase in the amount of State support for the University System of Maryland and Morgan State University; requiring the transfer of any balance remaining in the Higher Education Investment Fund on June 30, 2007, to the General Fund; etc.
Delegate Jones, et al

HB 1218
Duplicative
Baltimore County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Class BDR (Deluxe Restaurant) (On--Sale) Beer, Wine and Liquor Licenses
Repealing a provision of law that requires, with respect to the authorization of the issuance of up to four additional Class B (on--sale -- hotels and restaurants) beer, wine and liquor licenses in Baltimore County to individuals for the use of specified business entities, that one of the licenses must be a Class BDR (deluxe restaurant) (on--sale) beer, wine and liquor license.
Chairman, Baltimore County Delegation (Baltimore County Administration)

HB 1220
Duplicative
Correctional Services -- Concurrent and Consecutive Sentences -- Offenders on Parole
Repealing the requirement that a new sentence run consecutively to the time to be served on the original term when an individual is convicted of a crime committed while on parole; requiring a court to determine if a new sentence is to run concurrently or consecutively, as required under Maryland Rule 4--351(a)(5); requiring that if a new sentence is to run consecutively, the new sentence shall begin at a specified time; etc.
Delegate Vallario

HB 1223
Duplicative
Vehicle Laws -- Failing to Stop for a School Vehicle with Activated Flashing Lights -- Penalties
Increasing the maximum fine that a person is subject to for failing to stop or remain stopped for a school vehicle with activated alternately flashing red lights to $1,000; etc.
Delegates Montgomery and Bronrott

HB 1255
Duplicative
Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System -- Membership -- Salisbury Fire Department
Providing specified firefighters and paramedics who are employed by the Salisbury Fire Department membership in the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System; and specifying the procedural requirements that a participating governmental unit must meet to have its firefighters or paramedics participate in the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System.
Delegate Conway, et al

HB 1258
Duplicative
Natural Resources -- Special Funds and Accounts -- Administrative Costs
Authorizing the Secretary of Natural Resources to use money in specified funds or accounts under the Department of Natural Resources for administrative expenses related to the fund or account based on a generally accepted methodology for determining indirect costs; requiring the Secretary to submit any changes to the indirect costs methodology for review and comment to the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee within 45 days before implementing the methodology; etc.
Delegate Conway (Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Workgroup), et al

HB 1272
Duplicative
State Board of Social Work Examiners -- Appointment of Board Members -- Vacancies
Providing for the filling of a vacancy of a licensed certified social worker or licensed social worker--clinical position on the State Board of Social Work Examiners with a qualified licensee of any license level if a licensed certified social worker or a licensed social worker--clinical is not appointed to the Board within 6 months; etc.
Delegate Rudolph, et al

HB 1285
Policy
Task Force to Study Youth Gang Activities
Creating a Task Force to Study Youth Gang Activities; providing for the membership, co--chairs, and staffing of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to receive testimony, examine data, and make recommendations; requiring the Task Force to submit an interim report to specified committees and to the General Assembly by December 1, 2004, and a final report by December 1, 2005; and providing for the termination of the Act.
Delegate Ramirez, et al

HB 1320
Duplicative
Maryland Spam Deterrence Act
Prohibiting a person from using specified protected computers to relay or retransmit commercial electronic mail messages with the intent to deceive or mislead recipients or an electronic mail service provider under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from materially falsifying header information in commercial electronic mail messages under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from registering for electronic mail accounts or domain names under specified circumstances; providing for specified penalties and fines; etc.
Delegate Quinter, et al

HB 1348
Duplicative
Maryland Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act
Revising the procedures for disclaimers of succession to property interests created by will, intestacy, or the exercise of testamentary powers of appointment; allowing fiduciaries the ability to disclaim specified interests and powers; providing for specified rules applying to a disclaimer of specified interests in property; providing for disclaimer of rights of survivorship in jointly held property; providing for disclaimer of interest by a trustee; etc.
Delegates Simmons and Vallario

HB 1368
Duplicative
Correctional Services -- Standards for Correctional Facilities -- Victim Notification and Restitution
Requiring the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services to adopt regulations that establish minimum mandatory standards applicable to victim notification and restitution.
Delegate Vallario

