Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB897 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		hb0897
9	6
10	7		HOUSE BILL 897
11	8		C8 4lr3271
12		-	CF ~~SB 896~~
	9	+	CF 4lr3275
13	10		By: Baltimore City Delegation
14	11		Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
15	12		Assigned to: Appropriations
16		-	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17		-	House action: Adopted
18		-	Read second time: March 5, 2024
19	13
20		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	14	+	A BILL ENTITLED
21	15
22	16		AN ACT concerning 1
23	17
24	18		Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Authority 2
25		-	~~Organization~~ Task Force 3
	19	+	Task Force 3
26	20
27	21		FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment 4
28		-	and Operating Authority ~~Organization~~ Task Force to study and make 5
29		-	~~recommendations~~ concerning the membership, purpose, and function of an authority 6
30		-	~~organization to govern the~~ renovation, revitalization, financing, and ongoing 7
31		-	~~maintenance and management of~~ a certain Baltimore Convention site and certain 8
32		-	~~surrounding areas; and generally~~ relating to the Baltimore Convention and Tourism 9
33		-	~~Redevelopment and Operating~~ Authority ~~Organization~~ Task Force. 10
	22	+	and Operating Authority Task Force to study and make recom mendations 5
	23	+	concerning the membership, purpose, and function of an authority to govern the 6
	24	+	renovation, revitalization, financing, and ongoing maintenance and management of 7
	25	+	a certain Baltimore Convention site and certain surrounding areas; and generally 8
	26	+	relating to the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating 9
	27	+	Authority Task Force. 10
34	28
35	29		Preamble 11
36	30
37	31		WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that the general welfare of the people of 12
38	32		Maryland is directly dependent on the continual encouragement, development, growth, and 13
39	33		expansion of business, industry, commerce, and tourism within the State and, thus, the 14
40	34		promotion, attraction, stimulation, development, and expansion of business, industry, 15
41	35		commerce, and tourism in the State should be fostered; and 16
42	36
43	37		WHEREAS, The Baltimore Convention site, because of its size and location in a 17
44	38		first–class city, is vital in attracting business, industry, commerce, and tourism to 18
45	39		Baltimore City, the surrounding counties, and the State as a whole; and 19
46	40
47	41		WHEREAS, To redevelop, revitalize, and promote the Baltimore Convention site 20
48		-	within this State, the Baltimore Convention Center commissioned an independent study of 21 2 HOUSE BILL 897
	42	+	within this State, the Baltimore Convention Center commissioned an independent study of 21
	43	+	convention and visitor industry governance models, day–to–day management approaches, 22
	44	+	and funding models prevalent nationally and approaches that would be appropriate for the 23
	45	+	future success of the Baltimore Convention Center; and 24
	46	+
	47	+	WHEREAS, An important aspect of the redevelopment and successful continuation 25
	48	+	of the Baltimore Convention Center should be a holistic evaluation of the immediate 26 2 HOUSE BILL 897
49	49
50	50
51		-	convention and visitor industry governance models, day–to–day management approaches, 1
52		-	and funding models prevalent nationally and approaches that would be appropriate for the 2
53		-	future success of the Baltimore Convention Center; and 3
	51	+	surrounding area and the identification of underutilized State and local real property 1
	52	+	assets, including the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel; and 2
54	53
55		-	WHEREAS, ~~An important aspect~~ of the ~~redevelopment and successful continuation 4~~
56		-	~~of the Baltimore Convention Center should be a holistic evaluation~~ of ~~the immediate 5~~
57		-	~~surrounding area~~ and the ~~identification of underutilized State and local real property 6~~
58		-	~~assets, including~~ the ~~Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel~~; ~~and 7~~
	54	+	WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds, for the benefit of the people of the State, 3
	55	+	it is necessary to provide additional and flexible means of governing, redeveloping, 4
	56	+	revitalizing, constructing, designing, managing, financing, operating, and promoting the 5
	57	+	Baltimore Convention site and the immediate surrounding area; now, therefore, 6
59	58
60		-	WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds, for the benefit of the people of the State, 8
61		-	it is necessary to provide additional and flexible means of governing, redeveloping, 9
