WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 504
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Chapter 504
(House Bill 794)
AN ACT concerning
Baltimore Regional Transit Commission – Establishment
FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission to review and
approve comment on annual budget requests of the Maryland Transit
Administration, updates to the Central Maryland Transportation Plan, and certain
annual reports on the Administration’s state of good repair, and to perform other
oversight and advocacy duties related to Baltimore region transit services; and
generally relating to the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission.
BY adding to
Article – Transportation
Section 7–213
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Transportation
7–213.
(A) THERE IS A BALTIMORE REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMISSION.
(B) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F THE FOLLOWING MEMB ERS:
(1) THE FOLLOWING SIX MEM BERS FROM BALTIMORE CITY,
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS :
(I) FOUR THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
INCLUDING:
1. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER W HO USES TRANSIT IN THE
BALTIMORE REGION ; AND
2. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER F ROM THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY ; AND
(II) TWO THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR OF
BALTIMORE CITY; Ch. 504 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) THE FOLLOWING FIVE FOUR MEMBERS FROM BALTIMORE
COUNTY, APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS :
(I) THREE TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
INCLUDING:
1. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER W HO USES TRANSIT IN T HE
BALTIMORE REGION ; AND
2. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER F ROM THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY ; AND
(II) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF
BALTIMORE COUNTY;
(3) THE FOLLOWING TWO MEM BERS FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY,
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS :
(I) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; AND
(II) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY;
(4) THE FOLLOWING TWO MEM BERS FROM HOWARD COUNTY,
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS :
(I) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; AND
(II) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF
HOWARD COUNTY; AND
(5) ONE NONVOTING MEMBER WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE O F THE
ADMINISTRATION AND IS A MEMBER OF THE LARGEST LABOR UNION IN THE
BALTIMORE REGION AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LOCAL LABOR UNI ON,
DESIGNATED BY THE LA BOR UNION; AND
(6) THE SECRETARY OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE, WHO SHALL
VOTE ONLY IN THE CAS E OF A TIE.
(C) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL SELECT A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR
FROM AMONG ITS MEMBE RS.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 504
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(2) THE CHAIR AND VICE CH AIR SHALL EACH SERVE A TERM OF 2
YEARS IN THOSE CAPAC ITIES.
(D) (1) THE TERM OF A COMMISS IONER IS 3 YEARS.
(2) A COMMISSIONER MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN TWO
CONSECUTIVE TERMS .
(3) THE TERM OF A COMMISS IONER BEGINS JANUARY 1, 2024.
(4) THE TERMS OF THE MEMB ERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQUIRED BY
THE TERMS PROVIDED F OR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 1, 2024.
(5) AT THE END OF A TERM , A COMMISSIONER CONT INUES TO SERVE
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED.
(E) (1) THE BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE
STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION.
(2) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING FUNDING
FOR ONE SENIOR PLANNER AND TWO JUNIOR PLANNER S TAFFING POSITIONS .
(F) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION:
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE
COMMISSION; BUT
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET .
(G) THE COMMISSION SHALL :
(1) ORGANIZE AND ESTABLIS H POLICIES AND PROCE DURES FOR THE
OPERATIONS OF THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING CONFLICT O F INTEREST STANDARDS
THAT PROHIBIT A COMM ISSIONER FROM HAVING ANY INAPPROPRIATE FINANCIAL
OR NONFINANCIAL INTE REST IN A MATTER OVE R WHICH THE COMMISSION HAS
JURISDICTION;
(2) NOT LATER THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE COMMISSION FIRST
MEETS, ADOPT BYLAWS TO GOVE RN THE OPERATIONS OF THE COMMISSION;
(3) (I) MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY; AND
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(II) ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT S DURING THE MEETING S AND,
AT ALL TIMES, ELECTRONICALLY ;
(4) INCLUDE IN THE QUARTE RLY AGENDA EACH OF T HE FOLLOWING
TOPICS AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR:
(I) THE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR CAPITAL NEEDS INVENTORY
REPORT;
(II) THE CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
PRIORITIES AND INITI AL BUDGET REQUESTS U NDER § 2–103.1 OF THIS ARTICLE ;
AND
(III) ANY BUDGET REQUEST AP PROVAL; AND
(IV) ANY UPDATE ON THE CENTRAL MARYLAND REGIONAL
TRANSIT PLAN UNDER § 7–301.1 OF THIS TITLE;
