Senator Mary Beth Corozza reports

 

Tuesday's bill signing in Annapolis

 

WORCESTER AGRITOURISM, VETERANS, AND MORE BILLS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR HOGAN TODAY

One day after the Maryland General Assembly adjournment sine die, Senator Mary Beth Carozza today participated in a bill signing ceremony with Governor Larry Hogan and presiding officers Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne with 79 bills signed into law in the Governor’ State House Reception Room in Annapolis.

 

The Worcester County agritourism bills (Senate Bill 32 sponsored by Carozza and House Bill 12 sponsored by Delegates Hartman and Otto), which passed both chambers unanimously, would add Worcester County to the list of 18 other jurisdictions in which farm structures used for agritourism activities are exempted from certain commercial building requirements.

 

“The Worcester County agritourism legislation allows for a successful tool to give more local farm families the opportunity to offer agritourism activities on their farms,” said Carozza. “It’s a win-win for both the farm families who may need to diversify and pull in additional revenue just to keep the farm and for tourists who will have more options to explore and experience our local farms.”

 

The bill has strong support from the Worcester County Commissioners and its tourism office, Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, Maryland Tourism Coalition, Maryland Farm Bureau, and Agriculture Grow and Fortify.  

 

In addition to Senate Bill 32, several other bills that Senator Carozza cosponsored or supported were signed into law:

• House Bill 882, Natural Resources – Pocomoke River Wildland – Alteration of Boundaries: This Maryland Department of Natural Resources bill would add approximately 80 acres of the Pocomoke State Forest as new type Wildlands and would exempt approximately two acres of the Pocomoke State Forest to allow the construction of an elevated walk-way that would connect the Town of Snow Hill directly to the Pocomoke State Park. The trail would create a trail network from Snow Hill to Pocomoke City and has significant social, recreational, and economic benefits.

 

• Senate Bill 5, General Provisions - Commemorative Days - Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, sponsored by Senator Obie Patterson and cosponsored by Carozza, designates the fourth Thursday in March as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. This would make Maryland the ninth state and the District of Columbia to pass a law officially honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, comprised of nearly 1,000 Black pilots who flew during World War II and were supported by more than 15,000 cooks, security personnel, and other staff support. The Tuskegee Airmen are credited with integrating the military as their resolve in World War II included the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

 

• Senate Bill 94, Public Health - Maryland Suicide Fatality Review Committee, sponsored by Senator Addie Eckardt and also cosponsored by Carozza. This bill establishes the Maryland Suicide Fatality Review Committee (State team) to identify and address the factors contributing to suicide deaths and facilitate system changes in the State to prevent suicide deaths.

 

 

Senator Carozza pictured with Delegates Otto and Hartman during Worcester County Agritourism bill signing. 

 

Senator Carozza and Delegate Otto pictured with Department of Natural Resources Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, DNR Legislative Officer Bunky Luffman of Delmar and DNR team.

 

Senator Carozza pictured with Senator Patterson with the Governor’s official resolution commemorating the fourth Thursday in March as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.

Senator Mary Beth Carozza's report on final week of legislature

 

2022 Maryland General Assembly Update

Week Thirteen: Final Countdown With Passage of Highway User Funds Bill, Shore Budget Priorities, Governor’s Vetoes and Overrides, and Crisfield High School Visit

 

Annapolis, MD – Today, Monday April 11,  the Maryland General Assembly will adjourn sine die at midnight. During the last full week, marathon and double sessions were the norm in both committee and the Floor sessions during these final days of deliberations. This week’s highlights include passage of legislation returning Highway User Funds to local governments, Shore priorities covered in Capital Budget, the Governor’s vetoes and override votes, and Crisfield High School in Somerset County visiting Annapolis. 

 

Local Transportation Funds and Shore Budget Priorities 

In the last full week, an agreement worked out between the Governor and the legislature to increase transportation funding for local governments was reached which has been a top priority for the Maryland Municipal League and Maryland Association of Counties Organization (MACo). Senator Carozza, who represents 11 municipalities and three counties in District 38, cosponsored Senate Bill 726 sponsored by Senator Cory McCray. District 38 Delegate Carl Anderton, who is the former Mayor of Delmar, is the House sponsor (HB 1187).

