Montgomery County Delegation

Montgomery County Delegation 2008 Session

Member Accomplishments  ( to download as a Microsoft Word document - click here)

Montgomery County Senate Delegation:

Senator Rona E. Kramer (District 14), Chairman, Montgomery County Senate Delegation:

  • Sponsored successful legislation which allows Maryland National Capital Park and Planning police officers to claim workers’ compensation benefits if they contract Lyme disease
  • Obtained funding for Montgomery County community health clinic at the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, for Camp Bennett to serve underprivileged children, and for the food pantry at Sharp Street United Methodist Church

Senator Richard Madaleno (District 18), Vice-Chair, Montgomery County Senate Delegation:

  • Beginning with the fall Special Session, worked with the county delegation to ensure funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI).  For the first time, funding is included in the state budget for this formula which seeks to eliminate funding disparities caused by higher costs of operation.
  • Again working with the county delegation and the leadership of the county government and school system, pressed for full funding of the county's state aid for public school construction.  The FY09 state budget includes a record $333 million in school construction for projects around the state.
  • Served as floor leader on Senate bill to stop the proliferation of illegal slot machines.  This legislation (SB959) will clarify that electronic bingo machines that look, sound, and operate like slot machines are indeed slot machines.  A recent Maryland court ruling had created a loophole allowing machines that have a predetermined payout schedule.

Senator Jennie M. Forehand (District 17):

  • Protected Maryland's high tech and biotech industries and our long-term economic viability by introducing SB 46, The Budget Financing Act, to repeal the 6 percent sales tax on computer services.  Also, make up lost income by cutting $50 million annually from Transportation projects for 5 years; requiring $50 million in budget cuts by the start of the 2009 fiscal year, and creating three-year surcharge of 3/4% on personal income in excess of $1 million until 2010.
  • Helped to minimize death and injuries for children in Maryland with two bills.  With more than 2,000 children, some as young as 2, being seriously injured in All Terrain Vehicle-related accidents over 5 years and with these vehicles being virtually unregulated in Maryland, created the ATV Safety Task Force (SB 28) to develop recommendations on these vehicles.  Improved safety for children aged 6 and 7 riding in cars by raising the age requirement for booster seats (SB 789).  Car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for children. 
  • Ensured availability of Long-Term Care Insurance for Maryland's population by prohibiting the use of genetic information or testing in setting rates or even denying coverage for this important safety net (SB 918).  This new law will add LTC insurance to existing genetic discrimination for health and life insurance. 

Senator Rob Garagiola (District 15):

  • Successfully led the effort to repeal the computer tax!  Working with the Governor and Senate and House leadership, helped craft the bill to repeal the billion dollar computer tax.
  • Authored legislation concerning medical decision-making for domestic partners (SB 566), establishing a bio-fuel tax credit to promote the use of cleaner, renewable home heating oil (SB 565), and extending a Maryland GI Bill-like scholarship for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan .  All three bills passed the House and Senate.
  • Helped craft and effectively led the Senate floor debate on the Governor’s Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation (SB 209/HB 375), which will more than double the existing renewable energy requirements for the State of Maryland, and helped lead the effort to pass the Governor’s legislation concerning energy conservation and rate relief (SB 205/SB 268).

Senator Nancy J. King (District 39): 

  • Secured funding for the construction of a new Upcounty Senior Center and the expansion and renovation of the Plum Gar Neighborhood Recreation Center. Membership in the Senior Center has grown significantly since its inception and this new center will be a step forward in meeting the need of Montgomery County’s Senior Citizens. The Plum Gar Center serves over 72,000 citizens each year including many youth and senior programs.
  • Sponsored a bill to establish a tax credit for work-based learning programs for students. This law will encourage private businesses to partner with high schools in providing on the job training. Not all students have the opportunity or desire to go on to higher education. This work force development legislation will provide more opportunities for those students who want to pursue a career in the trades.
  • Working with the Tax Specialists, Legislative Services and the Comptroller’s Office, Senator King sponsored legislation that would allow the Maryland Business Tax Reform Commission to receive more concise and usable data in order to study and make recommendations on a variety of different tax reporting systems. This bill has already become a model for other states looking to reform their corporate tax structure.

