Committee advances Bill 25-24 to full council to prohibit contractors with human-trafficking violations from county contracts

Montgomery County’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee on Wednesday recommended to the full Council the adoption of Bill 25-24, legislation that would require bidders on certain county contracts to certify they have not been found to have violated federal or state human-trafficking laws and would add contract-language and enforcement provisions.

The committee approved three amendments presented by the bill sponsor and county staff. The first amendment removed an alternative contract definition in the draft and clarified that the bill applies to additional contracts that meet the existing $100,000 value threshold set by regulation, extending coverage beyond only invitations for bids and requests for proposals. The second amendment narrowed the Office of Procurement’s immediate enforcement duties by removing a requirement that the office take enforcement action upon mere allegations; enforcement would be tied to findings or convictions, reducing the office’s investigatory burden. A third clarifying amendment (from the county attorney’s office) limited debarment or suspension actions to cases with an administrative or judicial finding of violation under Subtitle 4 of the State Labor and Employment Law article.

Councilmember Lukey, the lead sponsor, and procurement officials told the committee the bill also requires contractors to include notice procedures in their contracts if they are charged with or found liable for human-trafficking violations; the procurement director would notify the Council when the office is formally notified of such matters. Director Shetty and procurement staff supported the amendments as a means to balance enforcement with administrative practicality. Committee members voiced unanimous support, calling the measure straightforward and appropriate; one member said it was a “no-brainer” to back the bill.

After accepting the amendments, the committee, without objection, recommended Bill 25-24 to the full Council for adoption. The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the chair announced the recommendation was forwarded to the full Council.

The bill as amended will proceed to a full-Council hearing where Council members will have the opportunity to debate, further amend, or vote on adoption. If enacted, the bill would add certification, contract compliance, contractor-notification and Council-notification requirements to the county’s contract and procurement chapter.