62		-	revitalizing, constructing, designing, managing, financing, operating, and promoting the 10
63		-	Baltimore Convention site and the immediate surrounding area; now, therefore, 11
	59	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
	60	+	That: 8
64	61
65		-	SECTION 1. ~~BE IT ENACTED BY~~ THE ~~GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,~~ 12
66		-	~~That: 13~~
	62	+	(a) In this section, “Baltimore Convention site” has the meaning stated in § 9
	63	+	10–601 of the Economic Development Article. 10
67	64
68		-	(a) ~~In this section,~~ “Baltimore Convention ~~site” has the meaning stated in § 14~~
69		-	~~10–601 of the Economic Development Article~~. 15
	65	+	(b) There is a Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating 11
	66	+	Authority Task Force. 12
70	67
71		-	(b) There is a Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating 16
72		-	Authority Organization Task Force. 17
	68	+	(c) The Task Force consists of the following members: 13
73	69
74		-	(c) The ~~Task Force consists~~ of the ~~following members:~~ 18
	70	+	(1) the Mayor of Baltimore City, or the Mayor’s designee; 14
75	71
76		-	(1) the Mayor of Baltimore City, or the Mayor’s designee; 19
	72	+	(2) one member of the Senate of Maryland who is a member of the 15
	73	+	Baltimore City Delegation, appointed by the President of the Senate; 16
77	74
78		-	(2) one member of the ~~Senate~~ of ~~Maryland~~ who is a member of the 20
79		-	~~Baltimore~~ City Delegation, appointed by the ~~President~~ of the ~~Senate~~; 21
	75	+	(3) one member of the House of Delegates who is a member of the Baltimore 17
	76	+	City Delegation, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 18
80	77
81		-	(3) one member of the House of Delegates who is a member of the Baltimore 22
82		-	City Delegation, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 23
	78	+	(4) the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; 19
83	79
84		-	(4) the ~~Secretary~~ of ~~Commerce~~, or the ~~Secretary~~’s designee; 24
	80	+	(5) the Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority, or the Chair’s designee; 20
85	81
86		-	(5) the ~~Administrator~~ of the Maryland ~~Transit Administration~~, or the 25
87		-	~~Administrator~~’s designee; 26
	82	+	(6) the Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, or the 21
	83	+	Chair’s designee; 22
88	84
89		-	(6) the Chair of the Maryland Tourism Development Board, or the Chair’s 27
90		-	designee; 28
	85	+	(7) the Executive Director of the Baltimore Convention Center; 23
91	86
92		-	(7) the Chair of the ~~Maryland Stadium Authority,~~ ~~or the Chair’s designee~~; 29
	87	+	(8) the Chair of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board; 24
93	88
94		-	(6) (8) the Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, or the 30
95		-	Chair’s designee; 31
	89	+	(9) the President and Chief Executive Officer of Visit Baltimore; 25
96	90
97		-	(7) (9) the Executive Director of the Baltimore Convention Center; 32 HOUSE BILL 897 3
	91	+	(10) the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore 26
	92	+	Development Corporation; 27
	93	+
	94	+	(11) the President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore; 28
	95	+
	96	+	(12) the Executive Director of the Maryland Tourism Coalition; 29
	97	+	HOUSE BILL 897 3
98	98
99	99
	100	+	(13) a representative from the restaurant industry in Baltimore City, 1
	101	+	appointed by the Restaurant Association of Maryland; 2
100	102
101		-	(8) (10) the Chair of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board; 1
	103	+	(14) a representative of the hotel industry in Baltimore City, appointed by 3
	104	+	the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association; and 4
102	105
103		-	(~~9) (11~~) the ~~President and Chief Executive Officer~~ of ~~Visit Baltimore;~~ 2
	106	+	(15) the following members appointed by the Mayor of Baltimore City: 5
104	107
105		-	(10) ~~(12) the President and Chief Executive Officer~~ of the ~~Baltimore 3~~
106		-	~~Development Corporation~~; 4
	108	+	(i) a representative of the business community within a 0.5–mile 6
	109	+	radius of the Baltimore Convention site; 7
107	110
108		-	(11) (13) the President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore; 5
	111	+	(ii) a representative from a development entity with significant 8
	112	+	financial investment in property within a 0.5–mile radius of the Baltimore Convention site; 9
	113	+	and 10
109	114
110		-	(12) (14) the Executive Director of the Maryland Tourism Coalition; 6
	115	+	(iii) a resident who lives within a 0.5–mile radius of the Baltimore 11
	116	+	Convention site. 12
111	117
112		-	(13) ~~(15) a representative from~~ the ~~restaurant industry in~~ Baltimore ~~City, 7~~
