The MACo staff gave testimony this week on the following bills:

March 18, 2014:

• SB86: Vehicle Laws – Size, Weight, and Axle Load Limits testimony

MACo supported a reasonable exception for public works vehicles from certain weight limits.

• SB104: Health Officers and Baltimore City Commissioner of Health – Authority to Retain Collections and Waive Charges testimony

MACo supported departmental legislation allowing local health departments to retain certain fee revenue for services, rather than revert it to the state general fund (resolving an ambiguity arising from an audit report).

• SB653: Maryland Income Tax Refunds – Warrant Intercept Program testimony

MACo supported legislation enabling county governing bodies to employ a tax refund intercept, through the Comptroller’s office, to help resolve outstanding warrants.

March 19, 2014:

• HB227: Homestead Tax Credit – Eligibility – Definition of Legal Interest testimony

MACo supported the bill an amended bill to clarify tax credits applying to ownership interests, without retroactive effect.

• HB365: Public Safety – Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Funds – Distribution testimony

MACo supported legislation clarifying and improving several facets of volunteer fire company funding and allocations.

• HB628: Board of Public Works – Relocatable Classrooms – Indoor Air Quality Requirements testimony
• SB238: Board of Public Works – Relocatable Classrooms – Indoor Air Quality Requirements testimony

MACo supported clarifications to laws governing relocatable classrooms and recent air quality standards, avoiding an unintended retroactive effect.

• HB645: Real Property – Landlord Defenses in Nuisance Actions testimony

MACo opposed an overbroad defense to local nuisance actions, suggesting that local decisions coudl better accommodate special property owner concerns.

• HB772: Local Government Investments – Self-Insurance Funds and Trust Fund Accounts of Political Subdivisions testimony

MACo supported broadened allowance for counties to invest trust funds in long-term investments, similar to pension funds.

• SB101: Environment – Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund – Use of Funds testimony

MACo supported technical changes to this revolving loan fund, allowing proper use of federal funding.

• SB430: Libraries – Regional Resource Centers and County Public Libraries  – Funding testimony

MACo supported an increase in base library funding, with annual increments in per capita amounts for several coming years.

March 20, 2014:

• SB91: State Ethics Commission – Local Governments and School Boards – Compliance Enforcement testimony

MACo supported bill as amended, providing an intermediate step prior to state sanctions for local errors or noncompliance with state requirements.

• SB338: Public Safety – Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board – Established testimony

MACo supported its initiative bill, creating a collaborative governing board for the statewide MarylandFiRST public safety radio system.

• SB572: Homestead Tax Credit – Eligibility – Definition of Legal Interest testimony

MACo supported the bill an amended bill to clarify tax credits applying to ownership interests, without retroactive effect.

• SB1099: Workers’ Compensation – Occupational Disease Presumptions – Paid Emergency Medical Services Providers testimony

MACo opposed a broadening of numerous occupational disease presumptions to an additional range of employees (paid emergency medical services professionals).

To see online versions of MACo’s written testimony from the 2014 legislative session, click here.