Senator Mike Lenett (District 19):

  • Passed legislation to create the Maryland Youth Council, a council of youth members from across the state to advise the Governor and Legislature and propose legislation on issues affecting young people.  By giving youth a seat at the table in the policymaking process and a direct role in crafting and advocating for legislation, the Council is designed to promote youth engagement in politics and policy and to foster better informed public policy on youth issues.  It is a groundbreaking and innovative initiative that hopefully will serve as a model for other states.
  • Passed two bills to assist the disabled – one to boost businesses whose workforce or ownership consists of disabled persons and another to examine certain health care issues as they impact disabled persons.  Also created a study to determine appropriate minimum standards for residential housing to facilitate access by the elderly and disabled.
  • Passed the Truth in Music Advertising Act to prohibit imposter groups from passing themselves off as the original artists.  This fraud has been especially targeted at the legendary “doo wop” groups of the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, such as the Coasters, Platters and Drifters.  The bill protects consumers, who believe they are seeing the real groups, and the original artists, whose identities and livelihood are stolen.
  • Lead Sponsor of the bill to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones and text messaging while driving, which progressed further than ever before in the General Assembly.  Also lead sponsor of bills to provide tax relief for seniors and military retirees, prohibit smoking in a car with young children, crack down on illegal gun trafficking, and ensure patients’ end-of-life health care preferences are followed.  Also fought for bills to reduce global warming, protect the Bay, and protect marriage equality.

Senator Jamie Raskin (District 20):

  • SB 158 – Jane Lawton Farm-to-school Program - Establishes a program in memoriam to Delegate Jane Lawton to promote the use of Maryland-grown farm foods and agricultural products in Maryland public school kitchens and cafeterias. Establishes a database containing information on farmers participating in the program and lists specific products produced by each farmer and the amounts and times that food is available for purchase from local schools. Creates an annual week - long “Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week” to promote agricultural products in the schools, provides for farm-related educational programs and creates an opportunity for the students and farmers to interact.
  • SB 614 – Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment  - Establishes a Commission which will be charged with reviewing the history and current practice of capital punishment  in the state of Maryland . The Commission will focus on  all dimensions of capital punishment policy, including racial disparities; jurisdictional disparities; socio-economic disparities; the possibility of wrongful conviction; impact of DNA evidence; and a cost-benefit and impact analysis of capital punishment vs. life without parole.
  • SB 819 – Maryland Funding Accountability and Transparency Act - A bipartisan bill modeled after  federal legislation introduced by Senator Barack Obama and Tom Coburn; it establishes a searchable public database of  all  state expenditures over $25,000  that will be accessible 24 hours a day to the public.

Montgomery County Delegation 2008 Session

Member Accomplishments

Montgomery County House Delegation:

Delegate Brian J. Feldman (District 15), Chairman, Montgomery County House Delegation:

  • As Chair of the House Banking Subcommittee, was a primary leader in addressing the rising foreclosure crisis.  Helped gain passage of legislation creating new standards for lending practices, strengthening our mortgage fraud laws, and increasing mandatory education for homebuyers who take out high-risk loans.
  • Introduced and gained passage of legislation that will allow Maryland CPAs to practice in other states without excessively cumbersome barriers.
  • Introduced and gained passage of a package of business and corporate law bills, including significant legislation which provides shareholders with important rights to protect their interests.

