Prince George's County panel reviews transfer of code-enforcement work to Homeland Security office

The Transportation Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee spent its March 26 meeting examining a plan to transfer the county's enforcement division from the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) to the Office of Homeland Security (OHS).

Chair Dornaga opened the meeting by identifying enforcement continuity and case management as the committee's primary concerns. "This is the transfer of the enforcement division from Department of Permitting Inspection and Enforcement to the Office of Homeland Security," he said, framing the single-item agenda. DPIE Director Abraham described the handover as "moving along" and credited current leadership and deputy director Lamont Hinton for making the division "dynamic and proactive."

DPIE staff and OHS representatives outlined a phased transition rather than an overnight move. Deputy Director Lamont Hinton told the committee there are "approximately 84 positions, all of which are officially preparing to transfer" and that agencies are coordinating HR, budgets and operational briefings. Chief of staff Laurie Paris said the enforcement budget remains with DPIE for fiscal 2026 and is proposed under OHS for fiscal 2027, adding that written union notice and legislative changes (amendments to Subtitle 13 and possibly Subtitle 27) are forthcoming.

Committee members pressed presenters on case-by-case continuity, lines of contact for council offices during the handoff, and which functions would remain at DPIE (rent stabilization, permitting inspections, special events and UNO issuance). Both agencies said they will continue joint briefings and supply org charts and contact lists to council offices as the transition proceeds.