 Thank you for checking my website during the General Assembly. I’ve listed some of my legislative efforts, budget updates and other important news you might find helpful. As always, please feel free to contact me in Annapolis, at 410-841-3328, with any questions or concerns.
Legislation Preventing Gangs in Schools Introduced
The House of Delegates is working with stakeholders from across the state to put in place laws aimed at curbing the impact of criminal gangs in Maryland schools. The Safe Schools Act of 2010, will expand the number of reportable offenses when students are arrested, require the State Board of Education to develop a comprehensive state wide policy for combating gangs in schools, require each middle and high schools to have a school security officer on site, and develop prevention and intervention programs for youth.
Sex Offender Legislation Moving Forward
As the General Assembly Session rolls into March, several legislative efforts to enact stricter laws against sex offenders are moving forward. Legislation to require lifetime supervision for the most violent sex offenders, sex offenses against children and repeat offenders is progressing forward in committee. Delegate DeBoy would like to eliminate good credit for violent sex offenders, extend severe penalties to those offenders that commit a sex offense against a child under 15, and other efforts to protect citizens, especially children. Stay tuned for more details on these issues as the Assembly Session continues.
House Moving Forward to Make P-20 Council Permanent
Delegate DeBoy is supporting legislation that would make the P-20 Leadership Council permanent and add 4 more appointees (2 from House of Delegates and 2 from State Senate). The P-20 Leadership Council was established in 2007 and works to develop an integrated statewide system to better prepare Maryland students for jobs of the 21st Century. This legislation will strengthen the Council's role in education and workforce development. It could also help leverage more federal and private funds to the State.
Delegate DeBoy Working on Law to Stop Abuse by Uninsured Motorist
Delegate DeBoy is signing on to a bill that would prohibit anyone who is driving a car without insurance from collecting any settlements for non-economic damages. Uninsured motorists create financial hardships and difficulty for citizens that pay insurance and follow the law. This proposal will close a loophole that could allow an uninsured motorist to gain financially when in an accident.
DeBoy Supporting Tougher Law for Home Invasions
Delegate DeBoy, a retired police officer, is co-sponsoring a bill that calls for a 30 year sentence for anyone that breaks into a dwelling and commits a crime of violence, with or by displaying a dangerous weapon. The bill also put the offense in the felony category.
Job Creation and Tax Credit Bill Proposed
Delegate DeBoy is pushing a bill that will offer Maryland businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every unemployed Marylander it hires. The bill calls for up to $20 million in assistance. The worker must be employed for at least one year and must fill a position that is new or that has been vacant for at least 6 months.
Delegate DeBoy Seeking Insurance Reforms
Delegate DeBoy is supporting HB 91, a bill that can help our businesses weather the economic recession. In a three-pronged approach, the bill would allow employers to spread out unemployment insurance payments over a longer period of time than currently allowed. It would also provide $83 million in immediate rate relief by changing the tax reporting calculations, and would shore up the Un-Insurance Fund and helping with rate relief by using $126.8 million in stimulus funds.
Maryland #1 in Transparency Regarding Federal Stimulus Dollars
The Baltimore Business Journal noted last week that Maryland is #1 in the nation in tracking the use of Federal Stimulus dollars. This is the second year in a row that Maryland is ranked #1. To check out more information regarding the use of federal money, visit http://statestat.maryland.gov
Chesapeake Conservation Effort Introduced
Delegate DeBoy is co-sponsoring legislation that would create the Chesapeake Conservation Corps to educate and train young adults to work with communities and schools to promote energy conservation and environmental stewardship. If approved, the legislation would direct the Corps to identify public needs in the environment, agriculture, forestry and other areas that can be evolve into public/private improvement projects.
Delegate DeBoy co-sponsoring a Review of Wind Turbines
In response to the growth of wind technology as an alternative source of energy, the General Assembly will take up legislation requiring the Public Service Commission and the Department of Natural Resources to develop performance standards for wind powered turbines. The standards will include turbine generating capacity, tower height, number and size of blades, noise, lighting and setbacks.
Maryland Public Schools ranked #1 in the Nation
Education Week has again ranked Maryland Public Schools as #1 in the nation. According to the report, Maryland schools consistently placed at the top of its class in the 6 determining categories and scored no lower than a “B” in any given area. Education Week is the nations leading education newspaper.
Delegate DeBoy co-sponsoring bill for Police and Emergency Personnel
Delegate DeBoy is supporting legislation that would require drivers approaching police or emergency vehicles stopped on a highway using visual signals to move from the closest lane and slow to a speed that provides safety to our first responders during specified circumstances.