Delegate Susan C. Lee (District 16), Vice-Chair, Montgomery County House Delegation:

  • HB 1113 –merged HB 1107, 1109, & 564:  As House Chair of the Identity Theft Task Force, authored and passed legislation to increase the penalties for felony identity theft; make felony penalties for identity fraud commensurate with the felony penalties for credit card fraud by adding it to the list of offenses which a credit card holder’s affidavit may be introduced as substantive evidence; prohibit the unauthorized copying and possessing of the contents of a computer database; and prohibit the use of  a “Skimmer” device to read or scan personal identifying information or a payment device number.
  • HB 1134:  Authored and passed a law to extend Good Samaritan immunity to the use of a life saving, easy to use Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) by a facility or individual who uses an AED to save the life a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. Repeals certain requirements which served as obstacles to increasing use of AED by Good Samaritans.
  • HB 660 is a state bond bill for $250,000 for needed renovations for the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes (JFGH) residential homes in Montgomery County, enabling adults with developmental disabilities, behavioral issues, and chronic mental illness to live independently and integrated into community.
  • HB 826 is enabling legislation that allows Montgomery County to pass substantive public campaign finance reform law which is more stringent than state law, but does not conflict with state or federal law.  The bill passed the House of Delegates.

Delegate Saqib Ali (District 39):

  • Sponsored legislation to ensure that the Congressional Seat being vacated by Congressman Al Wynn will quickly be filled by Donna Edwards (HB 1627).

  • Authored and passed legislation to force the safe usage of trailers towed on our roads. This bill would set a $1,000 penalty if an unsafely hitched trailer causes serious injury or death. Last summer 3 motorists were killed on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge by a trailer that became un-hitched (HB 1119).

  • Authored and helped pass through the House a bill that would ban the uses of nooses and Swastikas for the purposes of racial intimidation. This bill was in response to the disturbing events in Jena, LA and other similar incidents around the country (HB 41).

  • Acquired $150,000 for advanced medical equipment for a community medical clinic serving indigents and the uninsured. Amongst other things, this money will be used to buy sonogram and mammogram machines (HB 513).

Delegate Charles Barkley (District 39):

  • Passed HB 765 Public Safety - Correctional Officers - Minimum Age, which requires that a correctional officer hired on or after October 1, 2008, for employment in the Division of Pretrial Detention and Services or the Patuxent Institution be at least 21 years old.
  • As a member of the Capital Budget Subcommittee, worked to secure over $11.8 million of funding for Montgomery County legislative initiatives.  
  • Made increasing the amount of monies spent on school construction statewide as his first priority.  The capital budget adopted on Sine Die included $333 million for school construction and renovations.

Delegate William A. Bronrott (District 16):

  • A chief sponsor of legislation that established the Maryland Clean Energy Center to help develop renewable energy technology in the state and promote entrepreneurship in the creation of green-collar jobs the expansion of a clean energy industry.  Also worked with the Governor as a chief sponsor of the “green buildings, green schools” bill that requires new or renovated state buildings and new schools to be constructed as environmentally-friendly high performance buildings that meet a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating.
  • Chief House sponsor of legislation that strengthened Maryland’s child booster seat law to fully protect children ages 4 to 8 under 65 pounds or 4-feet 9-inches.  The bill’s passage also makes Maryland eligible for about $1 million in federal incentive grant funds for child passenger safety education outreach and child safety seat and booster seat loaner programs. 

  • As chair of the Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, worked with the Governor to increase funding for drug and alcohol treatment services by an extra $4.8 million in the FY09 budget.

  • Chief sponsor of “Walking-State Exercise” bill that established Maryland as the first state in the nation with an officially designated state exercise – walking – to combat heart disease and obesity.
  • As a member of the Appropriations Committee, helped secure construction funding for Imagination Stage, the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, and Suburban Hospital.

Delegate Alfred C. Carr, Jr. (District 18):

  • Sponsored HB 742, a statewide bill to give local governments more tools to create, foster and promote housing programs for low and moderate income families. The work on this bill was begun last year by the late Delegate Jane Lawton and I was proud to secure its successful passage this year.

  • Sponsored and secured passage of HB 1604, a bill to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods by creating the Community Parks & Playground Program. This grant program, administered by the Department of Natural Resources, provides funding to support local parks, playgrounds and recreational programs.