 

Under this agreement, the share of the transportation funding for local jurisdictions will increase from 13.5 percent to 15.6%  in FY24, and by FY27, the percentage will increase to 20%. The proposed municipal portion of that Local Share of the Highway User Fund (HUR) is 2.4% in FY 24; 2.7% in FY 25; 3% in FY 27; and 2.4% form FY 28 onwards. Without this proposal, the municipal share would drop from the current level of 2% to 0.4% beginning in FY 24. County governments share is 3.2 % today.  In SB 726, it goes to 4.8% for FY 26-27.

 

“Returning the Highway User Funds back to the local jurisdictions has been a top priority for Governor Hogan and our Shore Delegation, and this is record-level funding for municipalities and long-term certainty for local projects,” said Carozza. “I especially want to thank Delegate Anderton for his leadership, knowledge and persistence on this matter and with this successful outcome.”   

 

The Maryland General Assembly on April 7^th passed the Capital budget which includes Shore and District 38 priorities. Local projects included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget are $150,000 total for a 10-unit hangar at Crisfield Airport in Somerset County; $200,000 total for the renovation and expansion of Somerset County Courthouse in Princess Anne; $200,000 total for the Delmar Community Center; and $200,000 for safety improvements and renovation of the Ocean Pines Fire Department South Station in Worcester, which is in addition to the $1.35 million included in Governor Hogan’s supplemental budget.

“Funding for these local projects will go a long way in advancing economic development, community, and public safety priorities in District 38,” Senator Carozza said, noting that capital funding is applied specifically towards construction and renovation work throughout the State of Maryland. 

Vetoes and Overrides

As expected, Governor Hogan vetoed several bills including abortion expansion, paid family leave, attorney child interrogations, and new licensed firearm dealers requirements. Senator Carozza supported the Governor’s vetoes which were overridden by the supermajority in both the Senate and House of Delegates.

 

Several local businesses contacted Carozza directly to express their opposition to Senate Bill 275 – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and House Bill 1021 Licensed Firearms Dealers Security Requirements. SB 275 mandates that every employer with 15 or more employees (well below the Obama administration standard) must participate in the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and contribute an indeterminate amount per employee to the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund. In his veto letter on SB 275, Governor Hogan wrote,  “After two years of a devastating global pandemic… a new $1.6 billion dollar regressive statewide payroll tax is the worst thing lawmakers could be imposing on Maryland employers and employees.”

 

In addition to her Senate Floor remarks in support of the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 275, Carozza also commented on her strong opposition to House Bill 937 – Abortion Care Access Act. She said, “With House Bill 937, Maryland becomes even better known of having the very top most liberal expansive abortion laws in the country. We open up Maryland so all kinds of providers can perform abortions instead of physicians. We have no limits so these providers can perform abortions right up to birth, no parental notification for minors 13 years old and under, no requirement to give basic mental health services information to women who have had an abortion and are showing signs of distress or depression, and not even a requirement that life-saving care would be provided if a baby was born live during a botched abortion. Speaking on behalf of my constituents, we don’t want Maryland to be known for a far-reaching expansive abortion law… and I am not proud of Maryland becoming known as an abortion destination.”

 

Crisfield High School Visit to Annapolis

After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the 10^th-grade students from Crisfield High School with teacher trip coordinator Mr. Randy Laird, Crisfield Teacher of the Year Ms. Vestina Davis, history teachers Ms. Erin Walbert and Mr. Justin Ihnat, and bus driver Mr. Hank Ward made it Annapolis and toured both the oldest-working State House in the country and the Naval Academy. It was my distinct honor to greet the Crisfield High School group with Delegates Charles Otto and Carl Anderton, and to bring the students into the Senate Gallery where I introduced them to my Senate colleagues.  “The students saw us in action in the closing days of the session, and I am glad they made the extra effort to travel to Annapolis this session,” said Carozza.

Update from State Senator Mary Beth Carozza

 

April 3, 2022

2022 Maryland General Assembly Update

Week Twelve: Record Tax Relief Signed into Law, Shore Budget Highlights, Rushing Bills to the Governor, Redistricting Update

 

Annapolis, MD – We are less than two weeks from the Maryland General Assembly adjourning sine die on April 11th. This week’s highlights include a bill signing with Governor Hogan and legislative leaders enacting the largest tax cut package in state history, Shore budget priorities, the rush to send bills to Governor Hogan by April 1, and a redistricting update.

