2024 Maryland General Assembly Update

Week Seven: Six Carozza Bill Hearings, Carozza Bills Moving Through the Senate, Locals in Annapolis, and a Sneak Preview

HEARINGS HELD ON MY PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS

Tax Relief for Families of Fallen Heroes 

Together with Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, and Mrs. Tashica Hilliard we testified in strong support of Senate Bill 897 before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Wednesday. SB 897 would relieve the tax liability on the death benefits of the families of first responders who died in the line of duty.

“Death benefits paid to the families of our fallen heroes are intended to relieve the immediate financial burden caused by their loss. However, under the current tax law, these death benefits are considered taxable income, meaning that these families cannot use the full benefit granted to them."

On the evening of June 12, 2022, Corporal Glenn Hilliard, a 16-year veteran of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed in the line of duty by a suspect who was wanted on multiple felony warrants. On June 14, 2022, the Wicomico County Council, pursuant to a Collective Bargaining Agreement, authorized payment of a death benefit to his spouse in the amount of $500,000. In the process of preparing the 2022 tax return, Mrs. Hilliard learned that the death benefit had to be reported as taxable income resulting in a $176,000 tax liability.

Corporal Glenn Hilliard served Wicomico County and Maryland with integrity and was taken from his wife, his three children, and his community way too soon due to the evil actions of a violent criminal. This legislation would ensure that the families of these fallen heroes receive these full death benefits as intended, and the legislation is retroactive to ensure that the Hilliard family are relieved from paying taxes on these needed death benefits.



“I publicly want to thank Sheriff Lewis for his strong support of the Hilliard family, and I want to thank Tashica Hilliard for her leadership in advocating for the removal of this flaw in the tax code and for stepping up for the families of Maryland’s fallen heroes. You continue to inspire all of us to strive for excellence in service to others.”

Supporting 9-1-1 Specialists 

On Thursday before the Senate Pensions Subcommittee, Fruitland Chief of Police Krah Plunkert, 9-1-1 Division Chief for the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services Holley Guschke, Chairman Bob Phillips of the Maryland Firefighters Association and I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 700, which would provide local jurisdictions with the option to allow 911 specialists to qualify for the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System (LEOPS).



“Over the past two years since I first introduced this bill, I have been in communication with law enforcement officials, 9-1-1 specialists, and State Retirement and Pensions Personnel to find a solution to this growing concern among our first responders that their first responders, our 9-1-1 specialists, are not able to receive the same LEOPS benefits that many of them receive.”

HEARING HELD ON MY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS BILL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE

Along with health experts Nicole Wooten, University of Maryland Eastern Shore PA Interim Program Director (left), and Vincent Lewis, PA-C, Lewis Primary Care in Salisbury (right), we testified in strong support of Senate Bill 167, the Physician Assistant Modernization Act of 2024 on Tuesday. This legislation would modernize the law regarding the working relationship between Physicians and Physician Assistants to better reflect current practice and to improve access to quality health care.

“Physician workforce shortages challenge the long-term viability of a strong medical network and the ability to achieve the goals of improving the quality of care, improving health of populations, and reducing per capita health care costs. Over the past three years, I have been working with physician assistants and physicians from across the State to provide improved access to health care, particularly in rural areas like my district.”

The United States is facing a projected workforce shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians. Overall, Maryland is 16 percent below the national average for number of physicians available for clinical practice.

HEARINGS HELD ON LOCAL SOMERSET COUNTY BILLS

Danny Thompson (below left), Executive Director of the Somerset County Economic Development Commission, and I testified on Wednesday in strong support of Senate Bill 763, which would authorize the Somerset County Commissioners to sell in whole or in part Somerset County Industrial Park located on Revells Neck Road under terms agreed to by the Somerset County Commissioners.

“Under current law, Somerset County would only be able to sell this property by sealed bid or by public auction. Somerset County simply wants the authority to be able to negotiate the sale of this property as they fully intend to create an industrial park to benefit our Somerset County community,”

Additionally, Ernest Leatherbury (above right), Somerset County Deputy County Administrator, and I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 829, which would allow the Somerset County Commissioners to allocate the appropriate funding for Somerset County’s volunteer fire companies from fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2030. “There are eight organized volunteer fire companies in Somerset County, and this legislation would support these volunteer fire companies in providing needed fire emergency services for both our residents and visitors alike.”