  • Co-sponsored HB 1211, to reform the process by which Counties collect delinquent property taxes.  This important legislation protects Marylanders by helping eliminate situations where a property owner is forced to pay a large amount of money to avoid losing their property to foreclosure over a small property tax bill.

Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais (District 15):

  • Sponsored and achieved passage of two bills regarding domestic violence, HB 182 & 183, which respectively, provides that a victim of domestic violence can obtain a Permanent Protective Order (PPO) after the conviction and imprisonment of the respondent, and allows law enforcement officers to enforce custody provisions of final protective orders. 
  •  Passed a bill to create a Maryland Commission to Study the Death Penalty, which provides an opportunity for expert analysis and thorough study of the administration of capital punishment in our State.  The Commission will study all aspects of the death penalty including racial, jurisdictional, socioeconomic disparities, and cost comparison to life imprisonment. 
  • Achieved passage of legislation that revises the Maryland Uniform Family Support Act to include revisions that clarify jurisdictional rules which limit the ability of parties to obtain modifications of orders in states other than the state that originally issued the support order.

Delegate C. William Frick (District 16):

  • Lead sponsor of HB 1301 creating the Jane E. Lawton Loan Program in an effort to promote energy conservation and energy-related economic development for small businesses, municipalities and non-profits. The program is named for Delegate Lawton, a strong environmentalist during her time in the General Assembly.
  • Introduced novel legislation, HB 1178, to address the abuse of power by credit card companies, including “any time, any reason” rate changes. The bill won enthusiastic and bipartisan support from activists and legislators, but stalled due to perceived conflicts with federal law. Delegate Frick is optimistic that these challenges can be addressed to ensure passage in the next session.
  • Secured funding for the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes to continue caring for some of our most vulnerable citizens and critical funds to support Imagination Stage in Bethesda.

Delegate Ana Sol Gutiérrez (District 18):

  • Authored legislation promoting Cultural Diversity Programs in Maryland's Colleges and Universities (HB 905) to ensure that State-funded institutions have a documented, measurable plan to promote greater understanding of differences and to enhance the value of cultural diversity among its student, faculty, and staff populations.

  • Successfully led effort to pass legislation (HB 1602) establishing a high-level Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland to determine the socio-economic as well as fiscal contributions and costs of  the changing demographics in our State, counties, and communities. 

  • Promoted the creation of the New Americans Caucus composed of foreign-born state legislators as well as those who are the children and grandchildren of immigrants. Helped to stop over twenty-five anti-immigration proposals that would have implemented discriminatory practices and denied public health, driver's licenses, and educational services to immigrant workers, children and families.

  • Crafted innovative, low-cost approach (HB 1306) to Real-ID Act compliance in 2009 by authorizing the issuance of an optional Real-ID identification card by the Motor Vehicle Administration. This alternative could minimize impact of a major federal unfunded mandate and address serious concerns with privacy protections and identity theft.


Delegate Henry B. Heller (District 19):

  • Arielle's Law HB 505 - Transit Service for Disabled Persons - Criminal History Records Check and Training for Persons Providing Service will require anyone who operates a common carrier motor vehicle to undergo a background check.  These operators will also have to successfully complete a course on the respectful and courteous treatment of all passengers, including disabled individuals.
  • Jake's Law HB 767 - Individuals with Disabilities and Parents of Minors with Disabilities - Service Animals extends the rights and privileges, including use of service animals, afforded to blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing individuals to all individuals with disabilities as defined by federal law, as well as to the parents of a minor child with a disability.  
  • The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (WMATA) regulates commercial transportation and was created by a Compact between Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. All changes to compacts come through the Joint Federal Relations Committee. As House Chair of this Joint Committee, I submitted HB 739 which supported the change to the appointment process of the Virginia representation to the WMATA Board that was requested by Virginia.

