2023 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Eleven: State Budget Clears Senate,
Hearings on Carozza Bills, Maryland Day
|
|
The work of the Senate of Maryland continues now that we’ve passed March 20th Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to clear their original chamber to be considered in the other chamber. All Senate and House bills have received their initial hearing and those bills that have crossed over await their next hearing in the appropriate committee of the other chamber.
|
|
Now that we’re post Crossover, we’re spending time in the opposite chamber on bill hearings in the House of Delegates. We’re close to the finish line, and we want to make sure that bills that support our Shore Way of Life clear both chambers and are sent to the Governor for signature.
Note: There are only eighteen days left in the 2023 Legislative Session with Sine Die adjournment set for Monday, April 10 at midnight.
|
|
BUDGET MOVES THROUGH
THE SENATE
The full Senate passed its version of the $62.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 on Thursday. This vote came after the House of Delegates worked on Governor Moore’s Budget proposal first before reaching the Senate last week. Most notably, the General Assembly has shifted more money to the Blueprint Education Fund and away from future mass transit projects. There are no new tax increases, a solid investment in the State’s Rainy Day Fund and tax credits for veterans.
|
|
Passing a balanced budget is the only constitutional responsibility of the General Assembly, and it must be passed by the 83rd day of Session which is April 3rd this year. The budget has been sent back to the House where the differences between the House and Senate versions still need to be worked out in the next 10 days.
|
|
The Senate-passed budget includes $2 million for the BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) Program, which provides funding for low-income students to attend private schools and $9.5 million for funds to assist trauma centers experiencing financial challenges, including TidalHealth which has been significantly underfunded by the State.
TidalHealth is the Eastern Shore’s only trauma center, serving 500,000 local residents and the approximate eight million people who visit the Shore each year. Our trauma center has been woefully underfunded by the State, and we are pressing for additional funds to continue operations and keep the doors open at TidalHealth
|
|
HOUSE HEARINGS ON MY SENATE BILLS |
The House Appropriations Committee held hearings on Senate Bill 68 and Senate Bill 244 this week. Senate Bill 68 would allow members of the Crisfield Police Department to participate in the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System.
This is a local priority bill that is absolutely essential to the recruitment and retention of the Crisfield Police Department. This would allow the Crisfield Police to remain competitive during a rampant law enforcement shortage across the Shore and the State of Maryland.
|
Senate Bill 244 would ensure that Lena Williams, the widow of Correctional Officer Gregory Collins, is allowed to apply for the special death benefits established by Senate Bill 198 of 2022. Due to a time restriction, Ms. Williams was left unable to apply.
Lena Williams and her family have suffered for years after the brutal murder of her husband, Correctional Officer Greg Collins who served our state with honor in a dangerous job and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. I really appreciate all the support Ms. Williams has received from my fellow members of the Maryland General Assembly.
|
COMMITTEE WORK ON BASKETBALL BILL |
The Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee held a hearing on House Bill 343, which would establish statutory requirements for public school athletic schedules for basketball, enabling schools who participate to allow their student basketball athletes to attend showcases each year. The intent of the legislation is to allow students who play basketball to have as much access to scholarships as possible; however, HB 343 would prioritize basketball over all other sports and, according to a witness testifying against the legislation, would only benefit five or six high schools in all of Maryland.
|
(Above) Representatives of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSA) testified in strong opposition to HB 343 before the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee, including the Supervisor of Athletics for Wicomico County Public Schools Bryan Ashby and the Athletic Director for Wicomico County High School Irwin “Stosh” Schtierman. |
Several school officials and sports program managers testified in strong opposition to the bill, including Bryan Ashby, the Supervisor of Athletics for Wicomico County Public Schools, and Irwin “Stosh” Schtierman, the Athletic Director for Wicomico County High School. Ashby spoke on the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Master Agreement, which is supported by all 24 local school systems superintendents and allows education-based athletic programs to operate competitive seasons, culminating tournaments and state tournament play.
