EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0876*
SENATE BILL 876
R2 3lr2036
CF HB 794
By: Senator M. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2023
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Baltimore Regional Transit Commission – Establishment 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission to review and 3
approve annual budget requests of the Maryland Transit Administration, updates to 4
the Central Maryland Transportation Plan, and annual reports on the 5
Administration’s state of good repair, and to perform other oversight and advocacy 6
duties related to Baltimore region transit services; and generally relating to the 7
Baltimore Regional Transit Commission. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Transportation 10
Section 7–213 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 – Transportation 16
7–213. 17
(A) THERE IS A BALTIMORE REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMISSION. 18
(B) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F THE FOLLOWING MEMB ERS: 19
(1) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED BY THE 20
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 21
2 SENATE BILL 876
(2) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED BY THE 1
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 2
(3) THE FOLLOWING SIX MEM BERS FROM BALTIMORE CITY, 3
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS : 4
(I) FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTE D BY THE GOVERNOR, 5
INCLUDING: 6
1. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER W HO USES TRANSIT IN T HE 7
BALTIMORE REGION; AND 8
2. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER F ROM THE BUSINESS 9
COMMUNITY ; AND 10
(II) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR OF BALTIMORE 11
CITY; 12
(4) THE FOLLOWING FIVE ME MBERS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY, 13
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS : 14
(I) THREE MEMBERS APPOINT ED BY THE GOVERNOR, 15
INCLUDING: 16
1. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER W HO USES TRANSIT IN T HE 17
BALTIMORE REGION ; AND 18
2. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER F ROM THE BUSINESS 19
COMMUNITY ; AND 20
(II) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF 21
BALTIMORE COUNTY; 22
(5) THE FOLLOWING TWO MEM BERS FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, 23
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS : 24
(I) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; AND 25
(II) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF 26
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY; 27
(6) THE FOLLOWING TWO MEM BERS FRO M HOWARD COUNTY, 28
APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS : 29 SENATE BILL 876 3
(I) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; AND 1
(II) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF 2
HOWARD COUNTY; AND 3
(7) ONE NONVOTING MEMBER WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE O F THE 4
ADMINISTRATION AND IS A MEMBER OF T HE LARGEST LABOR UNI ON IN THE 5
BALTIMORE REGION , DESIGNATED BY THE LA BOR UNION. 6
(C) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL SELE CT A CHAIR AND A VIC E CHAIR 7
FROM AMONG ITS MEMBE RS. 8
(2) THE CHAIR AND VICE CH AIR SHALL EACH SERVE A TERM OF 2 9
YEARS IN THOSE CAPAC ITIES. 10
(D) (1) THE TERM OF A COMMISS IONER IS 3 YEARS. 11
(2) A COMMISSIONER MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN TWO 12
CONSECUTIVE TERMS . 13
(3) THE TERM OF A COMMISS IONER BEGINS JANUARY 1, 2024. 14
(4) THE TERMS OF THE MEMB ERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQUIRED BY 15
THE TERMS PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 1, 2024. 16
(5) AT THE END OF A TERM , A COMMISSIONER CONTI NUES TO SERVE 17
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED. 18
(E) (1) THE BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE 19
STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION. 20
(2) THE ADMINISTRATIO N SHALL ALLOCATE FUN DS FOR 21
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE COMMISSION. 22
(F) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION: 23
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 24
COMMISSION; BUT 25
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 26
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 27
4 SENATE BILL 876
(G) THE COMMISSION SHALL : 1
(1) ORGANIZE AND ESTABLIS H POLICIES AND PROCE DURES FOR THE 2
OPERATIONS OF THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING CONFLICT O F INTEREST STANDARDS 3
THAT PROHIBIT A COMM ISSIONER FROM HAVING ANY INAPPROPRIATE FI NANCIAL 4
OR NONFINANCIAL INTE REST IN A MATTER OVE R WHICH THE COMMISSION HAS 5
JURISDICTION; 6
(2) NOT LATER THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE COMMISSION FIRST 7
MEETS, ADOPT BYLAWS TO GOVE RN THE OPERATIONS OF THE COMMISSION; 8
(3) (I) MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY; AND 9
(II) ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT S DURING THE MEETING S AND, 10
AT ALL TIMES, ELECTRONICALLY ; 11
(4) INCLUDE IN THE QUARTE RLY AGENDA EACH OF T HE FOLLOWING 12
TOPICS AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR: 13
(I) THE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR REPORT; 14
(II) THE CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM 15