HB 1410
Duplicative
Health Insurance -- Treatment of Morbid Obesity
Clarifying the circumstances under which insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations must provide coverage for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity; establishing a Task Force to Study Utilization Review of the Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity; etc.
Delegate Donoghue, et al

HB 1425
Duplicative
Health -- General -- Nursing Referral Service Agencies -- Licensing
Authorizing the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to issue, deny, suspend, or revoke a license for a nursing referral service agency; requiring a nursing referral service agency to obtain a license from the Department before operating nursing referral agency services; requiring a nursing referral services agency to apply for a criminal history records check or request a background check to screen licensed health professionals or specified care providers; making the Act an emergency measure; etc.
Delegate Bromwell, et al

HB 1468
Duplicative
Bed and Breakfast Establishments -- Food Service -- Regulation
Exempting specified bed and breakfast establishments from Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and local government regulations relating to the required use of commercial grade kitchen equipment; requiring bed and breakfast establishments that intend to serve a hot meal to renters to be licensed as food establishments; providing that bed and breakfast establishments that intend to serve a hot meal to renters are subject to State and local health regulations that govern food safety and contamination; etc.
Delegate Jameson, et al

HB 1511
Duplicative
Baltimore County -- Arbutus Community Center Loan of 2000
Changing the name of the project, the purpose, and altering the date by which the County Executive and County Council of Baltimore County are required to provide a matching fund, from June 1, 2004, to June 1, 2006, pursuant to Chapter 317 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2000, as amended by Chapter 168 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2002, Baltimore County -- Arbutus Community Center Loan of 2000; and generally relating to the Baltimore County -- Arbutus Community Center Loan of 2000.
Delegates Malone and DeBoy

SENATE BILLS

SB 4
Duplicative
Regulation and Acquisition of Nonprofit Health Entities
Extending the statute of limitations to 3 years for specified criminal violations under the Insurance Article; altering the purpose of provisions of law relating to nonprofit health service plans; altering specified provisions of law relating to the regulation and acquisition of nonprofit health entities; altering the mission of a nonprofit health service plan; requiring board members of a nonprofit health service plan to act in a specified manner in furtherance of the mission of a nonprofit health service plan; etc.
Senator Middleton

SB 13
Duplicative
Department of Natural Resources -- Finfishing -- Closure of State Waters
Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to close an area of State waters to all finfishing if the Department satisfies specified requirements; requiring the Department to publicize specified information regarding public hearings in specified ways and to make a specified report available at a specified time; requiring the Department to prepare a specified report at specified times; etc.
Senator Dyson, et al

SB 23
Duplicative
Cecil County -- Sheriff's Department -- Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers
Specifying that law enforcement officers and correctional officers of the Sheriff's department in Cecil County may be terminated only for just cause; making conforming and stylistic changes; etc.
Cecil County Senators

SB 29
Duplicative
Nonprofit Health Service Plans -- Compensation of Officers and Executives -- Authority of Insurance Commissioner
Making changes to conform specified provisions of the Insurance Article relating to nonprofit health service plans to the Order and Consent Judgment rendered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in the case of State of Maryland v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association and CareFirst, Inc.; altering the authority of the Maryland Insurance Commissioner for the review and approval of compensation guidelines for officers and executives of nonprofit health service plans; making the Act an emergency measure; etc.
Senator Middleton

SB 87
Policy
Open Meetings Act -- Standing to File a Petition Alleging Violation of the Act
Authorizing any person to file with a circuit court that has venue a petition alleging violation of specified provisions of the Open Meetings Act if a public body fails to comply with these provisions; etc.
Senator Frosh, et al

SB 92
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Bond Rating Enhancement Reserve and Appropriation
Requiring the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County to establish and maintain a bond rating enhancement reserve and establish criteria for maintaining the reserve; authorizing the County Commissioners to increase appropriations and expend the increased appropriations; requiring the County Commissioners to establish, by ordinance, criteria for increasing appropriations and expending the increased appropriations and requiring the increase to be derived from the reserve or a specified general fund; etc.
Senators Mooney and Brinkley

