2021 General Assembly Recap From Senator Mary Beth Carozza

 Senator Carozza Recaps 2021 Legislative Session

Annapolis, MD—The 442nd session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on Monday, April 12 at midnight. Throughout the 90 days, Senator Carozza advocated for COVID-19 relief and recovery, small businesses, expansion of broadband access, election integrity, public safety and respect for our dedicated law enforcement officers.

“This has been a very difficult session with the COVID-19 protocols limiting public interaction and access as we debated and voted on so many bills impacting the lives of Marylanders,” said Senator Carozza. “I believe the lack of public input had a negative impact on final outcomes of key pieces of legislation. While were able to reach consensus on COVID-19 relief and expanding broadband access, we experienced the breakdown of bipartisanship when it came to passing legislation on police reform and election integrity which moved forward for the most part without Republican support.”    

 

COVID-19 Relief

An early priority of the Maryland General Assembly was passage of Senate Bill 496—Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs, and Families (RELIEF) Act, which Carozza cosponsored. The RELIEF Act was a Hogan Administration priority emergency stimulus and tax relief package intended to provide over $1 billion for Marylanders and small businesses. This legislation was quickly passed in the House of Delegates and State Senate and went into effect on Monday February 15, 2021.

 

“It was encouraging to see the Maryland General Assembly understand the urgency in passing this emergency COVID-19 relief and stimulus package to assist struggling Maryland families and small businesses,” Senator Carozza stated. “It went into effect immediately and has provided needed COVID-19 assistance for our small businesses, watermen, farmers, the unemployed, and all those hardest hit by the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.”

 

Small Business Recovery

During the interim Senator Carozza was on bi-weekly calls with the Maryland Restaurant Association, the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Ocean City Hotel-Motel Restaurant Association members working on the survival of these small businesses. To assist restaurants and brewers throughout the economic recovery process, Carozza strongly supported Senate Bill 205—Alcoholic Beverages - Sale or Delivery for Off-Premises Consumption. This legislation will allow restaurants, bars, and taverns to sell and deliver certain alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption or delivery, with food, under county liquor board guidelines. Carozza also voted for Senate Bill 821—Alcoholic Beverages—Manufacturer's Licenses and Off-Site Permits which will provides new regulatory relief to Maryland’s brewers and distillers.

 

A key priority of the bipartisan Senate Small Business Workgroup after working with hundreds of local small businesses during COVID-19 was legislation to create civil immunity for restaurants acting in good faith and complying with all pandemic protocols. This legislation did not advance before adjournment.

“I am disappointed that this legislation did not advance this session, but will continue to advocate for policies that benefit our small businesses during the long haul of COVID-19 recovery,” said Carozza.

Expanding Broadband Access

Senator Mary Beth Carozza joined her colleagues in championing access to broadband and ensuring that rural counties receive their fair share of broadband dollars and infrastructure. Carozza cosponsored the Digital Connectivity Act of 2021 which will establish the Office of Statewide Broadband to develop a statewide plan to deliver affordable and reliable broadband service to every Marylander by 2026. Another highlight is $300 million in federal funding that will be dedicated to a game-changing broadband technology initiative, including $128 million to improve network infrastructure, $75 million for service fee and device subsidies, and $45 million for municipal broadband grants.

 

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget: Recovery Focus

“The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Operating and Capital budgets keep the focus on COVID-19 recovery while funding key Shore priorities,” said Carozza.

The Senate of Maryland unanimously approved of Governor Larry Hogan’s FY 2022 Budget on Thursday, March 25. Included the final Fiscal Year 2022 budget is $1.1 billion for the Rainy Day Fund; $572 million of federal funding provided for COVID-19 testing, contract tracing, and vaccinations; $371.5 million for community colleges; and $22 million for critical maintenance projects at State parks. Shore priorities include $2.8 million for the Ocean City Convention Center; and $2 million for Ocean City beach maintenance.

 

Local projects included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget are $600,000 for handicapped accessibility improvements at the Ocean City Lifesaving Museum; $200,000 for the establishment of a Vehicles for Change program in Wicomico County; $100,000 for Crisfield waterfront development 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.

 

Carozza also advocated for legislation to create a HORIZON tax credit for new property developments and economic relief for restaurants and golf courses in Wicomico County.

 

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.

 

Telehealth and other Health Care Initiatives

Two of Senator Carozza’s priority health care bills cleared both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly before adjournment.

 

Senate Bill 139— Interstate Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact will establish an interstate licensure compact for occupational therapists so they can work across state lines as long as they are licensed by a member state of the compact. The Maryland General Assembly already has enacted similar legislation for nurses, physicians, and physical therapists.

“As I worked with health care providers during COVID-19, it was brought to my attention that this interstate occupational therapy licensure compact would have a direct benefit in increasing access to care, especially in districts like mine which are bordered by states, Delaware to the north, and Virginia to the south,” Senator Carozza noted. “Licensure compacts offer an important pathway to ensuring our health care facilities and providers have a sufficient number of qualified providers, making it easier for licensed health care practitioners from neighboring states to work in our hospitals and programs in our communities.”

Senate Bill 646—Alcohol and Drug Counseling - Alcohol and Drug Trainees - Practice Through Telehealth permit the permanent allowance of alcohol and drug trainees (ADTs) under supervision to provide services via telehealth after the current public health emergency declarations are lifted.

