Coronavirus / County Government and Structure / Public Information and Ethics
Civic Participation: One Possible Upside of the Shutdowns?

An author on Route Fifty argues that wider use of remote access tools may mark an expansion in civic and public participation in governance. Megan Asikainen from CivicClerk (a component of CivicPlus, the company that developed and manages MACo's website), talks through the remote access mini-revolution born from the health pandemic...and finds a silver lining in making policy processes even more open to the public, through wider acceptance of online access tools. From the Route…

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April 29, 2021
2021 End of Session Wrap-Up: Public Information & Ethics
Bill Hearing / County News / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
2021 End of Session Wrap-Up: Public Information & Ethics

This post summarizes the status of various public information & ethics bills that MACo took a position on during the 2021 Regular Session.  County governments gather and maintain public information as part of their various functions. Compliance with the Maryland Public Information Act and maintenance of a high level of ethics in all government practices are priorities throughout the administrative agencies and legislative bodies of Maryland's county governments. Through its advocacy and professional education in…

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April 13, 2021
Howard Exec Ball’s Budget to Include Funding for Body-Worn Camera Program
County Budgets / County News / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections
Howard Exec Ball’s Budget to Include Funding for Body-Worn Camera Program

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that his fiscal 2022 operating budget will include more than $3.2 million for the implementation of a body-worn camera program. The program is slated to include the Howard County Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, and staffing needs for the State’s Attorney’s Office. “Nationwide, we know that many communities are hurting and have faced injustice at the hands of those entrusted to protect and serve,” said County Executive Ball. “While…

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March 24, 2021
PIA Body Camera Bill Passes Senate Committee for First Time
County News / Public Information and Ethics
PIA Body Camera Bill Passes Senate Committee for First Time

Last week, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted favorably on a bill that would update the Public Information Act (PIA) to create a necessary policy for the release of body camera footage. SB 690 - Public Information Act - Inspection of Records From Body-Worn Digital Recording Devices is a prior MACo initiative that had passed the House of Delegates several years in a row. The bill repeatedly encountered opposition in the Senate Committee, but this…

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March 18, 2021
County Government and Structure / Government Liability and Courts / Public Information and Ethics
Washington County Commissioners Vote to Remove Meinelschmidt Over Ethics Stir, Suit to Follow

The Washington County Commissioners voted to dismiss fellow Commissioner Cort Meinelschmidt from his seat, after a recent ethics matter. The action may end up in court, with authority for the move not fully clear. Cort Meinelschmidt, elected as County Commissioner in 2018, was removed from his seat by a vote of the other sitting Commissioners this week. Their action came in the wake of ethics concerns arising from a fledgling business connected to Meinelschmidt receiving…

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February 26, 2021
Attorney General Posts Updated Open Meetings Act Manual
Public Information and Ethics
Attorney General Posts Updated Open Meetings Act Manual

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has published the 10th edition of the Open Meetings Act Manual. The Manual outlines the Act’s many provisions and provides important context for public bodies, meeting facilitators, and the public. The revised edition includes updated information and guidance from more recent court cases, and decisions of the Open Meetings Act Compliance Board. From the manual's preface: This latest edition of the Open Meetings Act Manual supplements those…

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February 2, 2021
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
MACo Advocates for More Options to Publish Legal Notices

On 19, January 2021 MACo Policy Associate Alex Butler testified virtually before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee to support SB 305 Legal Advertisement or Legal Notice - Publication in Newspaper or Newspaper in General Circulation - Online Newspapers. This bill would allow legal notices to be published in online newspapers to meet statutory requirements for legal notices. From the MACo Testimony: The number of local papers has declined over time, leaving local governments with…

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January 19, 2021
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
MACo Raises Concerns About Changes to The Maryland Data Privacy Act

On January 19, 2021 MACo Policy Associate Alex Butler submitted written testimony to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee to oppose SB 351 State Government - Protection of Information - Revisions (Maryland Data Privacy Act). The bill would change the Maryland Data Privacy Act, changing the processes and procedures of government concerning personal information. From the MACo Testimony: SB 351 would alter the list of data that requires protection under the Maryland Data Privacy…

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January 19, 2021
Sun Previews Session “Major Issues”
Education / Emergency Management / General Assembly News / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Sun Previews Session “Major Issues”

The Baltimore Sun released a preview of major issues facing the General Assembly for the 2021 Session, including police reforms, education, sports wagering. With the 2021 reconvening of the Maryland General Assembly afoot, Maryland's top newspaper covers a range of issues expected to gather attention and ink in the weeks ahead. Unsurprisingly, police reforms are on that list, as many states have responded to calls for social justice in policing tactics and accountability. The legislature…

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January 12, 2021
Top Issues of 2021 Session: Transparency
2021 MACo Issue Previews / Public Information and Ethics
Top Issues of 2021 Session: Transparency

With the 2021 Legislative Session rapidly approaching, MACo is profiling some major issues that stand to gather attention in the General Assembly’s work. Here, we preview potential action around transparency laws. Maryland's Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act outline transparency or "sunshine" requirements for state and local government agencies. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many government actors to change the way they operated while ensuring they provide the public access to their proceedings. Public bodies…

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December 29, 2020
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