Delegate Sheila E. Hixson (District 20) – Chairman, Ways and Means Committee:

  • Legislation increasing from 3 to 5 years the minimum period of an extended lease that a developer converting a rental facility to a condominium is required to offer households that include a senior citizen or individual with a disability; has an eligible annual income; and is living in the unit for at least 12 months.
  • A bill requiring county boards of education, to the extent possible, to provide information concerning alternative education programs and GED program requirements and testing locations to high school dropouts.
  • School Hearing and Vision Screenings bill which alters the timeframe for when the county boards of education and health departments are required to provide hearing and vision screenings to students as follows:  upon entry, the first grade, and the eighth or ninth grades.
  • Farm to School Program which establishes the Jane Lawton program aimed at promoting the sale of farm products grown in the state to state schools in consultation with the Maryland Department of Education.  The Program also promotes state agriculture and farm products through classroom events.
  • Secured bond funding for the following organizations in District 20:  YMCA Youth and Family Services; the Maryland Youth Ballet; Centronia Facility; the Easter Seals Inter-generational Center and the Metropolitan Washington Ear.

Delegate Tom Hucker (District 20):

  • HB 1319 (Expanded Early Childhood Education) passed the House unanimously, is the first expansion of Pre-Kindergarten in six years.  Pre-K programs ensure children enter K-12 grades ready to succeed, and benefits children academically, socially, and emotionally.  It also saves tax dollars on remedial education, juvenile justice, and public safety programs.  
  • HB 835 (Mercury Switch Removal from Vehicles): Mercury is a bioaccumulative toxin that impacts cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and motor and visual spatial skills in children and fetuses. HB 835, one of the session's major environmental bills, removes 300 pounds of mercury/year by requiring recycling of mercury in scrapped automobiles. It had significant industry opposition.

Delegate Anne R. Kaiser (District 14):

  • As Education Subcommittee chair, led committee in developing successful comprehensive bullying legislation.  Also, passed legislation to expand Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems to address schools with high truancy rates.  Furthermore, passed legislation to look at expanding physical education opportunities for disabled students.

  • Passed legislation to develop a task force to examine whether Maryland should join in an interstate compact to address the educational needs of military children.  Prime sponsor of successful legislation to expand the equal pay commission of 2006.  Introduced bond bill legislation to support Sharp Street’s efforts to feed the hungry.

  • Introduced legislation to expand the recordation and transfer tax exemption to domestic partners.  The crossfiled bill passed the House and Senate.

  • Chaired the Montgomery County Delegation’s Committee on County Affairs.

Delegate Roger Manno (District 19):

  • Long-Term Care Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (HB 29): Authored landmark legislation which prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against applicants based on health information obtained from genetic data. HB 29 rewrites Maryland’s definition of “genetic tests” of DNA, RNA and chromosomes, and completely bans insurance companies from requiring such tests as a requirement in the insurance application process.

  • Leadership On Worker Protections:  A key leader on labor issues in the House as author of several important measures to increase worker protections. Of note is Del. Manno’s “Shift Breaks” bill (HB 654), mandating breaks for most Maryland workers.  Manno also sponsored and co-sponsored several bills (HB 700, 1150, 1152, and 1154), which lead to a substantial restructuring of Maryland’s antiquated Workers’ Compensation laws.

  • Medicare Part D Safety-Net for Seniors:  Del. Manno has been a leader on Medicare Part D reform, introducing the Medicare Part D “Donut Hole” Tax Assistance Act” (HB 1073 in 2007, and HB 37 in 2008) to help offset exorbitant out-of-pocket RX drug costs under the flawed federal program. Over the last year, Manno worked with Chairman Hammen and Governor O’Malley to address the challenge, resulting in a $4 million per year subsidy fund.

Delegate Heather R. Mizeur (District 20):

  • Passage of the Kids First Act – Introduced the Kids First Act (HB 1391) to start Maryland on the road toward universal health care coverage for our children.  This legislation will get health care for thousands of children by increasing State commitment to enrolling kids in public health insurance programs and identifying affordable coverage for middle class families.  The Kids First Act passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate.
  • Making Maryland a Leader in Nanobiotechnology – Introduced the Coordinating Emerging Nanobiotechnology Research (CENTR) in Maryland Program (HB 1409), which will invest $5 million in annual funding to make our state a leader in this new area for scientific innovation.  By creating high-tech jobs and drawing research dollars into Maryland, CENTR’s passage promises to be an economic blockbuster for our state.
  • Preserving Birth Options for Pregnant Women – Women around the state are steadily losing choices for maternity care.  Del. Mizeur introduced the Birth Options Preservation Study (HB 1407) to determine ways the State could reduce the administrative barriers that prevent nurse-midwives from delivering care to pregnant women.

