The MACo staff gave testimony this week on the following bills:
March 10, 2014:
- HB1201: State and Local Retirement and Pension Systems – Assignment of Benefits to Trust for Disabled Individuals testimony
- SB 403: State and Local Retirement and Pension Systems – Assignment of Benefits to Trust for Disabled Individuals testimony
MACo delivered opposition to a bill requiring pension plans – including those run by counties – to verify and accommodate specific trust arrangements.
March 11, 2014:
MACo supported a bill granting limited use of bay restitution funds for local enforcement costs, if elected by each county.
MACo supported a bill increasing the threshold for state prevailing wage applying on school construction projects from 50% state funding to 75%.
March 12, 2014:
- HB1271: Local Government Tort Claims Act – Injury From Lead-Based Paint – Application of Notice Requirement testimony
- SB987: Local Government Tort Claims Act – Injury From Lead-Based Paint – Application of Notice Requirement testimony
MACo opposed bills waiving notice provisions affecting local governments, citing an alarming precedent beyond the immediate scope (lead paint cases).
- HB1388: State Department of Education – Assessment Report for Broadband Capabilities in Public Schools testimony
- SB988: State Department of Education – Assessment Report for Broadband Capabilities in Public Schools testimony
MACo sought changes to this evaluation of needs and plans for school broadband capacity to also include assessment of appropriate state and private funding sources to meet them.
MACo supported a bill recognizing and using federal funds for targeted school construction projects.
- SB1010: Domestic Animals – Sterilization and Life-Sustaining Care of Cats – Determination of Dangerousness testimony
MACo opposed a broad pre-emption of local authority to manage health and safety concerns arising from cat populations.
March 13, 2014:
- SB1017: Chief Executive Officer or County Executive – Special Election to Fill a Vacancy in Office testimony
MACo supported a provision granting charter counties authority to fill a County Executive vacancy by special election, if they choose to do so (through a local charter amendment).
March 14, 2014:
MACo supported its initiative bill to authorize funding for sewer line extension to target failing septics, after the bill was heavily amended in the House.
To see online versions of MACo’s written testimony from the 2014 legislative session, click here.
