Field Notes
March 21 - 26, 2011
Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities
By Delegate Mike McDermott
March 21 - 26, 2011
Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities
By Delegate Mike McDermott
- On Monday evening, the House heard Second Reader bills and received a copy of HB-70 and HB-72, the House Budget Bill and the Budget Reconciliation Bill which will be heard on Wednesday afternoon. These documents consist of hundreds of pages and will be difficult to review in such a short amount of time.
- On Tuesday morning, the House voted on the following bills on Third Reader:
NOTE: (For quick review, check out the bills which have significant vote counts in opposition.)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #27
HB 31Third Reading Passed (96-44)
HB 130
Motion Special Order until 3/23 (Delegate Cluster) Adopted
HB 164
Third Reading Passed (126-12)
HB 179
Third Reading Passed (105-33)
HB 197
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 326
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 356
Third Reading Passed (130-9)
HB 404
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 442
Third Reading Passed (98-41)
HB 602
Third Reading Passed (134-5)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #28
HB 647Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 703
Third Reading Passed (136-1)
HB 728
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 748
Third Reading Passed (102-38)
HB 789
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 826
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 830
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
HB 838
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
HB 842
Third Reading Passed (138-1)
HB 848
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #29
HB 863Third Reading Passed (139-1)
HB 887
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
HB 947
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 966
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
HB 982
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 1030
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 1047
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
HB 1109
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
HB 1137
Third Reading Passed (133-5)
- On Tuesday, the following bills were heard in the Judiciary Committee:
-
- HB-1327: Increases the penalty for the distribution of Salvia to persons under 21 years of age. The increases have been sought by Ocean City Police as they attempt to battle the use of Salvia by juveniles.
- HB-1327: Seeks to change forfeiture laws in Maryland to address certain financial crimes. Currently the law does not allow a prosecutor to attempt seizure of assets from a criminal involved in fraudulent financial dealings. This makes sense in that it gives the prosecutor to do more than simply request restitution for a victim.
- HB-1248: Seeks to establish “Earned Compliance Credits” for inmates on Parole and Probation as a means of encouraging parolees to remain out of prison and cut down on recidivism. The program has been utilized in other states, like Texas, with a great deal of success. It has led to a reduction in the prison population in those states and a tremendous cost savings.
- HB-1264: Seeks to the penalty of Elder Abuse from 10 to 20 years on a First Degree offense as well as doubling of the fines. It would also place further restrictions on the pretrial release of anyone charged under this statute.
- HB-1320: Would remove all credits for “Good Time” or Diminutive credits for a person convicted of a violent crime. It would require any time negotiated by any plea agreement be served in full prior to release from incarceration.
- HB-1332: Would create a “Drug Free” zone pilot program for the Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation Department. It addresses possession of paraphernalia, etc. on park areas designated in the zoned pilot program. The program is similar to the Drug Free School Zones already utilized across the state.
- HB-896: Seeks to punish law enforcement officers if they violate the law concerning race based profiling. There was much discussion over this bill. It was clearly indicated that the 10-year study commissioned in Maryland since 2000 that Officers are not discriminating on traffic stop based simply on their race. This did not sway the ACLU from being a big supporter of this bill. This is bad legislation and many from the law enforcement community testified against it.
- HB-744: Seeks to introduce the “Arizona Law” into Maryland law which would provide protection to officers who check the immigration status of a person stopped for another violation. There were differences of opinion, but the idea of securing our state is sound, and our immigration issues are growing exponentially.