SB 95
Duplicative
Election Law -- Polling Places -- Access by Minors
Altering the maximum age at which an individual may accompany an adult in a voting room and voting booth at a polling place under specified circumstances; prohibiting more than two individuals under the age of 13 from accompanying a voter in a voting room or voting booth under specified circumstances; and making stylistic changes.
Senator Green

SB 117
Policy
Consumer Protection -- Privacy of Social Security Numbers
Prohibiting a person from publicly posting or displaying an individual's Social Security number under specified circumstances, from printing an individual's Social Security number on specified cards under specified circumstances, from requiring an individual to transmit the individual's Social Security number over the Internet under specified circumstances, or from requiring an individual to use the individual's Social Security number to access an Internet website under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Dyson

SB 122
Duplicative
Task Force to Study the Dynamics of Elderly and Retiree Migration into and out of Maryland
Establishing a Task Force to Study the Dynamics of Elderly and Retiree Migration into and out of Maryland; requiring the Task Force to oversee and assist in preparing a specified study addressing tax policies and benefits of the State and other states as applied to the elderly and retirees; etc.
Senator Middleton, et al

SB 129
Duplicative
Life Insurers -- Funding Agreements -- Priority in Liquidation Proceedings
Stating expressly the priority of specified claims made by holders of specified funding agreements in liquidation proceedings against specified insurers.
Senator Astle, et al

SB 143
Duplicative
State Government -- Forms Management -- Submission of Annual Report
Requiring the Records Management Division of the Department of General Services to submit an annual report to the General Assembly, rather than the Joint Audit Committee, on the forms management activities of each Executive Branch department or independent unit during the previous fiscal year.
Senator McFadden (Chairman Joint Audit Committee), et al

SB 174
Duplicative
Education -- Maryland School for the Blind -- Notice to Parents or Guardians of Availability of Programs
Requiring local education agencies to notify the parents or guardians of blind or visually impaired children, including children with multiple disabilities, of the availability of the educational programs offered by the Maryland School for the Blind.
Senator Klausmeier, et al

SB 221
Duplicative
Prince George's County -- Wine Consumption -- Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Allowing, under specified circumstances, residents and their guests in a continuing care retirement community in Prince George's County that holds a Class C (on--sale) beer, wine and liquor license to consume wine not purchased from the continuing care retirement community.
Senator Exum, et al

SB 223
Duplicative
Harford County Liquor Control Board -- Operating Expenses -- Salaries
Providing that the full amount of the salaries of the members of the Harford County Liquor Control Board are to be included as specified operating expenses under specified circumstances; making specified technical and conforming changes; etc.
Harford County Senators

SB 224
Duplicative
Harford County Liquor Control Board -- Appeal of Decisions -- Remand of Proceedings
Granting the Circuit Court for Harford County the authority to remand to the Harford County Liquor Control Board proceedings before the court relating to the appeals of decisions of the board.
Harford County Senators

SB 227
Duplicative
Harford County -- Alcoholic Beverages Licenses -- Transfers
Altering the criteria required to be used by the Harford County Liquor Control Board when transferring an alcoholic beverages license for use in a business in Harford County.
Harford County Senators

SB 229
Duplicative
Harford County -- Wine, Beer, and Other Alcoholic Beverages -- Tasting and Sampling
Expanding the provisions of the wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages tasting and sampling laws in Harford County by allowing specified licenses to be issued by the Harford County Liquor Control Board to the holders of Class A1 beer, wine, and liquor licenses and Class A beer and wine licenses in the county for specified periods of time; providing for the fees for the licenses; repealing specified provisions made inconsistent by the Act; making technical changes; etc.
Harford County Senators

SB 240
Duplicative
Tobacco Product Manufacturers -- Master Settlement Agreement -- Escrow Requirements
Specifying that the amounts tobacco product manufacturers are required to place into escrow accounts are based on account of units sold in the State; altering the circumstances under which the funds in escrow accounts may be released; making the provisions of the Act severable; providing for the termination of the Act under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Green, et al

SB 250
Policy
Labor and Employment -- Equal Pay Commission
Establishing an Equal Pay Commission; providing for the membership of the Commission; requiring the Commission to study specified issues; requiring the Commission to make a specified report on or before September 30, 2006; etc.
Senator Grosfeld, et al

