The House of Delegates was busy this past week, passing important legislation relating to the budget, law enforcement and the environment. Major items include the following:

Budget

This week the House of Delegates approved the State budget. Since the downturn in the national economy has slowed state revenue forecasts, SB 90 makes $405 million in cuts and transfers.

However, the budget continues the legislature’s significant investment in K–12 education, with public schools receiving over $5.3 billion, an increase of $180 million over last year. Education Week ranked Maryland’s public schools as the nation’s third best, and the state boasts the second highest percentage of high school students in the nation who scored at or above the mastery level on Advanced Placement exams.

K–12 education funding is paired with a continuing investment in higher education to strengthen Maryland’s knowledge-based economy. The budget increases state support for the University of Maryland System by 4% per student, sufficient to hold the line on tuition for a third consecutive year.

The budget also leaves a surplus balance of $249 million above the $739 million in the Rainy Day Fund, for a total balance of nearly $1 billion.

Speed Cameras

Speeders are a significant factor in automobile accidents. In Maryland, nearly 20% of the accidents reported in 2006 were speed-related. Other states have turned to speed cameras to reduce accidents and fatalities as a result of speeders. Cameras are used in Montgomery County, the District of Columbia and 12 states. Authorities have reported a 51% drop in speed-related accidents in California, 40% in Arizona, and 27% in Utah.

Speed limits also are difficult to enforce in work zones, where jersey barriers are in place and lanes shift and narrow. The State Police issued nearly 800 tickets for speeding in work zones in 2005.

This past week, the House passed HB 364, which enables local governments to implement speed cameras in residential areas with a maximum speed limit of 45 mph and in school zones, but only after public hearings and the adoption of local ordinances. Counties that employ the cameras will be required to post notice of each camera’s location on their website and in local newspapers and to post signage to alert motorists. For the first 30 days after a camera is set up, the local government will be limited to issuing a warning, not a ticket.

HB 364 also authorizes the use of speed cameras by the State Police in highway work zones where the speed limit is at least 45 mph.

Finally, the bill prohibits a speed camera contractor’s fee from being linked to the number of citations issued by the device or paid by speeders.

Critical Areas Law

The legislature enacted the Critical Areas Law in 1984 to regulate construction near the Chesapeake Bay. The “critical area” is the 1,000-foot strip of land adjacent to the Bay and helps protect the Bay and wildlife from pollution.

Concerns about the law’s weakness in limiting bay front construction led to HB 1253, which will provide the Critical Areas Commission more authority in regulating development in critical areas. The bill also will increase the setback for new shoreline construction in rural areas.

DNA Bill

To enhance law enforcement efforts — both open cases and crime prevention — the House passed HB 370, which requires collection of DNA samples from offenders when they are charged with a crime of violence or felony burglary. Collecting DNA samples at the time of arrest can help solve crimes, prevent violent crimes and exonerate innocent people. Eleven states collect DNA from individuals arrested for a crime of violence.

The bill has several safeguards to prevent abuse of DNA collection. HB 370 requires automatic expungement of a DNA sample if the individual is acquitted or the charges are dropped. The bill also prohibits:

• A search using DNA to identify a family member of the individual from whom the sample was taken.
• Disclosure of any DNA information to individuals or entities not permitted to receive it.
• An unauthorized person from obtaining information from the database.
• A violation of these acts is a felony and subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in jail.

My Legislation

I am pleased that the House of Delegates approved four of my bills this past week. They include:

• HB 1242, which establishes a task force to study how to improve financial literacy. The sub-prime mortgage crisis has highlighted the need to improve financial literacy, and my bill will set up a task force to study the problem and make recommendations, especially in the area of school curriculum.
• HB 1337, which establishes a Maryland Clean Energy Center to help incubate new businesses in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The idea of a clean energy center is modeled on TEDCO (the Maryland Technology Development Corporation), which has been highly successful in developing emerging technology companies.
• HB 1158, which amends the Safe Schools Reporting Act. The Act requires local boards of education to report incidents of harassment or intimidation against public school students that occur on public school property, at school activities or on school buses. Currently, only students, parents and close family members can report incidents of bullying under the Act. My bill allows school staff (teachers and other school personnel) to report bullying incidents.
• HB 1350, which provides that if an advertisement for a product includes a rebate that is a “mail-in” rebate, the mail-in nature of the rebate must be clearly stated in the ad.

I am proud to be representing you in Annapolis and to be a part of the District 11 legislative team. Please contact me with any comments or feedback and if I can be of any assistance.

Best,

Delegate Dana Stein

410-841-3527