- On Wednesday morning, the House voted on the following bills during Third Reader:
Special Order Calendar
HB 632Floor Amendment (Delegate O'Donnell) {263128/1 Rejected (50-78)
Floor Amendment (Delegate O'Donnell) {993129/1 Rejected (49-84)
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
HB 130
Third Reading Passed (101-37)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #30
HB 402Third Reading Passed (111-26)
HB 505
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 510
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 666
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 751
Third Reading Passed (97-37)
HB 817
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
HB 879
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1041
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #31
HB 93Third Reading Passed (97-41)
HB 104
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
HB 111
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 162
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 208
Third Reading Passed (135-3)
HB 320
Third Reading Passed (137-4)
HB 1049
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1050
Third Reading Passed (132-6)
HB 1072
Third Reading Passed (134-3)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #32
HB 221Third Reading Passed (122-13)
HB 362
Third Reading Passed (101-37)
HB 392
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 653
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1116
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1118
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1134
Third Reading Passed (113-25)
HB 1223
Third Reading Passed (134-3)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #33
HB 840Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 852
Motion vote previous question (Delegate Minnick) Adopted
Third Reading Passed (98-40)
HB 897
Motion Special Order until 3/24 (Delegate Frush) Adopted
HB 1020
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1067
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1082
Third Reading Passed (124-14)
HB 1222
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #34
HB 163Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 233
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 244
Third Reading Passed (122-14)
HB 253
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 255
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 319
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
HB 499
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HJ 7
Third Reading Passed (108-31)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #35
HB 519Third Reading Passed (108-31)
HB 558
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 625
Third Reading Passed (123-10)
HB 671
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 682
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 724
Third Reading Passed (126-12)
HB 730
Third Reading Passed (95-42)
HB 812
Third Reading Passed (133-5)
HB 831
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #36
HB 241Third Reading Passed (136-2)
HB 502
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 573
Third Reading Passed (135-4)
HB 921
Third Reading Passed (100-38)
HB 959
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 1174
Third Reading Passed (83-56)
- Following the morning session, I had a nice visit from the AFP (Americans for Prosperity) group from Worcester County. We gathered in the Delegation Room for the Eastern Shore and I spent about an hour responding to questions and providing them an overview of our current state of affairs. It was great to see so many interested and concerned citizens including many young people on a Field Trip from an area private school.
- On Wednesday afternoon, the Judiciary Committee conducted a voting session with the following outcome:
Favorable: HB-135, HB-407, HB-794, HB-899, HB-1277
Unfavorable:HB-839, HB-896, HB-999
- On Wednesday afternoon, the House heard the Second Reading of the Budget Bill, HB-70 and the Budget Reconciliation Bill , HB-72. (I will cover the budget in a separate article). The following amendments were offered by the Republican Caucus: Among other things, these amendments would have eliminated millions in over spending, tax payer funded abortions, funds for illegal alien education, and, in short, it would have limited our spending to our projected revenue increase of 3% (not the 11% contained in this budget).
- On Thursday’s first session, the House voted on the following bills during Third Reader:
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #37
HB 145Third Reading Passed (134-2)
HB 202
Third Reading Passed (125-10)
HB 211
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 346
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 632
Third Reading Passed (91-45)
HB 714
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 784
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1085
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #38
HB 1004Third Reading Passed (137-1)
HB 1105
Third Reading Passed (134-3)
HB 1237
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1253
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1274
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1276
Motion vote previous question (Delegate Minnick) Adopted
Third Reading Passed (118-17)
HB 1292
Third Reading Passed (123-12)
HB 1334
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #39
HB 4Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 363
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 405
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 437
Third Reading Passed (101-37)
HB 444
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 560
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 736
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 890
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 917
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
- On Thursday the Judiciary Committee heard the following bills:
-
- HB-1255: Would create a mechanism for people with previous convictions for Felony Theft to file for an expungement of the charge after 10-years of not having any issues with the Criminal Justice System. This bill has a few issues that need to be worked out before it is ready for prime time.
- HB-1279: Similar to HB-1255 seeks to allow expungement of charges to which a person did not receive a conviction on their record. This had issues raised by several people and is technically very problematic.
- On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee voted on the following bills:
Favorable:HB-511, HB-801, HB-859, HB-919, HB-1315, HB-1320
Unfavorable: HB-744, HB-1264
- On Thursday evening, the House conducted the Third Reading of the Budget Bill and the Budget Reconciliation Bill (HB-70 and HB-72). There was a great and thorough debate and two clear world views emerged on the floor. The ruling party sees no problem with an 11% increase in spending (a billion more than last year) while we only project a 3% increase in revenues. The minority party believes in cutting the deficit and spending while still allowing for moderate growth. In the end, it broke down on party lines with Republicans voting “No” and Democrats voting “Yes” (42-97).
