EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0926*
HOUSE BILL 926
E4 4lr2164
CF 4lr3240
By: Delegate Griffith
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Building Performance Standards – Local Requests for Guidance – 2
Religious Considerations 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor, on request of a local 4
jurisdiction and in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to provide 5
guidance for the implementation and enforcement of the Maryland Building 6
Performance Standards in relation to any religious observance, practice, or belief; 7
and generally relating to the Maryland Building Performance Standards. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Public Safety 10
Section 12–507 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Public Safety 16
12–507. 17
(a) The Department may: 18
(1) develop a voluntary forum that may be used, on request of a local 19
jurisdiction, to resolve conflicts that involve the Standards; and 20
(2) adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle. 21
(b) The Department: 22
2 HOUSE BILL 926
(1) shall notify each local jurisdiction of each change to the International 1
Building Code and the impact the change will have on the local amendments in that local 2
jurisdiction; 3
(2) in conjunction with the Maryland Building Officials Association and 4
other interested organizations, shall provide training for local building officials on the 5
Standards and certify the participation of local building officials in the training; [and] 6
(3) on request, shall provide a local jurisdiction with technical assistance 7
to implement and enforce the Standards; AND 8
(4) ON REQUEST BY A LOCA L JURISDICTION AND IN CONSULTATION 9
WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SHALL PROVIDE GUIDAN CE FOR 10
THE IMPLEMENTATION A ND ENFORCEMENT OF TH E STANDARDS IN RELATION TO 11
ANY RELIGIOUS OBSERV ANCE, PRACTICE, OR BELIEF. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act sha ll take effect 13
October 1, 2024. 14