(5) (I) KEEP MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETINGS A ND MAINTAIN
PROPER RECORDS OF AL L COMMISSION ACTIVITY ; AND
(II) POST ALL MINUTES , RECORDS, NOTICES, COMMENTS , OR
OTHER INFORMATION IS SUED BY THE COMMISSION OR RECEIVE D FROM THE PUBLIC
ON A PUBLIC WEBSITE ESTAB LISHED AND MAINTAINE D BY THE COMMISSION;
(6) EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OF PROVIDE INPUT AND ENGAGE IN
ADVOCACY FOR THE BALTIMORE REGION PUBL IC TRANSIT SYSTEMS M AINTAINED
BY THE ADMINISTRATION ;
(7) REVIEW ANY REPORT PRE PARED BY OR FOR REQUEST AND
REVIEW INFORMATION F ROM THE ANNUAL ATTAINMENT REPORT AND THE
ADMINISTRATION CONCER NING THE ATTAINMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION ’S
GOALS, INCLUDING PERFORMANC E GOALS AND METRICS , EVALUATE ANY OTHER
MEASURES OF THE PERF ORMANCE OF THE BALTIMORE REGION TRANSIT SYSTEM ,
AND ISSUE WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS CONC ERNING HOW THE RESUL TS OF THE
COMMISSION’S REVIEW AND EVALUAT ION SHOULD INFLUENCE THE
ADMINISTRATION ’S PRIORITIES IN FUTU RE YEARS;
(8) REVIEW AND COMMENT ON TRANSPORTATION OPERA TIONS,
PLANS, AND SERV ICES PROPOSED FOR TH E BALTIMORE REGION THAT
COMPLEMENT THE TRANS IT PLANS AND SERVICE S OF THE ADMINISTRATION
SERVICE CHANGE REPOR TS AND MAJOR SERVICE CHANGE PROPOSALS ON A
QUARTERLY BASIS ; WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 504
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(9) REVIEW AND APPROVE COMMENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION ’S
ANNUAL OPE RATING AND CAPITAL B UDGET REQUEST FOR TH E BALTIMORE REGION ,
INCLUDING BUS , LIGHT RAIL, METRO, COMMUTER BUS , MARC SERVICE, AND
PARATRANSIT AS PART OF THE DEVEL OPMENT OF THE DRAFT AND FINAL
CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM;
(10) CONVENE SUBCOMMITTEES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ENTITIES
TO GATHER INFORMATIO N AND SUGGESTIONS FR OM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ONS,
CIVIC FOUNDATIONS , EMPLOYERS , AND TRANSIT RIDERS R EGARDING TRANSIT
SERVICE IN THE BALTIMORE REGION ;
(11) AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIA TE, PROPOSE TO THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY POLICIES THA T PROMOTE PUBLIC SAF ETY,
TRANSPARENCY , ACCOUNTABILITY , CUSTOMER SERVICE , REGULAR
COMMUNICATION WITH T HE PUBLIC, AND PRUDENT FINANCIA L DECISION MAKING
IN THE BALTIMORE REGION ;
(12) REVIEW AND APPROVE AN Y UPDATE TO THE CENTRAL
MARYLAND REGIONAL TRANSIT PLAN;
(13) SUBMIT FORMAL COMMENT ON THE CONSOLIDATED
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM;
(14) (11) REVIEW AND APPROVE AN ANNUAL PL AN ON THE STATE OF
GOOD REPAIR COMMENT ON THE CAPITAL NEEDS INVENTORY REPORT; AND
(15) (12) REVIEW LOCAL TRANSIT PLANS AND SERVICES I N THE
BALTIMORE REGION TO E NSURE COORDINATION B ETWEEN THE LOCAL TRA NSIT
SERVICES AND THE ADMINISTRATION .
(H) IN CARRYING OUT ITS D UTIES UNDER SUBSECTI ON (G) OF THIS
SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL ENDE AVOR TO ENSURE THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION ’S PLANS, BUDGETS, DECISIONS, POLICIES, GOALS, PRIORITIES,
OPERATIONS, AND SERVICES ADDRESS THE PUBLIC TRANSIT N EEDS OF RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESSES IN TH E BALTIMORE REGION .
(I) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSION SHALL
REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BALTIMORE REGION
TRANSIT SYSTEMS TO T HE ADMINISTRATION , THE GOVERNOR, AND, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
Ch. 504 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding § 7 –213(d)
of the Transportation Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, the initial terms of the
members of the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission established under this Act shall
be staggered as follows:
(1) of the two three members from Baltimore City appointed by the Mayor,
one member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and one member two members shall serve
an initial term of 3 years;
(2) of the four three members from Baltimore City appointed by the
Governor, two members one member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and two members
shall serve an initial term of 3 years;
(3) of the two members from Baltimore County appointed by the County
Executive of Baltimore County, one member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and one
member shall serve an initial term of 3 years;
(4) of the three two members from Baltimore County appointed by the
Governor, one member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and two members one member
shall serve an initial term of 3 years;
(5) the member from Anne Arundel County appointed by the County
Executive of Anne Arundel County shall serve an initial term of 4 3 years;
(6) the member from Anne Arundel County appointed by the Governor
shall serve an initial term of 3 4 years;
(7) the member from Howard County appointed by the County Executive
of Howard County shall serve an initial term of 4 years;
(8) the member from Howard County appointed by the Governor shall
serve an initial term of 3 years; and
(9) the members of the General Assembly each shall serve an initial term
of 4 years; and
(10) the nonvoting member representing a labor union shall serve an initial
term of 3 years.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2023.
Approved by the Governor, May 8, 2023.