- On Friday, the House conducted Third Reading votes on the following bills:
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #41
HB 40Third Reading Passed (127-7)
HB 135
Third Reading Passed (117-17)
HB 391
Third Reading Passed (122-15)
HB 407
Third Reading Passed (127-10)
HB 608
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 670
Third Reading Passed (96-41)
HB 675
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 794
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1016
Third Reading Passed (136-1)
HB 1104
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #42
HB 1141Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1156
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
HB 1184
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1208
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1212
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1240
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1251
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1252
Motion Special Order until 3/28 (Delegate McIntosh) Adopted
HB 1277
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1310
Third Reading Passed (108-30)
HB 1347
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #43
HB 201Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 406
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 421
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 607
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 613
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 660
Third Reading Passed (133-4)
HB 739
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 998
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 1154
Third Reading Passed (112-25)
HB 1168
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #44
HB 1193Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1311
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1315
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1327
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1329
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #45
HB 216Third Reading Passed (107-30)
HB 823
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1128
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1147
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
HB 1218
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #46
HB 22Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 665
Third Reading Passed (108-29)
HB 992
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1013
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1282
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1343
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #47
HB 598Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 897
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 919
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 941
Third Reading Passed (124-8)
- On Saturday, the House had a Third Reader Voting Session with the following results:
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #48
HB 511Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 587
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 756
Third Reading Passed (99-36)
HB 986
Third Reading Passed (129-8)
HB 1182
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #49
HB 899Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 933
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
HB 1027
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1146
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1175
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 1178
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1243
Third Reading Passed (109-25)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #50
HB 119Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 561
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 763
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 766
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
HB 801
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 809
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 841
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #51
HB 122Third Reading Passed (133-4)
HB 287
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 528
Third Reading Passed (125-12)
HB 601
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 611
Third Reading Passed (134-0)
HB 685
Third Reading Passed (120-16)
HB 867
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #52
HB 985Third Reading Passed (89-46)
HB 1022
Third Reading Passed (101-95)
HB 1053
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1139
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
HB 1151
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 1190
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #53
HB 11Third Reading Passed (135-2)
HB 87
Third Reading Passed (91-46)
HB 289
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 387
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 477
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
HB 487
Third Reading Passed (123-14)
HB 614
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1259
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #54
HB 620Third Reading Passed (99-39)
HB 740
Third Reading Passed (105-32)
HB 778
Third Reading Passed (122-14)
HB 859
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
HB 860
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 939
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
HB 983
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 1196
Third Reading Passed (99-39)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #55
HB 171Third Reading Passed (94-43)Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #48
HB 511Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 587
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 756
Third Reading Passed (99-36)
HB 986
Third Reading Passed (129-8)
HB 1182
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #49
HB 899Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 933
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
HB 1027
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1146
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 1175
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 1178
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1243
Third Reading Passed (109-25)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #50
HB 119Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 561
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 763
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 766
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
HB 801
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 809
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 841
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #51
HB 122Third Reading Passed (133-4)
HB 287
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 528
Third Reading Passed (125-12)
HB 601
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
HB 611
Third Reading Passed (134-0)
HB 685
Third Reading Passed (120-16)
HB 867
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #52
HB 985Third Reading Passed (89-46)
HB 1022
Third Reading Passed (101-95)
HB 1053
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1139
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
HB 1151
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
HB 1190
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #53
HB 11Third Reading Passed (135-2)
HB 87
Third Reading Passed (91-46)
HB 289
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 387
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
HB 477
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
HB 487
Third Reading Passed (123-14)
HB 614
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
HB 1259
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #54
HB 620Third Reading Passed (99-39)
HB 740
Third Reading Passed (105-32)
HB 778
Third Reading Passed (122-14)
HB 859
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
HB 860
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
HB 939
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
HB 983
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
HB 1196
Third Reading Passed (99-39)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #55
HB 171Third Reading Passed (94-43)
HB 396
Third Reading Passed (111-27)
HB 787
Third Reading Passed (101-36)
HB 868
Third Reading Passed (124-8)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #56
HB 235Motion vote previous question (Delegate Ross) Adopted
Third Reading Passed (86-52)
HB 881
Third Reading Passed (93-45)
HB 396
Third Reading Passed (111-27)
HB 787
Third Reading Passed (101-36)
HB 868
Third Reading Passed (124-8)
- One of the more disturbing bills passed on Saturday was HB-235. This is the “transgender, cross-dresser” bill which now requires for employer accommodations of these confused individuals. The bill will allow for our public school teachers to call themselves “Bob” one week and “Bonnie” the next week. It will be a real problem for small business and big business alike and is sure to be just one more reason not to move a family or a business into Maryland. Myself and Delegate Otto did not vote for this bill for reasons too numerous to name.
- I am working on a budget summary over the next few days. It will not be a pretty report if you care about spending.
1 comment:
HB-1320
An inmate shouldn't get rewarded for behaving while incarcerated. They should behave anyway. Vote for this bill please.
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