113		-	~~appointed by~~ the ~~Restaurant Association of Maryland; 8~~
	118	+	(d) The Chair of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board shall serve as the 13
	119	+	chair of the Task Force. 14
114	120
115		-	(14) (16) a representative of the hotel industry in Baltimore City, 9
116		-	appointed by the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association; and 10
	121	+	(e) The Department of Commerce shall provide staff for the Task Force. 15
117	122
118		-	(17) a representative of the Greater Baltimore Committee, appointed by the 11
119		-	Greater Baltimore Committee; and 12
	123	+	(f) A member of the Task Force: 16
120	124
121		-	(15) ~~(18)~~ the ~~following members appointed by the Mayor of Baltimore City: 13~~
	125	+	(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 17
122	126
123		-	(i) ~~a representative of~~ the ~~African American business community 14~~
124		-	~~within a 0.5–mile radius of~~ the ~~Baltimore Convention site;~~ 15
	127	+	(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 18
	128	+	Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 19
125	129
126		-	(ii) a representative from a an African American–owned 16
127		-	development entity with significant financial investment in property within a 0.5–mile 17
128		-	radius of the Baltimore Convention site; and 18
	130	+	(g) The Task Force shall: 20
129	131
130		-	(iii) a resident who lives within a 0.5–mile radius of the Baltimore 19
131		-	Convention site. 20
	132	+	(1) study the establishment of a Baltimore Convention and Tourism 21
	133	+	Redevelopment and Operating Authority to govern and redevelop, revitalize, construct, 22
	134	+	design, manage, finance, and operate certain State and local real property assets while 23
	135	+	promoting the Baltimore Convention site and the immediate surrounding area; and 24
132	136
133		-	(d) The Chair of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board shall serve as the 21
134		-	chair of the Task Force. 22
	137	+	(2) make recommendations on: 25
135	138
136		-	(e) The ~~Department~~ of ~~Commerce shall provide staff for~~ the ~~Task Force.~~ 23
	139	+	(i) the membership of the Authority; 26
137	140
138		-	(f) ~~A member of~~ the ~~Task Force~~: 24
	141	+	(ii) the Authority’s purpose and function, including its ability to: 27
139	142
140		-	(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 25
141		-
142		-	(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 26
143		-	Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 27
144		-
145		-	(g) The Task Force shall: 28
146		-	4 HOUSE BILL 897
	143	+	1. acquire by purchase, gift, or devise any property, 28
	144	+	franchises, and other interests in the Baltimore Convention site and any offices, parking 29
	145	+	lots or garages, access roads, hotels, restaurants, railroad sidings, and other structures, 30
	146	+	improvements, equipment, furnishings, or other property functionally related to and 31 4 HOUSE BILL 897
147	147
148	148
149		-	(1) study the establishment of a Baltimore Convention and Tourism 1
150		-	Redevelopment and Operating Authority tourism redevelopment and operating 2
151		-	organization to govern and redevelop, revitalize, construct, design, manage, finance, and 3
152		-	operate certain State and local real property assets while promoting the Baltimore 4
153		-	Convention site and the immediate surrounding area; and 5
	149	+	located in the immediate surrounding area of the Baltimore Convention site, including the 1
	150	+	Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel, and take title to the property in the name of the 2
	151	+	Authority or its designated agent; 3
154	152
155		-	(2) make recommendations on: 6
	153	+	2. determine the character of any renovation, revitalization, 4
	154	+	or development projects relating to the Baltimore Convention site and the immediate 5
	155	+	surrounding area, excluding Areas 13, 14, and 15A as designated by the City of Baltimore 6
	156	+	Inner Harbor Project I Urban Renewal Plan; 7
156	157
157		-	(i) the membership of the Authority organization; 7
	158	+	3. enter into any agreements, leases, partnerships, or 8
	159	+	contracts necessary to renovate, revitalize, maintain, and manage the Baltimore 9
	160	+	Convention site or any other State or local real property assets identified by the Task Force; 10
158	161
159		-	(ii) the Authority’s organization’s purpose and function, including its 8
160		-	ability to: 9
	162	+	4. fix and collect rates, rentals, fees, and charges for services 11
	163	+	required to successfully operate the Baltimore Convention site or any other State or local 12
	164	+	real property assets; 13
161	165