SB 264
Duplicative
Prince George's County -- North Brentwood Town Hall and Museum Project Loan of 1996
Amending Chapter 93 of the Acts of 1996 to require that the loan proceeds be encumbered by the Board of Public Works or expended for the purposes provided in the Act by June 1, 2006.
Senator Britt

SB 269
Duplicative
Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
Repealing the Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act; adopting the Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act; establishing the general procedures for child custody proceedings under the Act; specifying the basis for jurisdiction over child custody matters; and specifying the procedures for enforcing child custody determinations made under the Act.
Senator Grosfeld

SB 281
Duplicative
State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech--Language Pathologists -- Voting Powers
Limiting the voting power of two members of the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech--Language Pathologists.
Senator Conway

SB 290
Duplicative
State Treasury -- Banking Services Agreements
Expanding the entities with which the Treasurer may enter into an agreement for banking services to include financial institutions; authorizing an agreement for banking services to include the terms and conditions of the services; requiring an agreement to specify the charges for banking services; requiring interest earnings in excess of charges for banking services to be credited to the General Fund; etc.
Senator Lawlah (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds)

SB 309
Policy
State Government -- Administrative Procedure Act -- Proposed Regulations
Prohibiting the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review from approving a request for emergency adoption of a proposed regulation during a specified period unless the Governor makes a specified declaration; requiring the website of the General Assembly to include specified information about specified emergency regulations; authorizing the Committee to exercise specified powers over proposed or emergency regulations or specified provisions of proposed or emergency regulations; etc.
Senator Pinsky, et al

SB 327
Duplicative
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation -- Easement Termination
Requiring that the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation provide a landowner with the opportunity for a hearing before deciding on a request for termination of an agricultural land preservation easement whose purchase is approved by the Board of Public Works on or before September 30, 2004; requiring that easements whose purchase is approved by the Board of Public Works on or after October 1, 2004, be held by the Foundation in perpetuity; etc.
Senators Dyson and Middleton

SB 329
Duplicative
Child Support -- Driver's License Suspension -- Grounds for Requesting an Investigation and Appealing
Establishing specified grounds on which a child support obligor may request an investigation and appeal the proposed action of the Child Support Enforcement Administration to send a notice to the Motor Vehicle Administration that the child support obligor is 60 days or more out of compliance with the most recent court order in making child support payments; prohibiting the Child Support Enforcement Administration from sending information about the obligor to the Motor Vehicle Administration if specified grounds exist; etc.
Senator Grosfeld

SB 343
Duplicative
Health Facilities -- Nursing Homes -- Family Council
Providing for the composition of a family council; authorizing a family council to be created or led by the owner, operator, or staff of a nursing home under specified circumstances; requiring a nursing home to give new and prospective residents specified information about a family council in the nursing home; requiring the nursing home to respond in writing to any written grievance or other communication from the family council within 14 calendar days after receiving a communication; etc.
Senator Pinsky, et al

SB 352
Duplicative
Health Care Decisions -- "Patient's Plan of Care" Form -- Communication of Patient Preferences
Authorizing specified health care providers to prepare specified forms under specified circumstances; requiring the Office of the Attorney General to develop a "Patient's Plan of Care" form that summarizes the plan of care for an individual; specifiying that the form is voluntary; requiring the form to be consistent with specified health care decisions; providing that the form may be completed by a health care provider under supervision; etc.
Senator Hollinger

SB 361
Duplicative
State Board of Dental Examiners -- Regulation of Sedation -- Issuance of Permits
Altering the authority of the State Board of Dental Examiners to adopt specified regulations relating to a specified form of sedation; prohibiting the Board from requiring specified facilities or specified dentists to obtain specified permits under specified circumstances; requiring the Board to develop and draft specified regulations only after having convened and consulted with a specified committee consisting of specified representatives; etc.
Senator Pinsky

SB 367
Duplicative
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation -- Tenant Houses -- Construction
Making the construction of specified tenant houses subject to the approval of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation that are on farms subject to an agricultural land preservation easement; authorizing the Foundation to grant an exception, based on a showing of compelling need, to a specified construction requirement; etc.
Senators Dyson and Middleton