PRIORITIES AND INITI AL BUDGET REQUESTS U NDER § 2–103.1 OF THIS ARTICLE; 16
(III) ANY BUDGET REQUEST AP PROVAL; AND 17
(IV) ANY UPDATE ON THE CENTRAL MARYLAND REGIONAL 18
TRANSIT PLAN UNDER § 7–301.1 OF THIS TITLE; 19
(5) (I) KEEP MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETINGS A ND MAINTAIN 20
PROPER RECORDS OF AL L COMMISSION ACTIVITY ; AND 21
(II) POST ALL MINUTES , RECORDS, NOTICES, COMMENTS , OR 22
OTHER INFORMATION IS SUED BY THE COMMISSION OR RECEIVE D FROM THE PUBLIC 23
ON A PUBLIC WEBSITE ESTABLISHED AN D MAINTAINED BY THE COMMISSION; 24
(6) EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OF AND ENGAGE IN ADVOCA CY FOR THE 25
BALTIMORE REGION PUBL IC TRANSIT SYSTEMS M AINTAINED BY THE 26
ADMINISTRATION ; 27
(7) REVIEW ANY REPORT PRE PARED BY OR FOR THE 28
ADMINISTRATION CONCER NING THE ATTAINMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION ’S 29
GOALS, INCLUDING PERFORMANC E GOALS AND METRICS , EVALUATE ANY OTHER 30
MEASURES OF THE PERF ORMANCE OF THE BALTIMORE REGION TRAN SIT SYSTEM, 31 SENATE BILL 876 5
AND ISSUE WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS CONC ERNING HOW THE RESUL TS OF THE 1
COMMISSION’S REVIEW AND EVALU ATION SHOULD INFLUEN CE THE 2
ADMINISTRATION ’S PRIORITIES IN FUTU RE YEARS; 3
(8) REVIEW AND COMMENT ON TRANSPORTATION OPERA TIONS, 4
PLANS, AND SERVICES PROPOSE D FOR THE BALTIMORE REGION THAT 5
COMPLEMENT THE TRANS IT PLANS AND SERVICE S OF THE ADMINISTRATION ; 6
(9) REVIEW AND APPROVE TH E ADMINISTRATION ’S ANNUAL 7
OPERATING AND CAPITA L BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE BALTIMORE REGION , 8
INCLUDING BUS , LIGHT RAIL, METRO, COMMUTER BUS , MARC SERVICE, AND 9
PARATRANSIT ; 10
(10) CONVENE SUBCOMMITTEES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ENTITIES 11
TO GATHER INFORMATION A ND SUGGESTIONS FROM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ONS, 12
CIVIC FOUNDATIONS , EMPLOYERS , AND TRANSIT RIDERS R EGARDING TRANSIT 13
SERVICE IN THE BALTIMORE REGION ; 14
(11) AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIA TE, PROPOSE TO THE ADMINISTRATION 15
AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PO LICIES THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY , 16
TRANSPARENCY , ACCOUNTABILITY , CUSTOMER SERVICE , REGULAR 17
COMMUNICATION WITH T HE PUBLIC, AND PRUDENT FINANCIA L DECISION MAKING 18
IN THE BALTIMORE REGION ; 19
(12) REVIEW AND APPROVE AN Y UPDATE TO THE CENTRAL 20
MARYLAND REGIONAL TRANSIT PLAN; 21
(13) SUBMIT FORMAL COMMENT ON THE CONSOLIDATED 22
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM; 23
(14) REVIEW AND APPROVE AN ANNUAL PLAN ON THE S TATE OF GOOD 24
REPAIR; AND 25
(15) REVIEW LOCAL TRANSIT PLANS AND SERVICES I N THE 26
BALTIMORE REGION TO E NSURE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE LOCAL TRANSIT 27
SERVICES AND THE ADMINISTRATION . 28
(H) IN CARRYING OUT ITS D UTIES UNDER SUBSECTI ON (G) OF THIS 29
SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL ENDE AVOR TO ENSURE THAT THE 30
ADMINISTRATION ’S PLANS, BUDGETS, DECISIONS, POLICIES, GOALS, PRIORITIES, 31
OPERATIONS, AND SERVICES ADDRESS THE PUBLIC TRANSIT N EEDS OF RESIDENTS 32
AND BUSINESSES IN TH E BALTIMORE REGION . 33
6 SENATE BILL 876
(I) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSION SHALL 1
REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BALTIMORE REGION 2
TRANSIT S YSTEMS TO THE ADMINISTRATION , THE GOVERNOR, AND, IN 3
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL 4
ASSEMBLY. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding § 7 –213(d) 6
of the Transportation Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, the initial terms of the 7
members of the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission established under this Act shall 8
be staggered as follows: 9
(1) of the two members from Baltimore City appointed by the Mayor, one 10
member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and one member shall serve an initial term 11
of 3 years; 12
(2) of the four members from Baltimore City appointed by the Governor, 13
two members shall serve an initial term of 4 years and two members shall serve an initial 14
term of 3 years; 15
(3) of the two members from Baltimore County appointed by the County 16
Executive of Baltimore County, one member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and one 17
member shall serve an initial term of 3 years; 18
(4) of the three members from Baltimore County appointed by the 19
Governor, one member shall serve an initial term of 4 years and two members shall serve 20
an initial term of 3 years; 21
(5) the member from Anne Arundel County appointed by the County 22
Executive of Anne Arundel County shall serve an initial term of 4 years; 23
(6) the member from Anne Arundel County appointed by the Governor 24
shall serve an initial term of 3 years; 25
(7) the member from Howard County appointed by the County Executive 26
of Howard County shall serve an initial term of 4 years; 27
(8) the member from Howard County appointed by the Governor shall 28
serve an initial term of 3 years; 29
(9) the members of the General Assembly each shall serve an initial term 30
of 4 years; and 31
(10) the nonvoting member representing a labor union shall serve an initial 32
term of 3 years. 33
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 34
October 1, 2023. 35 SENATE BILL 876 7