EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0843*
HOUSE BILL 843
A2, A3 4lr2372
CF 4lr2374
By: Cecil County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2024
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Cecil County – Board of License Commissioners – Inspections of Licensed 2
Cannabis Businesses 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing an inspector employed by the Board of License 4
Commissioners for Cecil County to enter a licensed cannabis business for certain 5
observation purposes, provided that the inspector makes a certain announcement 6
and the inspector does not take any action against the licensee or an employee of the 7
licensee; and generally relating to inspections of cannabis businesses in Cecil 8
County. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 11
Section 17–102 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 16
Section 17–205 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 22
17–102. 23
This title applies only in Cecil County. 24
2 HOUSE BILL 843
17–205. 1
(a) (1) The Board may employ one full–time inspector and as many part–time 2
inspectors as the Board considers necessary. 3
(2) The employment of the inspectors is subject to the County Personnel 4
Policy and Procedure Manual. 5
(b) An individual may not accept appointment or continue as an inspector if the 6
individual or a member of the individual’s immediate family has a personal or financial 7
interest directly or indirectly in a license or in a premises licensed under this article. 8
(c) An inspector: 9
(1) has all the powers of a peace officer or sheriff in the State arising out of 10
or relating to the enforcement of this article; and 11
(2) may serve a summons under § 17–2603 of this title. 12
(d) An inspector shall: 13
(1) investigate all applicants for a license or transfer of a license; 14
(2) visit and inspect at unannounced times every licensed premises in the 15
county at least once every 90 days; 16
(3) enforce all alcoholic beverages laws; 17
(4) investigate all violations of the alcoholic beverages laws and report 18
them to the Board; and 19
(5) submit monthly reports in writing to the Board of the inspector’s 20
activities, setting forth complaints and listing violations that the inspector observed or were 21
reported to the inspector. 22
(e) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN 23
INSPECTOR ACTING IN AN OFFICIA L CAPACITY MAY ENTER A PREMISES LICENSED 24
AS A CANNABIS BUSINE SS UNDER TITLE 36, SUBTITLE 4 OF THIS ARTICLE FOR THE 25
PURPOSE OF OBSERVING WHETHER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LICENSE ARE 26
BEING MET. 27
(2) (I) ON ENTERING THE PREMI SES, THE INSPECTOR SHALL 28
ANNOUNCE TO THE LICENSEE OR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE LICENSEE THAT THE 29
INSPECTOR IS ACTING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPAC ITY AND IS AUTHORIZED TO REMAIN 30
ON THE PREMISES . 31
HOUSE BILL 843 3
(II) AN INSPECTOR ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS 1
SUBSECTION MAY NOT ISSUE A CITA TION OR WARNING OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION 2
AGAINST THE LICENSEE OR AN EMPLO YEE OF THE LICENSEE . 3
(F) An inspector shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland 4
Constitution. 5
[(f)] (G) The salaries and travel expenses of the inspectors shall be established 6
by the County Commissioners using county personnel department regulations and 7
guidelines. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
1, 2024. 10