162		-	1. acquire by purchase, gift, or devise any property, 10
163		-	franchises, and other interests in the Baltimore Convention site and any offices, parking 11
164		-	lots or garages, access roads, hotels, restaurants, railroad sidings, and other structures, 12
165		-	improvements, equipment, furnishings, or other property functionally related to and 13
166		-	located in the immediate surrounding area of the Baltimore Convention site, including the 14
167		-	Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel, and take title to the property in the name of the 15
168		-	Authority organization or its designated agent; 16
	166	+	5. establish rules and regulations for the use of the Baltimore 14
	167	+	Convention site or any other State or local real property assets; and 15
169	168
170		-	2. determine the character of any renovation, revitalization, 17
171		-	or development projects relating to the Baltimore Convention site and the immediate 18
172		-	surrounding area, excluding Areas 13, 14, and 15A as designated by the City of Baltimore 19
173		-	Inner Harbor Project I Urban Renewal Plan; 20
	169	+	6. issue bonds for renovation, revitalization, and ongoing 16
	170	+	maintenance and management of the Baltimore Convention site or any other State or local 17
	171	+	real property assets identified by the Task Force, including operating expenses; and 18
174	172
175		-	3. enter into any agreements, leases, partnerships, or 21
176		-	contracts necessary to renovate, revitalize, maintain, and manage the Baltimore 22
177		-	Convention site or any other State or local real property assets identified by the Task Force; 23
	173	+	(iii) any other matter the Task Force deems necessary for the 19
	174	+	establishment and implementation of an effective Authority. 20
178	175
179		-	4. fix and collect rates, rentals, fees, and charges for services 24
180		-	required to successfully operate the Baltimore Convention site or any other State or local 25
181		-	real property assets; 26
	176	+	(h) In conducting its study and making recommendations in accordance with 21
	177	+	subsection (g) of this section, the Task Force shall consider the findings and 22
	178	+	recommendations in the Baltimore Convention Industry Benchmark Study previously 23
	179	+	commissioned by the Baltimore Convention Center. 24
182	180
183		-	5. establish rules and regulations for the use of the Baltimore 27
184		-	Convention site or any other State or local real property assets; and 28
	181	+	(i) On or before December 1, 2024, the Task Force shall report its findings and 25
	182	+	recommendations to the Mayor of Baltimore City, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 26
	183	+	2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 27
185	184
186		-	6. issue bonds for renovation, revitalization, and ongoing 29
187		-	maintenance and management of the Baltimore Convention site or any other State or local 30
188		-	real property assets identified by the Task Force, including operating expenses; and 31
189		-
190		-	(iii) any other matter the Task Force deems necessary for the 32
191		-	establishment and implementation of an effective Authority organization. 33
192		-
193		-	(h) In conducting its study and making recommendations in accordance with 34
194		-	subsection (g) of this section, the Task Force shall consider the findings and 35 HOUSE BILL 897 5
195		-
196		-
197		-	recommendations in the Baltimore Convention Industry Benchmark Study previously 1
198		-	commissioned by the Baltimore Convention Center. 2
199		-
200		-	(i) On or before December 1, 2024, the Task Force shall report its findings and 3
201		-	recommendations to the Mayor of Baltimore City, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 4
202		-	2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 5
203		-
204		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 6
205		-	1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2025, this 7
206		-	Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 8
207		-	further force and effect. 9
208		-
209		-
210		-
211		-	Approved:
212		-	________________________________________________________________________________
213		-	Governor.
214		-	________________________________________________________________________________
215		-	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
216		-	________________________________________________________________________________
217		-	President of the Senate.
	185	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, Tha t this Act shall take effect July 28
	186	+	1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2025, this 29
	187	+	Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 30
	188	+	further force and effect. 31