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MD|DC LEGISLATIVE UPDATE March 13, 2018
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Greetings,

The fate of thousands of bills will be determined as the Maryland General Assembly heads into the final month of its 2018 session. Legislation supported by the Association, which would allow financial institutions to make audio recordings available to law enforcement, received a favorable committee report. A foreclosure bill the Association opposes because of its negative impact on credit unions appears unlikely to move out of committee. More details on the bills are below.

The D.C. Council is considering a bill to update the District's data breach and privacy laws. The legislation would require all businesses to take reasonable steps to protect consumers' data and ensure violations would be subject to the penalty provisions of D.C.'s Consumer Protection Procedures Act.

Here's the political roundup:
  • Candidates weighing a challenge to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser have until next Wednesday, March 21, to qualify for the June 19 Democratic primary. According to campaign finance reports, Bowser has a commanding lead, having raised $2.2 million since announcing her campaign for a second term last summer.
  • Maryland projects nearly $400 million more in tax revenue than previously expected this year and in 2019. That gives legislators and Governor Larry Hogan some flexibility as they finalize the state budget by the April 2 deadline.
  • U.S. Rep. Anthony G. Brown has endorsed businessman David Trone in the race for Maryland's 6th Congressional District. Trone is a Democrat and the first candidate in the congressional race to receive the backing of one of Maryland's current members of Congress.
  • The Maryland Republican Party has selected farmer Jason C. Gallion, of Harford County, to run in this year's primary election for the District 35 Senate seat that is open following the death last week of incumbent Republican Senator Norman. Norman's widow has been nominated to fill remainder of his term.
Monday, March 19 marks the last day for each chamber to send bills to the other. This means House bills intended to be passed must be sent to the Senate and vice versa.

Have a wonderful week.
John Bratsakis
President/CEO
 
District of Columbia Legislative Update

Security Breach Protection Amendment Act of 2017 
As introduced, this bill expands what personal information is subject to protection from the breach of the security of a system. It also specifies what information is required in a notification of a security breach to a person whose personal information has been compromised. Among other things, it also requires that written notice of the breach be given to the Office of the Attorney General.
The bill is currently under review by the DC Council.
Maryland General Assembly Update

HB1263: Foreclosed Property Registry - Duty to Inspect and Maintain Properties in Baltimore City 
Requiring a foreclosure purchaser at least every 3 months to conduct a reasonable inspection of and perform necessary maintenance on certain properties in Baltimore City to prevent the property from becoming blighted or causing damage to a neighboring property; requiring a foreclosure purchaser to certify to the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation certain information about inspections of certain properties in Baltimore City; imposing a certain penalty for a failure to conduct a certain inspection; etc. 
Position: Oppose. The Association submitted testimony in opposition on the principle that a property may be within the foreclosure process, but the property has not officially changed ownership. The bill is not expected to move forward, as it does not appear to have the support to move out of the Environment and Transportation Committee.
SB0748 | HB0791: Interception of Communication - Financial Institutions  
Providing that it is lawful under certain provisions of law for an employee or agent of a financial institution to intercept and record a certain oral communication under certain circumstances; providing that a certain audio recording shall be preserved for at least 30 calendar days; providing that a certain audio recording may be made in certain formats; and providing that a certain audio recording may be made available by a financial institution only to certain persons under certain circumstances. 
Position: Support - submitted written testimony. Bill received a favorable report with amendments by the Senate Finance Committee. New language states communications can be intercepted as part of an ongoing criminal investigation of a robbery and the financial institution must adopt a record retention policy that specifies a time period after which an audio recording is permanently inaccessible.The recording may be made on the property of a financial institution, or at or near an ATM operated by the financial institution. The financial institution must display a clearly visible written notice that an audio recording may be in progress.