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2016 Session Update - Week Seven Edition
We're halfway through the 436th Legislative Session! Time is flying by, and this week was an exciting one. I met with some passionate constituents, attended hearings for groundbreaking legislation, and stood up for the bills I believe in. Read on for some of the highlights.
Making Maryland's Roads Safer: Noah's Law
Montgomery County police officer Noah Leotta
In December 2015, Montgomery County police officer Noah Leotta was serving on the holiday DUI enforcement patrol. During a traffic stop, Leotta was struck by a suspected drunk driver on Rockville Pike. He passed away seven days later. Named after Officer Leotta, the
Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016 (Noah's Law) aims to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
As introduced,
House Bill 1342
(Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016 (Noah's Law) expands the scope of Maryland's Ignition Interlock System Program. Ignition interlocks require a driver to blow into a breathalyzer before the engine will start. Currently, these devices are only required for repeat offenders or first-time offenders who register above a .15 blood alcohol level (BAC). This bill would change that. Under Noah's Law, first-time offenders who register at a lower BAC would be required to use an ignition interlock as well.
This bill would make our roads safer for everyone--from police officers to citizens.
As a co-sponsor of the bill, I am fully committed to the cause. I will continue to voice my support for Noah's Law, so no family experiences a tragedy like this ever again.
Citizens and politicians discuss their views on Noah's Law.
Fighting for Transparency
On Wednesday, February 24, 2016, I testified before the Health and Government Operations committee in support of my bill, House Bill 217 Open Meetings Act - Requirements for Providing Agendas. The bill is a passion project of mine. The bill ensures a more transparent government, one working by the people for the people.
The original Open Meetings Act made great strides towards government transparency by by ensuring that public bodies are open and available to those they are intended to serve. However, the Open Meetings Act was not perfect. My bill seeks to close a significant loophole.
Under House Bill 217, public bodies would not only be required to provide notice of their meetings but would also be required to post any available agenda beforehand. This would enable the public to make informed decision about whether to attend a meeting. Too often I have received emails from constitutents who have traveled great distances or taken time off of work to attend a meeting where their topic of interest was not even discussed. HB 217 corrects this problem. HB 217 creates greater transparency.
We will have to wait and see how the other members of the Health and Government Operations Committee respond.
A Few Good Reads
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