Briefing on violence in Baltimore City Schools from the Police Commissioner, Chief of school security and the CEO of the Baltimore City Public Schools

Delegates Oaks, Conaway and Robinson at delegation meeting

During the 90 day session of the 2007 Maryland General Assembly, members of the delegation received briefings from:^[2]

• Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)
• Mayor Sheila Dixon
• Mayor’s Office of Government Relations
• Michael Busch, Speaker of the House
• Patricia Jessamy, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City
• Governor Martin O’Malley
• Lori Albin, Office of the Public Defender
• Leonard Hamm, Police Commissioner of Baltimore City
• Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Health Commissioner of Baltimore City
• William Somerville, Ethics Counsel
• Doug Gansler, Attorney General of MD
• Peter Franchot, Comptroller of MD

[edit] 2007 Bill hearings

The delegation also conducted hearings on more than 30 bills and voted favorably on the following:

• HB 165 – Del. Rosenberg - Baltimore City - Local Government Tort Claims Act - Baltimore Public Markets Corporation and Lexington Market, Inc.
• HB 251 – Del. Anderson (By Request – Baltimore City Administration) – Baltimore City - Property Tax Credit for Newly Constructed Dwellings
• HB 458 – Del. Tarrant – Ground Rents - Property Owned by Baltimore City - Reimbursement for Expenses – Notices
• HB 762 – Del. Anderson - Baltimore City - Housing Authority - Continued Occupancy by Family Member on Death of Tenant
• HB 813 – Del. Rosenberg - Baltimore City - Property Tax Credit - Inclusionary Housing (Favorable with Amendments)
• HB 769 – Del. Anderson - Disease Prevention - Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Expedited Partner Therapy Pilot Program
• HB 1403 – Del. Olszewski - Critical Area - Construction of a Facility – Prohibition (Favorable with Amendments)
• HB 991 – Del. Anderson (By Request – Baltimore City Administration) - Baltimore City - Hotel Room Tax - Convention Center Promotion
• HB 1167 – Del. Oaks - Baltimore City - Binding Arbitration - Police Officers (Favorable as Amended)
• HB 1017 – Del. Walker - Baltimore City and Prince George's County - Parent-Teacher Association Matching Fund Pilot Program
• SB 861 – Sen. Pugh - Task Force - Urban Senior Care Communities in Baltimore City
• SB 571 – Sen. Della - Baltimore City - 46th Alcoholic Beverages District – Licenses
• SB 16 – Sen. Della - Baltimore City - Local Government Tort Claims Act - Baltimore Public Markets Corporation and Lexington Market, Inc.
• SB 755 – Sen. Gladden - Ground Rents - Property Owned by Baltimore City - Reimbursement for Expenses – Notices (Favorable as Amended)

During the 2008 Legislative Session, the Baltimore City Delegation met for a total of 13 meetings, with the attendance of all Delegates between 90-95%.

[edit] Briefings

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld responds to questioning from the delegation

Throughout the 90-day Session, the Baltimore City Delegation heard from various major City agencies, which briefed the Delegation on the agencies’ 2008 Legislative Priorities.^[3]

• Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO - Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)
• Baltimore City Mayor’s Office
• Michael Busch, Speaker of the House
• Governor Martin O’Malley
• Frederick H. Bealefeld III, Commissioner Baltimore Police Department
• Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Health Commissioner of Baltimore City
• Doug Gansler, Attorney General of MD
• Peter Franchot, Comptroller of MD
• Lori Albin, Office of the Public Defender
• William Somerville, Ethics Counsel
• Patricia Jessamy, State’s Attorney Baltimore City
• Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown

[edit] Delegation bills

The Baltimore City Delegation, with the assistance of Delegation Counsel, Karen Morgan, heard the following bills, sponsored by the Baltimore City Administration:

• HB 611 – Underground Facilities – Determination of Marking – Initial Fees (UNF)
• HB 615 – State Government – Custodian of Records – Inspection of Public Records (FAV)
• HB 768 – Children – Records – Access by the Baltimore City Health Department (Became Law)
• HB 849 – Public Safety – Restrictions on Possession of Firearms – Conviction of Disqualifying Crime and Protective Order Respondent (UNF)
• HB 880 – Public Safety – Regulated Firearms – Reporting Lost or Stolen (UNF)
• HB 900 – Criminal Procedure – Restrictions on Pretrial Release – Offenses Involving Firearms – Repeat Offenders (UNF)
• HB 964 – Criminal Procedure – No Good Time For Gun Crime (Recommitted to JUD Committee)
• HB 1441 – Baltimore City – Tax Increment Financing and Special Tax Districts – MEDCO (Became Law)

[edit] Baltimore City related bills

The Baltimore City Delegation also heard the following bills which would have either direct or indirect impact on Baltimore City:

