EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
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amendment.
*hb1336*
HOUSE BILL 1336
R2 2lr2682
By: Delegate Bridges
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Appropriations and Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 14, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Greater Baltimore Transit Governance and Funding Commission 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Greater Baltimore Transit Governance and Funding 3
Commission to study and make findings and recommendations relating to the 4
funding, governance, and performance of mass transit in the greater Baltimore 5
region; and generally relating to the Greater Baltimore Transit Governance and 6
Funding Commission and mass transit. 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9
(a) In this section, “Commission” means the Greater Baltimore Transit 10
Governance and Funding Commission. 11
(b) There is a Greater Baltimore Transit Governance and Funding Commission. 12
(c) (1) The Commission consists of the following members: 13
(i) One member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the 14
President of the Senate; 15
(ii) One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker 16
of the House; 17
2 HOUSE BILL 1336
(iii) One individual who is an expert in mass transit issues in the 1
greater Baltimore region, appointed by the Governor; and 2
(iv) One representative from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 3
1300, appointed by the Governor; 4
(v) One representative from a transportation trade association, 5
appointed by the Governor; 6
(vi) One representative from the business community in the greater 7
Baltimore region, appointed by the Governor; and 8
(vii) Three individuals from Baltimore City, two individuals from 9
Baltimore County, and one individual from Anne Arundel County, and one individual from 10
Howard County, each of whom shall: 11
1. Be appointed by the mayor or county executive of their 12
respective jurisdiction; and 13
2. Have one or more of the following qualifications: 14
A. Residence in a community impacted by the lack of mass 15
transit options or funding; 16
B. Expertise in mass transit issues in the greater Baltimore 17
region; 18
C. Representation of a local nonprofit or advocacy group 19
specializing in transportation issues; 20
D. Representation of an academic institution in the State; or 21
E. Representation of a historically underserved community 22
with respect to mass transit options or funding. 23
(2) To the extent practicable, the membership of the Commission shall 24
reflect the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State 25
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area, according to the most recent 26
available census data. 27
(d) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall jointly 28
designate the chair of the Commission. 29
(e) The Department of Legislative Services and the Baltimore Metropolitan 30
Council shall provide staff for the Commission. 31
(f) (1) The Commission shall meet at least four times per calendar year. 32 HOUSE BILL 1336 3
(2) A majority of members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for 1
the transaction of business. 2
(3) A member of the Commission: 3
(i) May not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; 4
but 5
(ii) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard 6
State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 7
(4) All Commission members shall continue to serve until the reporting 8
required in subsection (h) of this section is complete and submitted to the General Assembly 9
and the Governor. 10
(g) The Commission shall: 11
(1) Review the findings of the Baltimore Regional Transit Governance and 12
Funding Study published by the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board in August of 13
2021; 14
(2) Make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor 15
regarding changes to the funding and governance of transit in the greater Baltimore region; 16
(3) Study, analyze, and recommend alternative governance and funding 17
models for the Baltimore area transit system to the current State–led model; and 18
(4) Perform the following tasks: 19
(i) Identify potential approaches that: 20
1. Equitably distribute governance and funding 21
responsibilities in mass transit; and 22
2. Improve performance, accountability, and ridership on 23
Baltimore’s transit system; 24
(ii) Review the Maryland Department of Transportation’s projected 25
capital needs for comparison with the repair and service needs of the greater Baltimore 26
public transit system; 27
(iii) Study examples from peer regions of successful structures for 28
shared public transportation funding and oversight; 29
(iv) Review potential alternative distributions of responsibilities for 30
public transportation planning, oversight, and funding among State and local governments 31 4 HOUSE BILL 1336
to improve the planning and delivery of public transportation in the greater Baltimore 1
region; 2
(v) Review potential alternative entities or governance structures 3
for regional mass transit that include: 4
1. The study of whether a new regional transportation entity 5
could be created or existing entities could be given new responsibilities; and 6
2. Exploration of the general powers, duties, funding, 7
financing, and budget authority of any potential entity; 8
(vi) Locate potential State, local, or regional funding sources for 9
public transportation; 10
(vii) Coordinate with State, local, and other providers of public and 11
private transit in the region; and 12
(viii) Complete any additional steps needed to improve coordination 13
among public transportation services in the region. 14
(h) (1) On or before December 1, 2022, the Commission shall submit an interim 15
report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 16
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 17
(2) On or before December 1, 2023, the Commission shall submit a final 18
report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 19
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 21
1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 7 months and, at the end of 22
December 31, 2023, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall 23
be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 24
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.