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Committee approves changes to Maryland Environmental Services Act including delegation and procurement threshold increase
Summary
The Appropriations Committee removed Senate Bill 228 from the consent calendar, heard a summary from Delegate Watson and approved H Senate Bill 228 by roll call. The measure expands delegation authority for the Maryland Environmental Services treasurer, raises the small-procurement threshold (transcript: "25 to 50"), and updates notice rules for rate changes.
The Appropriations Committee voted to approve H Senate Bill 228, the Maryland Environmental Services Act, after removing the bill from the consent calendar for separate consideration and taking a roll-call vote.
Delegate Watson introduced the bill, saying, "This is the Maryland Environmental Services Act," and summarized its main provisions: the proposal expands duties of the Maryland Environmental Services treasurer and authorizes that official, with board approval, to delegate duties to a deputy treasurer; it raises the maximum dollar value threshold for small procurements "from 25 to 50" (the transcript does not specify units); and it updates public-notice requirements for rate changes in service districts.
Members moved and seconded the bill and requested a roll-call vote. The roll-call in the transcript records affirmative votes from Vice Chair Kaiser; Delegate Smith; Delegate Shetty; Delegate Watson; Delegate McKascal; Delegate Ruff; Delegate Ivy; Delegate Jones; Delegate Tols; Delegate Spiegel; Delegate Woolick; Delegate Heinbball; Delegate Eden; Delegate Edlesen; Delegate Chang; Delegate Oavo; and Delegate Forbes. Recorded no votes were cast by Delegate Grace; Delegate Beichum (listed in the transcript with a no); Delegate Donko (no); and Delegate Mezer (no). The Chair concluded the Senate bills were complete after the roll call, indicating the measure passed.
The transcript records that members noted some bills on the list were cross-files of House bills and that bill 311 would be addressed by Ways and Means on Tuesday. The increase in the small-procurement threshold is reported in the transcript only as changing "25 to 50"; the transcript does not specify whether that refers to thousands of dollars or another unit.
Next steps were not specified in the transcript. The Chair moved the body on to the House bill agenda items after concluding the Senate bills.