SB 372
Duplicative
Real Property -- Residential Leases -- Security Deposits -- Interest Rates
Altering the annual interest rate paid on a security deposit under a residential lease within 45 days after the end of a tenancy; altering the annual interest rate paid on a security deposit under a residential lease prior to the termination of a tenancy under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Haines

SB 389
Duplicative
Maryland Pharmacy Act -- Practice of Pharmacy -- Administration of the Influenza Vaccination
Altering the definition of the term "practice pharmacy" to include administering an influenza vaccination in accordance with specified regulations; requiring the Board of Pharmacy, together with the State Board of Physicians and the State Board of Nursing, to jointly develop and to adopt specified regulations; providing for the effective date of specified provisions of the Act; providing for the termination of specified provisions of the Act; etc.
Senator Klausmeier

SB 392
Duplicative
Young Farmers Advisory Board
Establishing the Young Farmers Advisory Board; specifying the membership, terms of membership, and duties of the Advisory Board; requiring the Governor to appoint specified members; providing for the election of a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary of the Advisory Board; establishing meeting requirements for the Advisory Board; and requiring the Department of Agriculture to provide staffing.
Senators Middleton and Dyson

SB 395
Duplicative
Vehicle Laws -- Trailers and Semitrailers -- Surge Brakes
Exempting specified vehicles from specified brake requirements; authorizing a trailer or semitrailer to be equipped with surge brakes if the trailer or semitrailer meets specified requirements relating to weight, design, and use; etc.
Senator Jimeno, et al

SB 400
Duplicative
Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement
Adopting the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement as adopted by the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Project on November 12, 2002, contingent on the enactment of specified legislation by the U.S. Congress; requiring the Comptroller to prepare and submit proposed regulations and draft legislation implementing changes to the State's laws, regulations, or policies needed to bring the State into compliance with the Agreement and other changes recommended by the Comptroller; etc.
Senator Hogan

SB 404
Duplicative
Municipal Corporations -- Annexations -- Limitations on Uses of Land and Densities of Development
Authorizing a municipal corporation to impose specified limitations on the uses of land or densitites of development in an annexation agreement on the zoning or rezoning of land under specified circumstances; etc.
Senator Hollinger, et al

SB 408
Duplicative
Banking Institutions -- Savings Banks
Authorizing a savings bank to have any banking institution in this State, any other bank in this State, or any State or federal savings and loan association in this State merge into the savings bank if the Commissioner, after receiving the advice of the Banking Board, gives written consent to the transaction; requiring a plan of reorganization of a savings bank to provide that as a result of the reorganization, the mutual holding company shall hold more than 50% of the stock of the subsidiary savings bank; etc.
Senator Klausmeier

SB 413
Policy
Baltimore City -- Education -- Public School Facilities
Extending to 2007 specified requirements relating to the State and local share of costs for school construction projects in Baltimore City.
Senator McFadden (Baltimore City Administration)

SB 416
Duplicative
Procurement -- Board of Contract Appeals -- Jurisdiction over State Claims
Authorizing an interested party to appeal a final action on a procurement contract claim made by a State agency to the State Board of Contract Appeals; altering the jurisdiction of the Appeals Board; clarifying that specified claims procedures for a procurement contract apply only to a claim by a contractor; and authorizing the award of interest to a State agency under a procurement contract claim.
Senator Grosfeld, et al

SB 434
Duplicative
State Treasury -- Unpresented Checks Fund
Altering the procedures the Treasurer must follow in asking the Comptroller to credit the amount of specified unpresented checks to the Unpresented Checks Fund; altering the procedures for transferring a specified portion of the balance of the Fund to the General Fund; removing a prohibition on reissuing checks after a specified period; specifying the procedures to be followed in voiding an unpresented check; exempting unpresented checks credited to the Fund from specified statutory provisions; etc.
Senator Lawlah (Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds)

SB 445
Duplicative
Frederick County -- Loans to Volunteer Fire or Rescue Companies
Authorizing the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County to provide loans to approved volunteer fire or rescue companies for land or buildings to be used by the companies.
Senators Brinkley and Mooney

SB 482
Duplicative
Real Property Sales -- Disclosure Requirements -- Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area
Requiring a contract or an addendum to a contract for the sale of real property to contain a conspicuous statement advising the buyer that the property may be located in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, that specified regulations apply in the critical area, and that a buyer may determine if critical area regulations apply by contacting the local planning and zoning agency.
Senator Dyson (Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area), et al

