EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0656*
SENATE BILL 656
A2 4lr2304
By: Anne Arundel County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Anne Arundel County – Board of License Commissioners – Membership 2
FOR the purpose of increasing the number of members on the Board of License 3
Commissioners for Anne Arundel County; increasing the number of Board members 4
that may belong to the same political party; and generally relating to alcoholic 5
beverages in Anne Arundel County. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 8
Section 11–102 and 11–201 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 13
Section 11–202 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 19
11–102. 20
This title applies only in Anne Arundel County. 21
11–201. 22
There is a Board of License Commissioners for Anne Arundel County. 23 2 SENATE BILL 656
11–202. 1
(a) (1) The Governor shall appoint [three] FIVE members to the Board. 2
(2) The appointments shall be made: 3
(i) if the Senate is in session, with the advice and consent of the 4
Senate; or 5
(ii) if the Senate is not in session, by the Governor alone. 6
(b) (1) Each member of the Board shall be: 7
(i) a resident and voter of the county; and 8
(ii) an individual of high character and integrity and of recognized 9
business capacity. 10
(2) No more than [two] FOUR members of the Board may belong to the 11
same political party. 12
(c) (1) The term of a member is 2 years. 13
(2) A member may not serve more than four consecutive terms. 14
(d) (1) The Governor shall appoint an eligible individual to fill a vacancy 15
during the remainder of the term of office of the individual originally appointed in 16
accordance with subsection (a) of this section. 17
(2) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 18
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 19
(e) (1) The Governor may remove a member for misconduct in office, 20
incompetence, or willful neglect of duty. 21
(2) The Governor shall give a member who is charged a copy of the charges 22
against the member and, with at least 10 days’ notice, an opportunity to be heard publicly 23
in person or by counsel. 24
(3) If a member is removed, the Governor shall file with the Office of the 25
Secretary of State a statement of charges against the member and the Governor’s findings 26
on the charges. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the initial terms of the two 28
additional members of the Board of License Commissioners for Anne Arundel County, as 29
enacted by Section 1 of this Act, shall begin May 1, 2025. 30 SENATE BILL 656 3
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
1, 2024. 2