Conduit Street

MACo offered support for HB 905 in the House Economic Matters Committee, which would allow a local government to purchase street lighting equipment from an electric company either through an agreement with an electric company or through a condemnation proceeding.  The bill would also require an electric company to develop a tariff for street lighting when the equipment is owned by a local government and attached to the utility pole owned by a public service company.

HB 905 seeks a fair and just process for local governments to purchase street lighting equipment.  Some local governments have attempted to negotiate with electric companies for the purchase of such equipment, but none have been able to reach an agreement on the terms of sale or the appropriate price.  MACo believes this bill could serve to stop the stalemates that have occurred thus far when local governments have expressed interest in purchasing street lighting equipment.

MACo submitted testimony to the Senate Finance Committee in support of SB402 with amendments.  The bill would exempt a public transportation system established under the public laws of a county government or municipal corporation from the motor carrier permit required for a passenger motor vehicle used in the transportation of person for hire. Permits are issued through the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Under current law, the public transportation systems for Allegany, Frederick and Washington Counties are already exempt.  SB402 would extend the exemption to other locally run transportation services.  Amendments offered at the hearing by the Transportation Association of Maryland would expand this exemption to also apply  to contractual arrangements local governments may enter into with non-profit entities to manage and operate transportation systems on their behalf.  MACo supports these amendments.

MACo Associate Director Andrea Mansfield testified before the House Environmental Matters Committee in support of HB356 with amendments. HB 356 would implement the recommendations of the Task Force to Study Motor Vehicle Towing Practices MACo appreciated the opportunity to be represented on this Task Force and believes the statewide framework outlined in HB 356 will serve as an appropriate “floor” to protect citizens from unscrupulous practices.

In its testimony, MACo expressed concerned with language on page 4 of the bill that states that a motor vehicle towing and storage lienor may not sell the motor vehicle to which the lien is attached unless the lienor is licensed by the local jurisdiction.  As the Task Force report points out, not all jurisdictions license towing companies, yet this bill provision implies that a jurisdiction would need to establish a licensing process.  Instead of having each jurisdiction establish a tower license to satisfy this section, MACo suggested that this language be amended to allow the use of a business license as the means of oversight and enforcement in those jurisdictions that do not license towers – retaining the bill’s intended incentives, without a local mandate.