Report from Senator Mary Beth Carozza

 Carozza’s Shore Priority Projects Funded through Capital Budget, Supports Safe Schools, and Advocates for In-Person Learning in Kirwan Revision Debate

Local Capital Budget Projects

Annapolis, MD—Senator Mary Beth Carozza today issued the following statement after reviewing the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget, as amended by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee: 

“The amended Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget fully funds critical District 38 projects and will go a long way in improving economic development and public safety priorities,” Senator Carozza said, noting that capital funding is applied towards construction and renovation work throughout the State of Maryland.

Local projects included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget are $450,000 for the Ocean City Lifesaving Museum alongside an additional $150,000 bond initiative for handicapped accessibility improvements; $200,000 for the establishment of a Vehicles for Change program in Wicomico County; $100,000 for the Crisfield Waterfront Development area renovations; $100,000 for the Crisfield Elks Lodge No. 1044 renovations; and $50,000 for the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Company for upgrades and a roof replacement.

The Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget also includes funding for Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure for Worcester ($1 million), Wicomico ($1.5 million), and Somerset ($1 million) counties.

All of Senator Carozza’s Legislative Bond Initiatives were crossfiled with their respective District 38 Delegate: Delegate Wayne Hartman (District 38C), Delegate Carl Anderton (District 38B), and Delegate Charles Otto (District 38A). The Capital Budget is expected to receive a final Senate vote later this week. 

Supporting School Resource Officers

The Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on House Bill 522— Public Schools - School Resource Officers and School Security Employees – Revisions which would create new training requirements for School Resource Officers (SROs) and limits how they may operate on school grounds. Senator Carozza is strongly opposed to House Bill 522 and will vote against it.

 

“The bottom line is this bill is weakening the role of our School Resource Officers to protect our most valuable asset – our children. We put these SROs in place after the mass shootings that were occurring around the country, and one right here in Maryland. I will continue to oppose any and all legislative efforts to weaken the protection of our students, teachers, and school personnel,” Senator Carozza said in opposition to House Bill 522.

Kirwan Revisions

The Senate of Maryland considered House Bill 1372—Blueprint for Maryland's Future – Revisions which makes modifications to the legislation passed in 2020 based on the recommendations of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (Kirwan Commission).

 

During the committee deliberations, Senator Carozza offered an amendment to tie funding for summer school programs and summer school teacher incentives to in-person learning during summer school, which she strongly supports as a whole. While the amendment eventually was included in the final bill, Carozza voted against the final version of House Bill 1372.

 

“Students attending summer school already have been struggling with virtual learning, and in-person learning will be beneficial to both the students and teachers,” Senator Carozza said after the vote. “I am voting against the Kirwan revision bill for the same reasons I voted against the overall Kirwan bill last year. It’s based on my continued concerns for my local area on affordability, prioritization for fair funding formulas, and the need for local flexibility and tracking of outcomes. As we move forward, I am committed to working with my colleagues and all stakeholders to address the budgetary and accountability mandates that Kirwan imposes on our local jurisdictions.”