EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0873*
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
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 21, 2023
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission – Prince George’s County – 2
Commissioner Qualifications and 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 from Prince George’s County; 6
providing that the general manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary 7
Commission has certain voting powers; and generally relating to the Washington 8
Suburban Sanitary Commission. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Public Utilities 11
Section 17–102 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Public Utilities 17
17–102. 18
(a) The Commission consists of: 19 2 HOUSE BILL 873
(1) three commissioners from Prince George’s County, appointed by the 1
County Executive subject to the confirmation of the County Council; and 2
(2) three commissioners from Montgomery County, appointed by the 3
County Executive subject to the confirmation of the County Council. 4
(b) (1) Each commissioner from Prince George’s County shall be a resident of 5
the sanitary district. 6
(2) (i) Each commissioner from Montgomery County shall be a 7
registered voter of Montgomery County. 8
(ii) Each commissioner from Prince George’s County shall be a 9
registered voter of Prince George’s County. 10
(3) AT LEAST ONE COMMISSI ONER FROM EACH COUNTY PRINCE 11
GEORGE’S COUNTY SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING 12
QUALIFICATIONS : 13
(I) 1. A MASTER’S DEGREE, A DOCTORAL DEGREE , DEGREE 14
FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OR AN EQUIVALENT LEV EL OF 15
EDUCATION DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE 2011 INTERNATIONAL 16
STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF EDUCATION; AND 17
2. AT LEAST 5 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE 18
MANAGEMENT OF A GOVERNMENTAL ENTIT Y OR BOARD OF DIRECT ORS THAT IS 19
COMPARABLE TO THE COMMISSION IN SCOPE A ND COMPLEXITY ; 20
(II) EDUCATION IN THE ENV IRONMENTAL SCIENCES ; OR 21
(III) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIE NCE IN UTILITY MANAG EMENT; OR 22
(IV) EXPERIENCE IN ENVIRO NMENTAL OR CIVIL ENGINEERING . 23
(c) (1) An individual may not be appointed or continue in office as a 24
commissioner if the individual holds any other position of profit or trust under the 25
Constitution or laws of the State or any political subdivision of the State. 26
(2) Not more than two commissioners from Montgomery County may be of 27
the same political party. 28
(d) (1) The term of a commissioner is 4 years and begins on June 1 of the year 29
of appointment. 30
HOUSE BILL 873 3
(2) The terms of commissioners are staggered as required by the terms 1
provided for commissioners on July 1, 1982. 2
(3) At the end of a term, a commissioner continues to serve until a successor 3
is appointed and takes the oath of office. 4
(4) A commissioner who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for 5
the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and takes the oath of office. 6
(5) A vacancy on the Commission does not impair the right of the 7
remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of the Commission. 8
(E) THE GENERAL MANAGER O F THE COMMISSION HAS THE SA ME VOTING 9
POWERS AS THE COMMIS SIONERS ON ALL MATTE RS BEFORE THE COMMISSION 10
EXCEPT REGARDING DEC ISIONS RELATING TO : 11
(1) THE INSPECTOR GENERA L OR THE SECRETARY ; OR 12
(2) THE SALARY OF THE GE NERAL MANAGER , THE INSPECTOR 13
GENERAL, OR THE SECRETARY . 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2023. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.