 

Retiree Tax Relief

Senator Mary Beth Carozza joined Governor Hogan and legislative leaders at a Friday bill signing ceremony as the Governor signed into law the largest tax cut package in state history, including the Retirement Tax Elimination Act (SB 405), which will provide an additional $1.86 billion in long overdue tax relief for Maryland retirees, families and small businesses. This includes a $1.55 billion reduction in taxes for retirees 65 and older who make less than $100,000 in retirement income and $150,000 as a couple.

 

“For the past eight years, Governor Hogan has been pushing and working on retiree tax relief, and I have cosponsored all of his retiree and other tax-relief bills both as a Delegate and Senator. Going back to my early door-to-door visits with constituents back in 2013, I constantly heard from local retirees that they wanted to stay in Maryland but some were leaving for more retiree-friendly states,” said Carozza. “I want to thank Governor Hogan for making retiree tax relief a top priority and for being so persistent in seeing it all the way through into law.”

 

Budget Priories and Shore Highlights

With a record $7 billion Maryland budget surplus, Governor Hogan submitted supplemental budgets for fiscal year ’23 including $350 million for tax relief for retirees, working families and small businesses this year; $2.4 billion in the Rainy Day Fund; $50 million to support tourism; $36 million to support economic development and revitalization, $35 million to restore funding for providers serving victims of crime, and $30 million to serve 1,350 youth on the Autism Waiver waiting list.

 

The Governor’s $2.8 billion supplemental budget submitted on March 28th makes key investments in some of his administration’s core priorities, including support for police and public safety, an expanded cyber readiness and workforce initiative, and critical infrastructure and public health investments. This supplemental budget also funds top priorities for county leaders and local governments.

 

This supplemental budget also includes $1.35 million for safety improvements and renovation of the Ocean Pines Fire Department South Station in Worcester; $550,000 for a 10-unit hangar at Crisfield Airport in Somerset County; and $350,000 for Delmar streetscape upgrades on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Wicomico.

 

“Governor Hogan has always supported priority Shore projects tied to public safety and economic and community development. On behalf of our Shore community, I extend our deep appreciation to the Governor for his strong and steadfast support of these Shore priorities,” said Carozza. 

 

Rushing Bills to the Governor

Several contentious bills that the Governor may veto were rushed through the legislative process to be presented to the Governor by April 1^st. By sending the bills to the Governor by this date, the legislature would have time to debate and override his vetoes before adjourning for the session. These include bills on marijuana legalization, paid family and medical leave, climate change, and abortion expansion. Carozza voted against these bills.

 

Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

“It makes no sense to legalize the recreational use of marijuana when we are in the middle of an opioid crisis, especially when overdose deaths have significantly increased during the pandemic, and we certainly don’t need a constitutional amendment to put legalizing marijuana on the November ballot,” said Carozza. (Senate Bill 833 and House Bill 1)

 

Paid Family and Medical Leave

Carozza said the legislature also jammed through a paid family and medical leave bill, Senate Bill 275, without proper vetting. “This mandate, imposed on both employers and workers, would give up to 24 weeks of paid family and medical leave. It’s a payroll tax, and the bill proponents couldn’t even tell us the cost. During the Senate Finance Committee voting session, even some of the Democrats who voted for it called it a ‘hot mess’, said Carozza. “There were so many basic, unanswered questions like just figuring out the cost share that it simply was irresponsible to vote for a major new government program without knowing the impact on employers and workers alike.” .

 

Other legislation that already has been sent to the Governor includes the omnibus climate change bill, Senate Bill 528 and the abortion bill, House Bill 937 that would have devastating impacts on Maryland businesses and consumers, and on women's  health respectively. The abortion bill expands abortion providers beyond physicians to include other healthcare occupations, including nurses and physician assistants, even though they do have similar educational or practical experience and do not perform surgical procedures under their scope of practice. Additionally, taxpayers would pay $3.5 million a year on abortion training plus the several millions dollars a year that Maryland taxpayers already pay each year for 4,000 abortions under Maryland’s Medicaid program. The Climate Change bill “would have far reaching and devastating impacts on fossil fuel suppliers, many which are small businesses, sharply increase the costs for businesses required to retrofit, result in rent increases for those living in apartments and condos, and drive up overall energy costs by limiting options for consumers,” said Carozza.