SB 522
Duplicative
Calvert County, Queen Anne's County, and St. Mary's County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Class A Light Wine License
Authorizing a Class A light wine license to be issued in Calvert County, Queen Anne's County, and St. Mary's County.
Senator Pipkin

SB 551
Duplicative
Insurance -- Premium Financing -- Electronic Payment Fee
Requiring a premium finance agreement to include a specified disclosure; authorizing a premium finance agreement to require the insured to pay an electronic payment fee if the insured elects to pay the premium finance company by means of an electronic payment; limiting the amount to be charged as an electronic payment fee to $8; etc.
Senator Exum

SB 567
Duplicative
Cooperative Housing Corporations, Condominiums, and Homeowners Associations -- Books and Records
Requiring all books and records of a cooperative housing corporation to be made available for examination and copying by a member or other specified persons except under specified circumstances; authorizing a cooperative housing corporation and a council of unit owners of a condominium to impose a reasonable charge for a person to review or copy the books and records; altering the kinds of books and records a homeowners association may withhold from public inspection; etc.
Senator Green, et al

SB 610
Duplicative
Municipal Corporations -- Regulation of Junkyards, Dumps, and Other Facilities -- Ordinances
Authorizing the legislative body of a municipal corporation to adopt an ordinance for the licensing, control, location, or maintenance of specified junkyards, dumps, and other facilities; requiring ordinances to be designed to achieve specified purposes; authorizing an ordinance to prohibit the operation or maintenance of junkyards, dumps, or other facilities in a specified location until a license has been obtained; requiring the legislative body of a municipal corporation to give notice of a hearing on a proposed ordinance; etc.
Senator Hafer

SB 615
Duplicative
Higher Education -- Maryland Digital Library -- Established
Establishing the Maryland Digital Library in the Maryland Higher Education Commission; providing for the purpose of the Maryland Digital Library; establishing the composition of the Maryland Digital Library; authorizing the Maryland Higher Education Commission to encourage specified institutions to meet specified goals; authorizing the Maryland Digital Library, in collaboration with specified entities, to develop specified programs; etc.
Senator Hollinger, et al

SB 621
Policy
State Procurement Contracts -- Living Wage
Requiring specified contractors and subcontractors to pay specified employees a specified minimum wage rate under specified State procurement contracts; providing specified exemptions and reductions in a specified wage rate; requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to alter a wage rate based on a specified Consumer Price Index and to administer and enforce requirements with regard to specified employers; etc.
Senator Klausmeier, et al

SB 672
Duplicative
Dorchester County -- Sheriff -- Salary
Establishing the salary for the Sheriff of Dorchester County for specified calendar years; and providing that the Act does not apply to the incumbent.
Senator Colburn

SB 694
Duplicative
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program -- Miscellaneous Enforcement Provisions
Requiring a local jurisdiction to make a specified presumption when considering a variance application under the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program; establishing the burdens of proof and persuasion in a variance application; requiring a local jurisdiction to make findings and authorizing the findings to be based on specified evidence and testimony; requiring a local jurisdiction's program to include buffer requirements and specified penalty provisions; etc.
Senator Dyson (Chairman, Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area), et al

SB 712
Duplicative
Motor Homes and Travel Trailers -- Vehicle Excise Tax -- Definitions -- Extension of Sunset
Continuing until June 30, 2007, specified provisions that alter the definitions of "fair market value" and "total purchase price" for purposes of the vehicle excise tax imposed on a motor home or a travel trailer, to exclude from the computation of the tax the value of a motor home or a travel trailer traded as part of the consideration for the sale; and requiring the Department of Transportation to submit a specified report to the fiscal committees of the General Assembly by October 1, 2006.
Senator Middleton

SB 714
Duplicative
Health Insurance -- Small Group Market -- Modified Health Benefit Plan for Medical Savings Accounts
Repealing a requirement that the Maryland Health Care Commission develop a modified health benefit plan for medical savings accounts; repealing a requirement that the Commission adopt regulations that specify a modified health benefit plan for medical savings accounts that meet specified federal qualifications; etc.
Senator Middleton

