EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0921*
HOUSE BILL 921
L2, A2, F4 4lr2946
CF SB 855
By: Washington County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington County – Board of License Commissioners and Board of Community 2
College Trustees – Membership 3
FOR the purpose of requiring that certain numbers of members of the Board of License 4
Commissioners for Washington County and the Board of Community College 5
Trustees for Washington County shall belong to certain political parties; and 6
generally relating to the membership of the Board of License Commissioners and the 7
Board of Community College Trustees in Washington County. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 10
Section 31–102 and 31–201 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 15
Section 31–202 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Education 20
Section 16–419 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 23
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 26 2 HOUSE BILL 921
31–102. 1
This title applies only in Washington County. 2
31–201. 3
There is a Board of License Commissioners for Washington County. 4
31–202. 5
(a) (1) The Governor shall appoint three members to the Board. 6
(2) The appointments shall be made: 7
(i) if the Senate is in session, with the advice and consent of the 8
Senate; or 9
(ii) if the Senate is not in session, by the Governor alone. 10
(b) (1) Each member of the Board shall be: 11
(i) a resident and voter of the county; and 12
(ii) an individual of high character and integrity and of recognized 13
business capacity. 14
[(2) Not more than two members of the Board may belong to the same 15
political party.] 16
(2) (I) TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL BELONG TO THE 17
POLITICAL PARTY THAT RECEIVED THE HIGHEST AGGREGATED NUMBER OF VOTES 18
IN THE PRECEDING ELE CTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ; AND 19
(II) ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD SHALL BELONG TO THE 20
POLITICAL PARTY THAT RECEIVED THE SECOND HIGHEST AGGREGATED N UMBER OF 21
VOTES IN THE PRECEDI NG ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS . 22
(c) A member of the Board may not have a pecuniary or other interest in any 23
phase of the manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages. 24
(d) (1) The term of a member is 6 years. 25
(2) The terms of the members are staggered as required by the terms 26
provided for members of the Board on July 1, 2016. 27
HOUSE BILL 921 3
(e) (1) The Governor shall appoint an eligible individual to fill a vacancy 1
during the remainder of the term of office of the individual originally appointed in 2
accordance with subsection (a) of this section. 3
(2) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 4
remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 5
(f) (1) The Governor may remove a member for misconduct in office, 6
incompetence, or willful neglect of duty. 7
(2) The Governor shall give a member who is charged a copy of the charges 8
against the member and, with at least 10 days’ notice, an opportunity to be heard publicly 9
in person or by counsel. 10
(3) If a member is removed, the Governor shall file with the Office of the 11
Secretary of State a statement of charges against the member and the Governor’s findings 12
on the charges. 13
Article – Education 14
16–419. 15
(a) The Board of Community College Trustees for Washington County consists of 16
seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. 17
(b) (1) FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL BELONG TO THE 18
POLITICAL PARTY THAT RECEIVED THE HIGHEST AGGREGATED NUMBER OF VOTES 19
IN THE PRECEDING ELE CTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ; AND 20
(2) THREE MEMBER S OF THE BOARD SHALL BELONG TO THE 21
POLITICAL PARTY THAT RECEIVED THE SECOND HIGHEST AGGREGATED N UMBER OF 22
VOTES IN THE PRECEDI NG ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS . 23
(C) Each of the members: 24
(1) Shall be residents of Washington County at the time of appointment; 25
and 26
(2) Shall maintain residency in Washington County throughout the term 27
of appointment. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 29
October 1, 2024. 30