 

Redistricting Update

The Maryland General Assembly passed a new version of a congressional map on March 30th to replace the one that was thrown out by Anne Arundel County Senior Judge Lynne A. Battaglia. Not only did she call the congressional map an “extreme partisan gerrymander,” but she also claimed that the map violated the state constitution’s equal protection, free speech and free elections clauses. A new version of the map was quickly drafted by the Maryland Senate and House, despite Republican objections, to meet the judge’s March 30 deadline. In addition, the Maryland Attorney General has filed a notice to appeal the decision by Judge Battaglia.

 

“I voted against the 8-0 (8 Democrats to 0 Republicans) Congressional map back in December, and I voted against the new 7-1 March 30h Congressional map as it’s pretty close to the same status quo gerrymandered map that we’ve had for the past 10 years,” said Carozza. 

Senator Mary Beth Carozza's update from Annapolis

 

 2022 Maryland General Assembly Update

Week Eleven: Maryland Day Celebration, Century Farm Families, Women’s Veterans Day, Crime, & Abortion

Annapolis, MD – Crossover took place on Monday, March 21st, the deadline for bills to clear their original chamber to be considered in the opposite one has come and gone, and the work of the Senate of Maryland continues. All Senate and House Bills have already received the first hearing and are now awaiting the next hearing in the appropriate committee. Other highlights of the week include the celebration of Maryland Day and Maryland’s Century Farm families, Women’s Veterans’ Day, a Senate GOP press conference on crime, and the Senate taking up abortion legislation. Also, during the Senate Floor proceedings this week, Madison Knight from Pocomoke High School in Worcester County and Taylor Gray from Crisfield High School in Somerset County were recognized as Senate Pages.

 

Maryland Day Celebration

Maryland Day commemorates March 25th, 1634, when a group of Europeans, including many Catholics, arrived at St. Clement’s Island aboard the Ark and the Dove. This historic settlement helped bring Catholicism to the Thirteen Colonies and was considered the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States. The Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution held a special presentation in the Senate Chamber showcasing the historic gavel set dedicated to the gallant soldiers of the Maryland 400, also known as George Washington’s Old Line. We also celebrated Maryland Day with Rural Maryland Council honoring the State’s farmers, watermen, and rural communities.

                                                                                

Maryland Century Farm Program

Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder, along with Maryland legislators, including Senator Mary Beth Carozza, inducted eight Maryland farm families into the Century Farm Program as they celebrated Maryland’s proud agricultural history. Carozza visited with two farm families from District 38 including Lloyd Ben Brittingham Farm in Parsonsburg  (1915) and the Dryden Farm in Newark (1918), with both families traveling from the Shore for the State House event in Annapolis. “Our farm families work so hard to feed and support the entire State of Maryland, and they deserve to be recognized by the Governor and other state leaders for their many contributions,” said Carozza. “It’s quite an accomplishment to be a 100-year old farm family, and I am glad that the Brittingham and Dryden families from my district were honored.”

 

Women’s Veterans’ Day

On March 23rd,  a virtual Women's Veterans Day was held, giving members of the Maryland General Assembly and constituents the opportunity to hear firsthand from women veterans about the unique challenges they face and to explore legislative and community solutions. It was a celebration of women veterans in Maryland with tributes to women trailblazers and outstanding advocates who have made significant contributions to women veterans of Maryland.

 

Carozza, who made brief remarks, shared her unique experiences from her senior-level positions in Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense. She noted that many women veterans returning from overseas military services face challenges when they return home and often are not aware of the resources and services available to them in the areas of health, housing, employment and education. The Senator also highlighted the work of the Lower Shore Veterans Network members and their programs to assist veterans and their families.

 

“We have an obligation to ensure that our women veterans, who have been our leaders in the military, now have the opportunity to be leaders back home,” said Carozza.  “Given the severe work force shortage in every major industry, we should help position our women veterans to be leaders in their areas of interest.”

 

GOP Press Conference on Crime

On March 24th, Senate and House Republicans held a joint press conference to keep the pressure on passing meaningful anti-crime legislation in the closing days of the session. The members reviewed a long list of get-tough-on-crime legislation that remains stuck in the House, which includes legislation to close gun violence loopholes, make the theft of a handgun a felony and take away parole from those who intentionally kill a police officer.