 

“Access to alcohol and drug counseling through telehealth is increasingly important especially given the devastating data from the Maryland Health Department and Opioid Operational Command Center. There were 2,025 overdose deaths in Maryland in the first three quarters of 2020. That is a 12 percent increase from the same period in 2019…These numbers make it clear that Maryland cannot let up in our efforts to provide the needed counseling services and treatment to those with alcohol and drug addictions. Senate Bill 646 would ensure that alcohol and drug trainees under supervision can continue to provide telehealth services after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Carozza.

Public Safety: Wade’s Law

After five long years the Maryland General Assembly passed Criminal Law – Life–Threatening Injury Involving a Motor Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence (Wade’s Law). This priority public safety legislation provides a just and fair penalty for those convicted of criminally-negligent driving causing life-threatening injuries by increasing the penalty from only a $500 fine to a misdemeanor subject to up to 1 year in prison and/or a $5,000 penalty or both.

 

This legislation was prompted from a violent crash involving two Worcester County road workers, Scott Tatterson and Wade Pusey, who were struck by a criminally-negligent driver. The violent crash occurred on February 22, 2016, and left Mr. Tatterson dead and Mr. Pusey with several life-threatening and life-sustaining injuries. This case was brought to Senator Carozza’s attention by Wicomico County Deputy State’s Attorney Bill McDermott, who has continuously advocated for the passage of this legislation.

 

The sense of urgency to pass Wade’s Law has increased with more victims suffering from life-threatening injuries from criminally-negligent driving including Je’Ani Lyles who lived through a horrific and extremely painful crash in Harford County in 2018. She has suffered a severing of her T8 vertebrae, multiple surgeries, and paralysis from the chest down. Like Wade Pusey and his mother Sharon, Je’Ani and her mother Carla, also plead the case for a more just penalty to hold those who are criminally-negligent responsible for their actions. 

 

“It was a total team effort. I want to thank all the victims and their families who persevered testifying over the years, the State’s Attorneys Bill McDermott, Steve Kroll, and Dave Daggett, the local police chiefs and sheriffs, and Delegate Wayne Hartman for his leadership as the House sponsor of Wade’s Law,” Carozza said. “My parents always taught me that if you believe in a just cause or action, then you keep working it, not for yourself, but for people like Wade Pusey and his family, and Je’Ani Lyles and her mother, Carla, and for all the unnamed victims and future victims. Thanks to all for making the case for Wade’s Law – a fair and just penalty.”

 

Policing Bills

The Senate of Maryland spent a good portion of the session considering policing legislation.  In March 2021, the full Senate was able to come together and advance a bipartisan package featuring components to create new guidelines for body-worn cameras and no-knock warrants.  More extreme proposals considered included allowing mere accusations, unfounded misconduct complaints, internal affairs reports and disciplinary decisions to become public record and to repeal the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, which Senator Carozza voted against.

 

The mostly-bipartisan legislation was amended in the House of Delegates and removed many of the sound police reforms earlier approved and replaced it with an anti-police bill that harms public safety.

 

“We already are seeing the retirement of police across the board, and this bill will drive more out of law enforcement, which directly reduces public safety in our community,” said Carozza.

 

“As I listened to my colleagues during the police reform debate, I agree about the need for course correction and building of trust in policing. That’s why I supported the more balanced Senate police reform bills that passed earlier in the session…But as the Governor highlighted in his veto letter, the final police reform bills that were passed by the legislature will result in great damage to police recruitment and retention, posing significant risks to public safety across our state,” Carozza added.

 

I voted to sustain the Governor’s vetoes on the police reform bills as I believe that instead of building public trust and confidence in Maryland policing that it will threaten the lives and safety of our citizens and of our law enforcement.”

 

Sanctuary State

Senator Carozza voted against legislation that prohibits local jurisdictions from entering into contracts with federal immigration authorities. “Making Maryland a sanctuary state would threaten public safety and put Maryland and Worcester County at risk of losing millions of federal dollars,” Carozza said. “I will continue to oppose all efforts to make Maryland a sanctuary state.”

 

During the debate, Senator Carozza offered an amendment that would have exempted Worcester County from this legislation. Carozza shares concerns echoed by Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli and the Worcester County Commissioners, noting that the legislation reduces the autonomy of local detention facilities and limits their ability to function in a safe manner. The passage of House Bill 16 also would cost the county millions in federal funding to house immigration detainees in the Worcester County Jail. The amendment failed on voice vote and Carozza voted against the final legislation.

 

Education

The Senate of Maryland considered House Bill 1372—Blueprint for Maryland’s Future—Revisions, which addressed learning loss, challenges with virtual learning and other issues presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the deliberations, Senator Carozza introduced an amendment that was later included in the legislation for summer school programs to be conducted in person as the intent of the General Assembly. 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.”

 

Looking Ahead

With the 2021 session over, Senator Carozza issued the following statement:

“One of my favorite sayings is that ‘Hope Drives the Human Spirit’ which is why I remain encouraged as we move towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are becoming more easily available, and I encourage my constituents to take advantage of being vaccinated when it is their turn. I will continue to give it my all to see us through a full COVID-19 recovery, and encourage my constituents to continue to share your views with me. I am forever grateful to serve District 38 in the Maryland General Assembly and look forward to seeing you back home.”