On Friday, I joined with Adjutant Terry Pehan, 26-year Air Force veteran, with the American Legion Post 16, to testify in support of Senate Bill 338, which would allow the holder of a Class C (veterans’ organization or club) beer, wine, and liquor license in Somerset County to purchase liquor from a retail dealer. One of the unintended consequences of the closing of the Somerset County dispensary is that volunteer veterans’ organizations like American Legion Post 16 now pay more for spirits through wholesalers in addition to facing delivery challenges. The legislation was requested by the Somerset County Commissioners and is intended to resolve this unintended consequence. 

BILLS MOVING THROUGH THE SENATE

The full Senate voted unanimously in favor of my Senate Bill 60 on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to allow out-of-state recreational vehicle dealers to participate in vehicle shows for motor homes or recreational trailers that take place within Worcester County. The bill would not allow deposits or points of sale from out-of-state dealers but does allow them to display their products at these Maryland shows.

“Ocean City is already a tourist destination and this legislation is fully intended to increase sale opportunities for the nine recreational vehicle dealerships within Maryland. Our intent is to increase economic tourism on Maryland’s Coast through the growing consumer demand for recreational vehicles.”

The Senate also voted unanimously in favor of my Senate Bill 380, which would establish a Police Retention Workgroup to study issues and factors potentially contributing to the decline in police officer recruitment and retention statewide. This legislation is part of the bipartisan public safety package introduced this session by myself along with Senators Ron Watson (D-District 23) and Chris West (R-District 42). “The high vacancy rate in police department staffing is contributing to the severity of crime we are seeing across Maryland, and this study would help identify solutions and support our officers who are under massive pressure to do their jobs without the supportive network of a strong workforce behind them,” 

Rodger Bennett (center) of Berlin was honored on the Senate Floor this week in recognition of his 35 years of faithful and dedicated service to the citizens of Maryland in his role with the Maryland Natural Resources Police. He was joined by his wife, Julie, and Senator Jack Bailey (to her left), a former NRP officer who worked with Bennett and, former colleagues.

LOCAL IN ANNAPOLIS THIS WEEK

Visiting the State Capital were government students from Crisfield High School, accompanied by trip organizer ,Mr. Randy Laird, government teacher, and joined by Adjutant Terry Pehan of American Legion Post 16

(left in vest)

Lydia Bailey of Ocean City, and Autumn Custis of Marion Station (my former intern) for Maryland Independent Colleges and Universities Association Higher Education Day in Annapolis;

Celebrating Aviation Day in Annapolis were (L to R) Chris Bunting of Ocean Aerial Ads, Inc.; Jamie Giandomenico, Ocean City Airport Manager; and Allison Swint, President of the Maryland Aviation Council.

Several other local officials visited Annapolis this week including:

Representatives from the Dental Associations: Dr. Celeste Ziara, President-Elect of the Maryland State Dental Association; Dr. Greg Allen, previous President of the Maryland State Dental Association; Dr. Joseph Merai, Eastern Shore Maryland State Dental Association Trustee.

Rick Leibowitz, Program Director for the Maryland Small Business Development Center–Eastern Region.

Also visiting for Aviation Day: Ocean City Airport Manager; Tony Rudy, Salisbury Regional Airport; and David Ryan, Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development

Chloe Candeloro of Bishopville, Max Sweeney of Delmar, and Jerry and Lydia Lankford of Somerset County to advocate for SB 595 on behalf of the Hemophilia Foundation.

RADIO INTERVIEWS

I am honored to be invited as a regular guest on WGMD talk radio with Mike Bradley where we discuss upcoming legislation and local issues. I will post the dates and times for these interviews in the e-blasts and invite you to tune in.

The next date is March 7th at 8:20am on FM 92.7 and 98.5

(use the WGMD link below for live streaming).

(For previous interviews, go to my website (Mary Beth Carozza Website) radio interview tab

STAY INVOLVED

We welcome your visit to Annapolis and encourage you to follow the fast pace of legislation by signing on to the General Assembly Website where you can find useful information. At the bottom of the page, click on video tutorials for full descriptions. Below is a link to the site.

IN SERVICE,

MARY BETH

By Authority: Friends of Mary Beth Carozza, James R. Bergey, Jr., CPA, Treasurer