 

Carozza, who attended the press conference, said, “Governor Hogan and Republicans in the Senate and House have been consistent in pushing for anti-crime measures to pass this session. Violence across the state has been out-of-control, and the only way to control it is to arrest, prosecute, and give tougher sentences to repeat, violent criminals.”  

 

“As we continue to urge the House of Delegates to take up the commonsense anti-crime bills that the Senate already has passed,  I fully support the Governor’s immediate actions this week targeting more funding and support for additional prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and fully funding the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants to support victim service providers.”

 

 

Abortion Bill

The Senate debated Senate Bill 890, Abortion Care Access Act, which received preliminary approval on the Senate Floor on Friday. This bill expands abortion providers beyond physicians to include other healthcare occupations, including nurses and physician assistants, even though they do have similar educational or practical experience and do not perform surgical procedures under their scope of practice.  Additionally, taxpayers would pay $3.5 million a year on abortion training plus the several millions dollars a year that Maryland taxpayers already pay each year for 4,000 abortions under Maryland’s Medicaid program.

 

During the Senate Floor debate, Carozza said, “I rise with a heavy heart in opposition… and to share many objections to Senate Bill 890 which makes a dramatic change in Maryland’s health policy that will negatively impact the health and safety of women across the state. This is NOT a debate about abortion being legal.  This is about deep opposition to moving Maryland’s already liberal abortion laws to the extremes, especially when it comes to late-term abortions and places women’s health at risk.”

 

Commonsense amendments were offered by several Republican Senators, including Carozza, and rejected by the Democrat majority. These include requiring life-saving care for babies born alive during an abortion procedure, removing taxpayer funding for abortion training, and requiring a provider to notify a parent or guardian if the minor is 13 years or younger and not use the “mature or best interest” exception to avoid notification.

 

Carozza offered two parental notification amendments during the Senate Floor debate on SB 890. The first one stated that in those cases where a provider is required to notify a parent or guardian before performing the abortion that the delivery of the notice must be received by the parent or guardian before the date the abortion was performed. “This amendment simply makes the notification meaningful and real, and not just checking the box,” said Carozza.

 

The second parental notification amendment offered by Carozza states that the provider must notify the parent or guardian if the minor is under 13 years of age and NOT use the exceptions that a minor is mature and capable of giving informed consent to an abortion and that notification would not be in the best interest of the minor. “These two exceptions are so broad that a provider can easily use them to NOT notify parents and guardians,” said Carozza. “This is a reasonable amendment that would not allow the provider to use these two exceptions if the minor is under the age of 13 years old.”

 

“I am deeply saddened that this extreme abortion bill (SB 890) is moving forward in the Maryland General Assembly, but I was glad to hear Senate President Bill Ferguson announce that the Constitution Amendment to place abortion in the Maryland Constitution is dead for the session,” said Carozza.

 

Brittingham Farm Family from Parsonsburg

Dryden Farm Family from Newark

GOP Press Conference on Crime

Pocomoke Public Eye note: We will publish press releases received from all General Assembly members representing our area.

Press Release from State Senator Mary Beth Carozza

2022 Maryland General Assembly Update

Crossover Week Ten: Gas Tax Suspension, Budget and Carozza Bills Passing, Hearings on Parental Notification and Crisfield Police Bills

 Annapolis, MD – Crossover is Monday, March 21st which is the deadline for each chamber to pass its bills over to the other, without having to jump through extra procedural hoops. There has been a flurry of activity leading up to Crossover including passage of emergency legislation to suspend the gas tax for 30 days, Senate passage of the Fiscal Year ’23 Budget and four of Senator Carozza’s bills, and committee hearings on Carozza’s bill on parental notification of medical procedures and a priority local bill to support the Crisfield Police Department.

 

Gas Tax Suspension & Push to End Automatic Gas Tax

On March 18^th, emergency legislation to suspend the .36 cents gas tax for 30 days was signed into law. “While this a great first step and show of bipartisanship, I have joined with my colleagues in the Senate Republican Caucus in cosponsoring legislation to end the automatic and never-ending tax increase that was passed back in 2013,” said Carozza, who noted that Marylanders would save $37.5 million in FY ’23 and $117 million by FY ’27. “With gas prices at a seven-year high and inflation at a 30-year high, the time is now to end the automatic gas increase,” said Carozza.