SB 720
Duplicative
Crimes -- Internet Child Pornography -- Removal
Requiring an investigative or law enforcement officer who receives information that an item of alleged child pornography resides on a server or other storage device controlled or owned by an interactive computer service provider to contact the provider and request the provider's voluntary compliance in removing the item within a specified period of time; requiring the officer to apply for a court order if the provider does not voluntarily remove the item; etc.
Senator Forehand

SB 785
Duplicative
Continuing Care Facilities -- Internal Grievance Procedure
Requiring a provider of continuing care to include a description of the facility's internal grievance procedure in the disclosure statement to potential subscribers; requiring a provider of continuing care to establish a specified internal grievance procedure; providing for the components of the internal grievance procedure; and requiring continuing care agreements executed between providers and subscribers to state that there is an internal grievance procedure to investigate subscriber grievances.
Senator Klausmeier

SB 795
Duplicative
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program -- Dwelling Units
Requiring a local jurisdiction to include all dwelling units in calculating the 1--in--20 acre density ratio under the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program, with a specified exception; defining the term "dwelling unit" as it applies to the critical area program; authorizing a local jurisdiction to consider one additional dwelling unit as part of a primary dwelling unit under specified circumstances; and providing for the prospective application of the Act.
Senator Dyson (Chairman, Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area)

SB 797
Duplicative
Baltimore County -- Alcoholic Beverages -- Additional Class B (Restaurant) License
Authorizing an individual, for the use of specified business entities, to obtain an additional Class B license in Baltimore County, up to a total of five Class B (on--sale -- hotels and restaurants) licenses by making application in the regular manner and paying the usual fee and if the restaurant for which the additional license authorized by the Act is sought meets specified requirements; providing for the construction of the Act; etc.
Chairman, Baltimore County Senators (Baltimore County Administration)

SB 819
Policy
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene -- Federal Waivers -- Waiver for Older Adults and Medicaid Managed Care Pilot Program
Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to apply for a specified waiver under the federal Social Security Act; requiring that specified services are not subject to a specified program; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to study ways to provide incentives for local community care organizations and to report to committees of the General Assembly by September 30, 2004; and requiring the Department to make a specified annual report to the General Assembly for four years beginning December 1, 2004.
Senator Hollinger, et al

SB 836
Duplicative
Dorchester County -- County Council -- Building Excise Tax
Authorizing the County Council of Dorchester County to fix and impose, by ordinance, a building excise tax on all types of building construction; requiring the County Council to specify in the ordinance the types of building construction subject to the tax, the criteria and formulas used to assess the tax, and the tax rates; requiring the revenues from the building excise tax to be deposited in a special fund and only be used for specified capital costs of specified public works, improvements, and facilities; etc.
Senator Colburn

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


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June 1, 2004

To the Members of the General Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Article II, Section 17(c), of the Constitution of Maryland states:

Section 17.

(c) Any bill presented to the Governor within 6 days (Sundays excepted), prior to adjournment of any session of the General Assembly, or after such adjournment, shall become law without the Governor's signature unless it is vetoed by the Governor within 30 days after its presentment.

Having chosen to not sign House Bill 297 and Senate Bill 187 after formal presentment and to let the provisions of Article II, Section 17(c) determine the effectiveness of the legislation, these bills will become law without the Governor's signature as of midnight, May 29, 2004 and midnight, May 30, 2004 respectively and are assigned the following Chapter numbers:
 
HB 297
Chapter 556
Office of the Comptroller -- Tax Compliance -- Holding Companies
Authorizing the Comptroller to allocate income, deductions, credits, or allowances between and among two or more organizations under specified circumstances; requiring specified interest expenses and specified intangible expenses to be added to federal taxable income for the purpose of determining Maryland modified income under specified circumstances; allowing a subtraction modification for specified royalties, interest, or similar income from intangibles under specified circumstances; etc.
The Speaker and the Minority Leader (Administration)

SB 187
Chapter 557
Office of the Comptroller -- Tax Compliance -- Settlement Period
Requiring the Comptroller to administer a specified Settlement Period during a specified period; providing for the applicability of the Settlement Period to specified corporation income taxes; etc.
The President (Administration)

Sincerely,

Karl S. Aro
Executive Director


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