Delegate Karen S. Montgomery (District 14):

  • HB 57 Pediatric Cancer Molecular Database Research Grant-Matching Fund is designed to provide information and awareness for children and adolescents with cancer.  This bill would facilitate the sharing of research information for rare childhood cancers.  HB 57 generated much interest and will be put in place through administrative action.
  • HB 790 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene-Child Abuse Medical Providers Initiative will improve the diagnosis and treatment of children subjected to child sexual abuse and neglect.  HB 790 passed both the House and Senate and required no additional expenditures.
  • HB 984 Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Mental Health Pilot Program is a program to provide mental health services to veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan as well as their spouses and dependants.  The pilot program would be started at Montgomery General Hospital.  The program is now included in the Governor’s larger plan.

Delegate Kirill Reznik (District 39):

  • HB 527 – Creating a Task Force to study the manner in which the State engages in procurement with non-profit organizations for health and social services. This study will be the first step to ensure that the procurement process for non-profit organizations is more fair and efficient, which will eventually save the state money.
  • HB 795 – Allowing for the State Athletic Commission to regulate and sanction professional and amateur mixed martial arts events. This will bring needed revenue to our State and brings a popular growing sport to our State while ensuring that this can be safely regulated.
  • HB 910 - Closes the loophole regarding medical records that are being provided to courts in cases of child abuse and neglect in time for the hearing to ensure that the courts have the necessary materials to be able to try a child abuse adjudication hearing properly.

Delegate Craig L. Rice (District 15):

  • Task Force on Classroom Air Quality Standards.  Establishes a Task Force to develop standards for air quality in classrooms.  Many schools have shown high levels of pollutants indoors and have not been able to respond appropriately as there are no defined standards. 

  • Public Schools – Bullying and Cyber-Bullying- Policy and Disciplinary Standard.  Requires the State Board of Education to establish policies to prohibit bullying and cyber-bullying, and to set standards for investigating complaints and setting specific, uniform penalties to be applied to those violating the policy.  There will also be procedures established for protecting victims, and both victims and violators will receive educational and therapeutic services. Sent to Governor to sign.

  • College Textbook Competition and Affordability Act of 2008.   Addresses the closed markets of many bookstores connected to Colleges and Universities in this State.  It will require faculty members be aware of prices, substantive differences in successive textbook editions, ISBN numbers, the percentage of the material used in classes, as well as prohibit all public university employees from taking benefits from publishers in exchange for assigning particular books.  The bill also looks into the conditions of “bundling,”  a concept where textbooks are packaged together with other supplemental materials that may or may not be useful to students, and include exclusive access to websites that are not available to used book buyers.  Adopted.

Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher (District 18): 

  • As a fervent advocate for the protection of children, Delegate Waldstreicher authored a bill to make possession of child pornography a felony.  Currently, Maryland is one of four states where child pornography is only a misdemeanor.  The legislation passed the House of Delegates unanimously.
  • As a member of the Judiciary Committee and its Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Delegate Waldstreicher authored a bill to protect Metro transit police officers.  Prior to this law, WMATA police officers were not recognized as full law enforcement officers.  This bill changed that.  It passed both houses and will be signed by the Governor.
  • Fulfilling a promise to crack down on sprawl and mansionization, Delegate Waldstreicher was proud to co-sponsor the Critical Areas Act, and aggressively lobby his colleagues on its behalf.  This historic bill limits sprawl and over development near sensitive wetlands and vulnerable habitats.  The law passed both houses and will be signed by the Governor.

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