WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 697
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Chapter 697
(House Bill 1023)
AN ACT concerning
Prince George’s County and Montgomery County – The Washington Suburban
Transit Commission Reform Act
PG/MC 103–24
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Secretary of Transportation’s designee to attend
meetings of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors
on behalf of the Secretary when the Secretary is not available; providing that the
Secretary’s designee has the same powers as the Secretary when attending meetings
of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors on behalf
of the Secretary; authorizing the Washington Suburban Transit Commission to
reappoint a certain appointee to be a principal member of the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors; repealing a limitation that
the Washington Suburban Transit District’s authority to make and enter into all
contracts or agreements the Commission determines are necessary is subject to the
review and approval by the respective governing bodies of the counties; and generally
relating to the Washington Suburban Transit Commission.
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
The Public Local Laws of Montgomery County
Section 87–4
Article 16 – Public Local Laws of Maryland
(2014 Edition and August 2023 Supplement, as amended)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
The Public Local Laws of Montgomery County
Section 87–5(a)(14) and 87–17(d)
Article 16 – Public Local Laws of Maryland
(2014 Edition and August 2023 Supplement, as amended)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
The Public Local Laws of Prince George’s County
Part III, Section 4
Article 17 – Public Local Laws of Maryland
(2015 Edition and 2018 Supplement, as amended)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
The Public Local Laws of Prince George’s County
Part III, Section 5(a)(14) and 17(a)(4)
Article 17 – Public Local Laws of Maryland
(2015 Edition and 2018 Supplement, as amended) Ch. 697 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article 16 – Montgomery County
87–4.
There is hereby created the Washington Suburban Transit Commission, which shall
have the powers and duties granted herein and such additional powers as may hereafter
lawfully be conferred upon it pursuant to law, to manage and control the functions, affairs
and property of the corporation.
87–5.
(a) (14) (i) The following commissioners shall serve as the Commission’s
appointees to be principal members of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority Board of Directors:
1. Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the
Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee, as an ex officio principal member;
and
2. Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, one of the
commissioners appointed by the Governor under paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(ii) The Secretary of Transportation’s designee under subparagraph
(i)1 of this paragraph:
1. Shall be an employee of the Department of
Transportation;
2. Shall have experience with and possess qualifications
related to transit; and
3. A. May attend meetings of the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors on behalf of the Secretary [only if
a scheduling conflict arises] WHEN THE SECRETARY IS NOT AVAI LABLE; AND
B. WHEN ATTENDING MEETIN GS ON BEHALF OF THE
SECRETARY, SHALL HAVE THE SAME POWERS AS THE SECRETARY.
(iii) The Commission’s appointee under subparagraph (i)2 of this
paragraph [may]:
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 697
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1. MAY BE REAPPOINTED ; AND
2. MAY not be succeeded in office by a commissioner who is
a resident of the same county.
87–17.
Without in any manner limiting or restricting the general powers created by this
subtitle, the district shall have power:
(d) Subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of section 87–12 [and subject to the
review and approval in whole or in part by the respective governing bodies of the counties],
to make and enter into all contracts or agreements as the commission may determine which
are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and to the execution of the
powers granted under this chapter;
Article 17 – Prince George’s County
Part III.
4.
There is hereby created the Washington Suburban Transit Commission, which shall
have the powers and duties granted herein and such additional powers as may hereafter
lawfully be conferred upon it pursuant to law, to manage and control the functions, affairs
and property of the corporation.
5.
(a) (14) (A) The following Commissioners shall serve as the Commission’s
appointees to be principal members of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority Board of Directors:
(i) Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the
Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s Designee, as an ex officio principal member;
and
(ii) Subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, one of the
Commissioners appointed by the Governor under paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(B) The Secretary of Transportation’s designee under subparagraph
(A)(i) of this paragraph:
(i) Shall be an employee of the Departm ent of
Transportation;
Ch. 697 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(ii) Shall have experience with and possess qualifications
related to transit; and
(iii) 1. May attend meetings of the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors on behalf of the Secretary [only if
a scheduling conflict arises] WHEN THE SECRETARY IS NOT AVAI LABLE; AND
2. WHEN ATTENDING MEETIN GS ON BEHALF OF THE
SECRETARY, SHALL HAVE THE SAME POWERS AS THE SECRETARY.
(C) The Commission’s appointee under subparagraph (A)(ii) of this
paragraph [may]:
(I) MAY BE REAPPOINTED ; AND
(II) MAY not be succeeded in office by a Commissioner who is
a resident of the same County.
17.
(a) Without in any manner limiting or restricting the general powers created by
this Subtitle, the district shall have power:
(4) Subject to the provisions of Section 12(a) hereof [and subject to the
review and approval in whole or in part by the respective governing bodies of the counties],
to make and enter into all contracts or agreements as the Commission may determine
which are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and to the execution of
the powers granted under this Subtitle.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, May 9, 2024.