I asked them to just bottom-line this for us. Tell us why would this be unfair to student athletes?
|
“House Bill 343 does not look through the lens that we look in that what we support, what we currently have regulation for, is education-based athletics for all athletes,” said Bryan Ashby. “What we currently have provides equity. It’s tough for 24 local school systems to agree, but when we voted in last year the new COMAR regulation to support our student athletes during the NCAA scholastic period, it was voted unanimously. What we have now is balance and a focus on education-based athletics.”
Other officials testifying in strong opposition cited inequity among various sports, inequity between the boys and girls basketball programs, the increased possibility of student athlete exploitation, and the overall negative consequences this legislation would have on education-based athletics.
Our local high school coaches and athletic directors have the educational interest of our student athletes at the forefront. I played varsity tennis for Stephen Decatur High School. We don’t need to be legislating and micromanaging our high school coaches and athletic directors when they already are putting the best interest of our student athletes first.
|
MARYLAND DAY
Maryland Day commemorates March 25th, 1634, when a group of 150 Europeans, including many Catholics, arrived in St. Mary’s County aboard the Ark and the Dove.
This Saturday is the 389th anniversary of Maryland becoming the third English colony to be settled in British North America. This historic settlement brought Catholicism to the Thirteen Colonies and was considered the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States.
The holiday was officially observed beginning in 1903 to honor Maryland history and to increase the teaching of state and local histories in public schools. Maryland Day became a legal State holiday in 1916.
|
Several of my bills have hearings scheduled in the House next week, including Senate Bills 252, 493, 794, and 823. The full Senate unanimously passed all four bills prior to Crossover Day.
Senate Bill 252 would require a person charged with negligent driving involved in a fatal accident to appear in court. Under current law, a person charged with negligent driving is subject to a misdemeanor and a maximum fine of $1,000, which they can pay without ever appearing before a judge or facing the loved ones that are left behind.
Senate Bill 493 would establish a task force to study the adequacy of trauma funding across Maryland for operating, capital, and workforce costs. Trauma centers often require significant resources to operate effectively as they specialize in swiftly treating life-threatening conditions and promptly providing resuscitative care. Steve Leonard, TidalHealth Chief Executive Officer, testified in strong support of the legislation in both the Senate and House hearings.
Senate Bill 794 would allow the Maryland Department of Health to adopt regulations that are appropriate for residential programs for substance use disorder that have under 17 beds. In practice, this would allow these residential programs to not have to install an elaborate and expensive commercial kitchen usually seen in large industrial settings.
Senate Bill 823 would create a $40 discount on the annual State Park pass for law enforcement officers and first responders, including firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and 911 specialists who are Maryland residents. The pass currently costs $75 for a Maryland resident.
|
This week I participated in the 2023 Legislative Veterans Caucus Breakfast hosted by Governor Wes Moore at Government House. I have been a long-time member of the Veterans Caucus and a guide at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial fifth-grade students program.
|
Several local officials visited Annapolis for the Maryland Aviation Day. From Left to Right: Wicomico County Administrator Bunky Luffman, Dave Ryan of Salisbury Regional Airport, Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano, Delegate Charles Otto (R-District 38A), Paul Ellington, Senator Mary Beth Carozza (R-District 38), Senator Johnny Mautz (R-District 37), and Tony Rudy of Salisbury Regional Airport. |
Following Legislation and Testifying
Not only does the General Assembly provide multiple ways to participate in your state government proceedings, but a full set of videos is also available online:
- Understanding the MD General Assembly
- Finding your legislator
- Searching for bills by number, sponsor, subject matter
- Understanding a bill
- Tracking a bill
- Searching media
- Creating a personal MyMGA Account
- Witness Sign Up-to testify on Bills
|
I look forward to hearing from you soon! Please contact me on issues important to you.
410-841-3645
marybeth.carozza@senate.state.md.us
Don't forget to visit me on the web at: marybethcarozza.com
Note: past copies of the weekly updates are on the website.
|
|
|
Mary Beth Carozza
State Senator-District 38
Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset
410-841-3645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
