On February 10, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in opposition to SB 342 – Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program.  This bill requires the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to establish the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. While well-intentioned, the program would divert high-value scrap materials from county recycling facilities and create a significant, ongoing…

On February 5, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 58 – Transportation - Paratransit Services - Interjurisdictional Routes.  This bill modifies State funding for local elderly and handicapped transportation services by requiring counties. It would impose uniform, one-size-fits-all service requirements on county paratransit providers, including mandated service to specified healthcare networks that may be located well beyond distances that county transportation systems…

On February 4, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 204 –Drinking Water - Regulation - Control and Prevention of Waterborne Disease.  This bill would set certain water safety requirements including minimum detectable disinfectant residual levels on certain building owners and water suppliers. It would also require these water suppliers to notify the public of any system disruptions that could increase the risk…