 

Senate Passes FY 2023 Budget

The Senate passed the amended version of Governor Hogan’s $58 billion fiscal year ‘23 budget that reflects a $7 billion surplus due to federal COVID relief funds and higher than expected tax revenues. The fiscal year ’23 budget is structurally sound with no deficits and also replenishes Maryland’s Rainy Day Fund.

 

“This budget funds many of our Shore priorities including boosting tourism, ongoing COVID 19 relief and needed funding for our local health departments, and additional funding for law enforcement and education,” said Carozza.

 

Carozza noted that $350 million has been reserved for tax relief but the specifics of how those funds will be used has not yet been determined. “I will continue to push for retiree tax relief to keep Marylanders living, working, and retiring in Maryland,” said Carozza.

 

The Budget now heads over to the House and its Appropriations Committee. The final version of the budget must be agreed upon by both chambers and passed by April 4^th. Passing the budget is the only constitutionally-mandated obligation of the Maryland General Assembly each year. Next week, the Senate will take up the Capitol Budget which funds infrastructure projects throughout the State, and it will follow the same process for final passage.

 

Carozza Bills Pass the Senate Unanimously

This week, four of Carozza’s bills passed the Senate by a unanimous vote. These include Senate Bill 64 Beach Erosion Control District that would provide a mechanism to repair, replace and, with specific limitations, add on to these existing facilities and bring the Ocean City Life-Saving Museum, built in 1891, into compliance with the federal Americans for Disabilities Act and current fire safety codes; Senate Bill 537 Shrimp Fishery Regulations that would allow the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to establish regulations for the new shrimp fishery approved last year; Senate Bill 538 Land Use - Agritourism - Definition that would include special events and occasions within the statewide Agritourism definition to give our farm families more options to diversify and expand rather than selling their valuable farm land for development; and Senate Bill 695 Natural Resources - Voluntary Firewood Treatment Certification Program - Establishment that would allow the Department of Natural Resources the authority to establish a Voluntary Firewood Treatment Certification Program to allow Maryland’s forest operators to continue to export their firewood products to other states.

 

Maryland Parental Involvement Enhancement Act

On March 16th, Senate Bill 891 was introduced by Senator Carozza in the Senate Finance Committee, which would require parental notification of non-emergency medical procedures including abortion and would allow physicians to waive the requirement during a medical emergency or if the minor requests a judicial waiver. During her testimony, Senator Carozza testified, “that the purpose of Senate Bill 891 is to protect our children and to let parents be parents. Many well-respected medical organizations like the Maryland Psychological Association and the Maryland Board of Nursing, to name a couple, agree that most pre-teen and teen age children do not have the cognitive capacity to make medical decisions without parental involvement, and it is not developmentally appropriate to expect them to do so.”

 

During her testimony, Carozza referenced the written testimony of Dr. Peg Naleppa, former Chief Executive of the Peninsula Regional Medical Center and now TidalHealth, registered nurse, mother of two daughters and nana to two granddaughters. “...as a registered nurse with 45 years of experience, I have on numerous occasions personally witnessed or have been informed by a minor of a decision he/she made independently, without parental discussion and consent. Their narrative is often- if only I had known -of both short- term and long-term unintended consequences, I would have chosen a different outcome. These comments beg the question of why didn’t informed consent act to advise the minor at the time of a procedure?”.

 

Michelle Talkington, a mother of six children, Debra Brocato, a Registered Nurse, and Eileen Roberts, Founder and President of Parents for Life testified on Carozza’s panel in strong support of SB 891. 

 

Crisfield Police Department Bill

On March 16th, Carozza’s Senate Bill 958 was heard in the Senate Pensions Subcommittee. SB 958 would allow the members of the Crisfield Police Department to participate in the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pensions System (LEOPS). It also entitles current Crisfield law enforcement officers to eligibility and creditable service in LEOPS for their prior service in the Crisfield Police Department. “This is a local priority bill that would allow the Crisfield Police Department to retain and recruit qualified officers, and to remain competitive with neighboring law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions, during a rampant law enforcement shortage across the Shore and State of Maryland” testified Carozza. 

 

Carozza also publicly thanked Crisfield Police Chief David Dalfonso for  making the trip to Annapolis to testify in person in support of SB 958 and for his determination in working with the Maryland Retirement and Pension System through the process of bringing LEOPS to the Crisfield Police Department.