Howard County State Legislation

The following information is presented by the Howard County Office of Public Information as a service to residents on behalf of the members of Howard County's State Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, chaired by Elizabeth Bobo, Maryland House of Delegates and Edward J. Kasemeyer, Maryland Senate

For more information or questions contact:

Carole Graves
Staff to the Howard County House Delegation
phone: 410-841-3360 or 301-858-3360
fax: 410-841-3361 or 301-858-3361
e-mail: hoc1@mlis.state.md.us

Proposed Local Bills for the 2008 General Assembly Session

The Howard County delegation of the Maryland General Assembly considered the proposed local bills below.

Proposed bills passed by the delegation are so indicated in red with the assigned House Bill number. These House Bills may be tracked through the legislative process on the Maryland General Assembly homepage, mlis.state.md.us: scroll down to "Bill Information and Status," and enter the bill number.

Howard County Delegation 2008 Proposed Local Bills

• Ho. Co. 01-08
  Howard County – Creation of a State Debt – Robinson Nature Center Passed by Delegation – HB 162
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Executive)
  Authorizing the creation of a state debt not to exceed $500,000 for the planning, design, site improvements, construction, and capital equipping of the Robinson Nature Center, located in Columbia. $300,000 authorized in the capital budget

• Ho. Co. 02-08
  Howard County – Creation of a State Debt – North Laurel Community Center
  Passed by Delegation – HB 164
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Executive)
  Authorizing the creation of a state debt not to exceed $500,000 for the planning, design, site preparation, construction, and capital equipping of the North Laurel Community Center, located in Laurel. $300,000 authorized in the capital budget

• Ho. Co. 03-08
  Howard County – Creation of a State Debt – Blandair Regional Park
  Passed by Delegation – HB 166
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Executive)
  Authorizing the creation of a State debt not to exceed $500,000 for the purpose of planning, site preparation, construction, capital equipping, and design of a recreational park at Blandair Regional Park, located in Columbia. $300,000 authorized in the capital budget

• Ho. Co. 04-08
  Howard County – Local Government Tort Claims Act – Revenue Authority
  Passed by Delegation – HB 297
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Executive)
  Altering the definition of “local government” under the Local Government Tort Claims Act to include the Howard County Revenue Authority. Died in Senate Rules Committee

• Ho. Co. 05-08
  Howard County – Criminal History Records Check – Fingerprinting Requirement
  Passed by Delegation – HB 165
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Executive)
  Requiring a person who is the subject of a request from the County Administrator of Howard County for a criminal history records check that requires that information be obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to submit to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services a complete and legible set of the person’s fingerprints on standard fingerprint cards. Passed by General Assembly

• Ho. Co. 06-08
  Howard County – Annual Financial Audit – Filing Date
  Passed by Delegation – HB 190
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Council)
  Altering, from November 1 to December 1 after the close of the fiscal year, the date by which Howard County must file its annual financial audit with the Department of Legislative Services. Passed by General Assembly

• Ho. Co. 07-08
  Howard County – Vehicle Laws – Speed Monitoring Systems
  Amended and Passed by Delegation - HB 1198
  Sponsor: Senator Robey
  Adding Howard County (to join Montgomery County and municipalities in Montgomery County) as a jurisdiction authorized to use certain speed monitoring systems to enforce highway speed laws under certain standards and procedures. Died in House Environmental Matters Committee

• Ho. Co. 08-08
  Withdrawn

• Ho. Co. 09-08
  Howard County – Property Tax Credit - “Water Only” Property in Metropolitan District
  Failed in Delegation
  Sponsor: Senator Kittleman
  Authorizing the County Council to grant a property tax credit against the county property tax imposed on property in the Howard County Metropolitan District that is located in the “water only” portion of the planned service area set forth in the Howard County General Plan.

• Ho. Co. 10-08
  Howard County Public Schools – Testing and Inspection of Well Water for Volatile Organic Compounds
  Amended and Passed by Delegation - HB 763
  Sponsor: Delegate Miller
  Requiring the Howard County Board of Education to test and inspect the water for volatile organic compounds at each public school in the county that uses well water. Passed by General Assembly

• Ho. Co. 11-08
  Howard County – Installation of Multiuse Septic Tanks
  Amended and Passed by Delegation – HB 167
  Sponsor: Delegate Miller
  Authorizing the Howard County Council to enact local laws governing the installation and use of multiuse septic systems that are not inconsistent with State law. Passed by General Assembly; signed into law 4/8/08

• Ho. Co. 12-08
  Howard County – Enabling Legislation – Septic Tank Performance Bond
  Amended and Passed by Delegation – HB 305
  Sponsor: Delegate Miller
  Authorizing the Howard County Council to require the recipient of a permit to install a multiuse septic system to post a performance bond before installing the multiuse septic system. Passed by General Assembly; signed into law 4/8/08

  Ho. Co. 13-08
  Mobile Home Parks - Right of First Refusal
  Amended and Passed by Delegation - HB 1382
  Sponsors: Delegates DeBoy, Guzzone, Bobo, Malone, F. Turner, Senator Robey
  Requiring mobile home park owners to notify all residents of the park of an offer to buy or sell the park; establishing the right of the residents to make an offer to buy the park under certain circumstances; requiring the park owner to accept the offer under certain circumstances; establishing related notice requirements and providing certain exemptions. Died in Senate Rules Committee

• Ho. Co. 14-08
  Withdrawn

• Ho.Co. 15-08
  Howard County – Appointed Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board – Qualifications for Membership
  Passed by Delegation – HB 163
  Sponsor: House Chair (at the request of the County Council)
  Repealing the prohibition against a member of the Appointed Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board in Howard County from being employed by a public body. Passed by General Assembly; signed into law 4/8/08