Delegate DeBoy pushing Maryland Open Government Act
Delegate DeBoy is co-sponsoring legislation that will require all standing committee votes to be posted and accessible on the Maryland General Assembly website, require all bill hearings to be posted on-line at least one day in advance, allow people interested in testifying to sign up on-line up to two hours before a hearing, and allow all Marylanders free and easy access to the Maryland General Assembly website. The Bill also will require the Board of Public Works to publish its budget actions at least two weeks in advance of any meeting and keep board hearings archived on-line. Lastly, the bill calls for public input before any board actions.
Cyber Security Bills on Delegate DeBoy’s legislative agenda
Delegate DeBoy is co-sponsoring legislation that requires the Department of Information Technology to develop regulations, standards and procedures concerning state government and school systems computer systems. He is also sponsoring legislation that prohibits a person from gaining unauthorized access to state government and public services computer systems with the intent to harm, interrupt or impact
functions.
Delegate DeBoy supporting Property Tax Credits
Delegate DeBoy has signed onto a bill that would provide, under certain circumstance, a homestead property tax credit to a homeowner who is a federal government employee stationed outside the state as part of their work responsibility.
Fitch Ratings highlights Maryland’s financial operations as “Conservative”
Even with the tough budget times in Maryland, the state’s un-employment rate is below the national average, our school system ranks #1 in the nation, Maryland has moved from 6th most expensive to 20th most expensive in the nation for higher education, and the state is now 16th in the nation for providing health care coverage to adults. Up from 44th in the nation in 2007.
On top of that Maryland is one of only 7 states in the country with a AAA bond rating, and Fitch Ratings, a global rating agency committed to providing the world’s credit markets with independent and prospective credit opinions, research, and data, recently gave Maryland’s financial operation a positive grade. The General Assembly will continue to focus on the budget.
Delegate DeBoy supporting Veteran’s Issues
Delegate DeBoy is supporting legislation that will allow Veterans to received complementary hunting and fishing licenses in the State of Maryland. The law amends the existing law that currently only allows exemptions to 100% service related disabled veterans. The law also excludes anyone that was dishonorably discharged. Steve is also supporting legislation that adds Veteran’s Day to the list of public school holidays and a bill that allows for Veterans organizations and American Legions to have slot machines and any revenue generated would be split 50/50 between the posts and a charitable organizations. Delegate DeBoy is also supporting legislation that challenges each state agency to approve 3% of its procurement contracts (value only) to businesses owned and operated by service disabled veterans.
Delegate DeBoy moving several public safety issues during 2010 session
Delegate Steve DeBoy is co-sponsoring legislation that strengthens laws dealing with the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence or a felony and supporting a bill that requires individuals who have personal knowledge of the death of another individual to come forward to law enforcement officials in a timely fashion. Steve is also co-sponsoring legislation that prohibits a person who is detained for an alcohol or drug related driving offense from refusing a blood or breath test if he/she was detained previously for a similar offense.
DeBoy supports stronger penalties for Child Neglect
Delegate DeBoy is co-sponsoring legislation that prohibits a person, guardian, etc from neglecting the child in a manner that results in death or serious injury to the child. The bill strengthens existing state law and provides prosecutors with another tool to address child neglect.
Pushing for a better comprised Emergency Medical Services Board
Delegate DeBoy is co-sponsoring legislation that will add a helicopter pilot employed by the Department of State Police and a member from the public at large to serve on the Emergency Medical Services Board. The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems is governed by the State Emergency Medical Services Board. Created in 1993, the Board develops and implements an emergency medical system plan for Maryland. The plan defines criteria for designating trauma facilities; guidelines for emergency medical services; improved communications and transportation; public information and education programs; and a system to evaluate emergency care in Maryland.
Delegate DeBoy Sponsoring Legislation allowing State to audit Local School Systems
As Chair of the Joint Audit Committee, Delegate DeBoy is sponsoring legislation that authorizes the state to conduct audits of each local school system at least once every 6 years to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the financial management practices of the local school system.
State approves $40 million for Medevac Helicopter Replacement program
The $40 million authorization will go towards the purchase of three new helicopters for the Medevac Program. Being a retired Police Officer, Delegate DeBoy knows how important it is to have an effective program for emergency and security efforts. Upgrading the existing fleet, along with the operation changes implemented last year will ensure Maryland residents are protected and have a first rate Medevac program.
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