• HB 524 – Del. Glenn – Baltimore City – Board of Education – Election of Members (UNF)
• HB 690 – Del. Rosenberg – Baltimore City – Property Tax Credit for Newly Constructed Dwellings – Hillsdale Heights Neighborhood Association Dwellings (UNF)
• HB 298 – Del. Conaway – Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners – System of Public School Buses Required (UNF)
• HB 299 – Del. Conaway – Education – Baltimore City – Public and Private Schools – Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Courses (UNF)
• HB 1069 – Del. Conaway & Glenn – Baltimore City Circuit Court – Jury Duty – Payment to Jurors (UNF)
• HB 1258 – Del. Carter, et al. – Baltimore City Public Schools – High School Students – Voter Education (Became Law)
• HB 1283 – Del. Haynes, et al. – Baltimore City – Public School Construction – State Funding (UNF)
• HB 1507 – Del. Oaks – Baltimore City – Binding Arbitration – Police Officers (Recommitted to APP Committee)

The last Baltimore City Delegation meeting of the 2008 Legislative Session was held on Friday April 11, 2008 with the Delegation returning an Unfavorable vote for the House Bills which would change the composition of the Baltimore City School Board Commissioners.

Mayor Sheila Dixon addressing the Delegation on Baltimore City safety related bills.

Delegation members (l-r): Hammen, Branch, Glenn and Carter at the delegation briefing by Mayor Dixon

For the 2009 Legislative Session, the Baltimore City Delegation met for a total of 10 meetings, with the attendance of all Delegates between 90-95%. Throughout the 90-day Session, the Baltimore City Delegation heard from various major City agencies, which briefed the Delegation on the agencies’ 2009 Legislative Priorities.^[4]

• Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO - Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)
• Baltimore City Mayor’s Office
• Dept of Planning – Red Line Initiative
• Dept. Of Public Works – One+One Recycling
• Michael Busch, Speaker of the House
• Governor Martin O’Malley
• Frederick Bealefeld III, Police Commissioner of Baltimore City
• Peter Franchot, Comptroller of Maryland
• Paula Carmody, People’s Counsel – Office of People’s Counsel
• Senator Ben Cardin

[edit] Baltimore City administration bills

The Baltimore City Delegation, with the assistance of Delegation Counsel, Sue McNamee, heard the following bills, sponsored by the Baltimore City Administration:

• HB 87 – Crimes – Violation of Restriction Against Possession of Regulated Firearms – Penalties (UNF)
• HB 88 – Criminal Procedure – Restrictions on Pretrial Release – Offenses Involving Firearms – Repeat Offenders (Became Law)
• HB 92- Baltimore City – Authority of Mayor to Remove Police Commissioner (Became Law)
• HB 94 – Foreign Trade Zones – Application and Process (Became Law)
• HB 99 – Commercial Real Property – Action to Abate Drug Nuisance – Prior Notice Requirement (Became Law)
• HB 143- Baltimore City – Newly Constructed Dwelling Property Tax Credit – Modification and Reauthorization (Became Law)
• HB 396 – Baltimore City- Vehicle Laws – Speed Monitoring Systems (Became Law – Statewide Impact)
• SB 348 – Tax Sales – Fees (Became Law)
• SB 901 – Baltimore City Land Bank Authority – Recodification (Became Law)

[edit] Baltimore City related bills

The Baltimore City Delegation also heard the following bills which would have either direct or indirect impact on Baltimore City:

• HB 500 – Del. Tarrant, et al. – Baltimore City – Medical Assistance Programs – Eligibility and Enrollment Information Mailings to Students (Became Law)
• HB 1156 – Del. Rosenberg, et al. – Baltimore City Lead Poisoning Recovery Act of 2009 (UNF)
• HB 1008 – Del. Conaway – Education – Baltimore City – Public and Private Schools – Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Courses (UNF)
• HB 1013 – Del. Conaway – Baltimore City – Rifles and Shotguns – Possession by a Minor Prohibited (UNF)
• HB 1031 – Del. Conaway – Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners – System of Public School Buses Required (UNF)
• HB 1091/ SB 16 – Del. Glenn/ Sen. Conway – Baltimore City and Prince George’s County- Organization of Parents and Teachers – Matching Fund (Became Law)
• HB 1374 – Del. Oaks, et al. – Baltimore City School Police Officers – Baltimore City School Police Lodge Five – Employee Organization (Became Law)
• SB 983 – Sen. Conway, et al. – Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – Beer, Wine and Liquor Tasting License (Became Law)

The last Baltimore City Delegation meeting of the 2009 Legislative Session was held on Friday March 27, 2009, in which the Delegation was briefed on the City Administration’s initiatives on decreasing weekly trash pickup and increasing weekly recycling pickup throughout the City.