EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0897*
HOUSE BILL 897
C8 4lr3271
CF 4lr3275
By: Baltimore City Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Authority 2
Task Force 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment 4
and Operating Authority Task Force to study and make recom mendations 5
concerning the membership, purpose, and function of an authority to govern the 6
renovation, revitalization, financing, and ongoing maintenance and management of 7
a certain Baltimore Convention site and certain surrounding areas; and generally 8
relating to the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating 9
Authority Task Force. 10
Preamble 11
WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that the general welfare of the people of 12
Maryland is directly dependent on the continual encouragement, development, growth, and 13
expansion of business, industry, commerce, and tourism within the State and, thus, the 14
promotion, attraction, stimulation, development, and expansion of business, industry, 15
commerce, and tourism in the State should be fostered; and 16
WHEREAS, The Baltimore Convention site, because of its size and location in a 17
first–class city, is vital in attracting business, industry, commerce, and tourism to 18
Baltimore City, the surrounding counties, and the State as a whole; and 19
WHEREAS, To redevelop, revitalize, and promote the Baltimore Convention site 20
within this State, the Baltimore Convention Center commissioned an independent study of 21
convention and visitor industry governance models, day–to–day management approaches, 22
and funding models prevalent nationally and approaches that would be appropriate for the 23
future success of the Baltimore Convention Center; and 24
WHEREAS, An important aspect of the redevelopment and successful continuation 25
of the Baltimore Convention Center should be a holistic evaluation of the immediate 26 2 HOUSE BILL 897
surrounding area and the identification of underutilized State and local real property 1
assets, including the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel; and 2
WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds, for the benefit of the people of the State, 3
it is necessary to provide additional and flexible means of governing, redeveloping, 4
revitalizing, constructing, designing, managing, financing, operating, and promoting the 5
Baltimore Convention site and the immediate surrounding area; now, therefore, 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) In this section, “Baltimore Convention site” has the meaning stated in § 9
10–601 of the Economic Development Article. 10
(b) There is a Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating 11
Authority Task Force. 12
(c) The Task Force consists of the following members: 13
(1) the Mayor of Baltimore City, or the Mayor’s designee; 14
(2) one member of the Senate of Maryland who is a member of the 15
Baltimore City Delegation, appointed by the President of the Senate; 16
(3) one member of the House of Delegates who is a member of the Baltimore 17
City Delegation, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 18
(4) the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; 19
(5) the Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority, or the Chair’s designee; 20
(6) the Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, or the 21
Chair’s designee; 22
(7) the Executive Director of the Baltimore Convention Center; 23
(8) the Chair of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board; 24
(9) the President and Chief Executive Officer of Visit Baltimore; 25
(10) the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore 26
Development Corporation; 27
(11) the President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore; 28
(12) the Executive Director of the Maryland Tourism Coalition; 29
HOUSE BILL 897 3
(13) a representative from the restaurant industry in Baltimore City, 1
appointed by the Restaurant Association of Maryland; 2
(14) a representative of the hotel industry in Baltimore City, appointed by 3
the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association; and 4
(15) the following members appointed by the Mayor of Baltimore City: 5
(i) a representative of the business community within a 0.5–mile 6
radius of the Baltimore Convention site; 7
(ii) a representative from a development entity with significant 8
financial investment in property within a 0.5–mile radius of the Baltimore Convention site; 9
and 10
(iii) a resident who lives within a 0.5–mile radius of the Baltimore 11
Convention site. 12
(d) The Chair of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board shall serve as the 13
chair of the Task Force. 14
(e) The Department of Commerce shall provide staff for the Task Force. 15
(f) A member of the Task Force: 16
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 17
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 18
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 19
(g) The Task Force shall: 20
(1) study the establishment of a Baltimore Convention and Tourism 21
Redevelopment and Operating Authority to govern and redevelop, revitalize, construct, 22
design, manage, finance, and operate certain State and local real property assets while 23
promoting the Baltimore Convention site and the immediate surrounding area; and 24
(2) make recommendations on: 25
(i) the membership of the Authority; 26
(ii) the Authority’s purpose and function, including its ability to: 27
1. acquire by purchase, gift, or devise any property, 28
franchises, and other interests in the Baltimore Convention site and any offices, parking 29
lots or garages, access roads, hotels, restaurants, railroad sidings, and other structures, 30
improvements, equipment, furnishings, or other property functionally related to and 31 4 HOUSE BILL 897
located in the immediate surrounding area of the Baltimore Convention site, including the 1
Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel, and take title to the property in the name of the 2
Authority or its designated agent; 3
2. determine the character of any renovation, revitalization, 4
or development projects relating to the Baltimore Convention site and the immediate 5
surrounding area, excluding Areas 13, 14, and 15A as designated by the City of Baltimore 6
Inner Harbor Project I Urban Renewal Plan; 7
3. enter into any agreements, leases, partnerships, or 8
contracts necessary to renovate, revitalize, maintain, and manage the Baltimore 9
Convention site or any other State or local real property assets identified by the Task Force; 10
4. fix and collect rates, rentals, fees, and charges for services 11
required to successfully operate the Baltimore Convention site or any other State or local 12
real property assets; 13
5. establish rules and regulations for the use of the Baltimore 14
Convention site or any other State or local real property assets; and 15
6. issue bonds for renovation, revitalization, and ongoing 16
maintenance and management of the Baltimore Convention site or any other State or local 17
real property assets identified by the Task Force, including operating expenses; and 18
(iii) any other matter the Task Force deems necessary for the 19
establishment and implementation of an effective Authority. 20
(h) In conducting its study and making recommendations in accordance with 21
subsection (g) of this section, the Task Force shall consider the findings and 22
recommendations in the Baltimore Convention Industry Benchmark Study previously 23
commissioned by the Baltimore Convention Center. 24
(i) On or before December 1, 2024, the Task Force shall report its findings and 25
recommendations to the Mayor of Baltimore City, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 26
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, Tha t this Act shall take effect July 28
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2025, this 29
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 30
further force and effect. 31