EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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HOUSE BILL 873
L5 3lr1107
By: Montgomery County Delegation and Prince George’s County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2023
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission – Commissioner Qualifications and 2
General Manager Voting Powers 3
MC/PG 108–23 4
FOR the purpose of requiring certain qualifications for a certain number of commissioners 5
of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; providing that the general 6
manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has certain voting 7
powers; and generally relating to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Public Utilities 10
Section 17–102 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Public Utilities 16
17–102. 17
(a) The Commission consists of: 18
(1) three commissioners from Prince George’s County, appointed by the 19
County Executive subject to the confirmation of the County Council; and 20
(2) three commissioners from Montgomery County, appointed by the 21
County Executive subject to the confirmation of the County Council. 22
2 HOUSE BILL 873
(b) (1) Each commissioner from Prince George’s County shall be a resident of 1
the sanitary district. 2
(2) (i) Each commissioner from Montgomery County shall be a 3
registered voter of Montgomery County. 4
(ii) Each commissioner from Prince George’s County shall be a 5
registered voter of Prince George’s County. 6
(3) AT LEAST ONE COMMISSIONER FROM EACH COUNTY SHA LL HAVE 7
AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICAT IONS: 8
(I) 1. A MASTER’S DEGREE, A DOCTORAL DEGREE , OR AN 9
EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE 2011 10
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF EDUCATION; AND 11
2. AT LEAST 5 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE 12
MANAGEMENT OF A GOVE RNMENTAL ENTITY OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS 13
COMPARABLE TO THE COMMISSION IN SCOPE A ND COMPLEXITY; 14
(II) EDUCATION IN THE ENVI RONMENTAL SCIENCES ; OR 15
(III) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIEN CE IN UTILITY MANAGEMENT . 16
(c) (1) An individual may not be appointed or continue in office as a 17
commissioner if the individual holds any other position of profit or trust under the 18
Constitution or laws of the State or any political subdivision of the State. 19
(2) Not more than two commissioners from Montgomery County may be of 20
the same political party. 21
(d) (1) The term of a commissioner is 4 years and begins on June 1 of the year 22
of appointment. 23
(2) The terms of commissioners are staggered as required by the terms 24
provided for commissioners on July 1, 1982. 25
(3) At the end of a term, a commissioner continues to serve until a successor 26
is appointed and takes the oath of office. 27
(4) A commissioner who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for 28
the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and takes the oath of office. 29
(5) A vacancy on the Commission does not impair the right of the 30
remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of the Commission. 31
HOUSE BILL 873 3
(E) THE GENERAL MANAGER O F THE COMMISSION HAS THE SAME VOTING 1
POWERS AS THE COMMIS SIONERS ON ALL MATTERS BEFOR E THE COMMISSION 2
EXCEPT REGARDING DEC ISIONS RELATING TO: 3
(1) THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OR THE SECRETARY ; OR 4
(2) THE SALAR Y OF THE GENERAL MANAG ER, THE INSPECTOR 5
GENERAL, OR THE SECRETARY. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2023. 8