Sunday hunting, raises among local bills passed in Annapolis

April 09, 2002

ANNAPOLIS - Bills of local interest that have passed the Maryland General Assembly this session and are awaiting the governor's signature:

Commissioners' pay raise: Each of the five Washington County Commissioners elected in November will get paid $30,000 instead of $20,000 a year, under legislation sponsored by the Washington County Delegation. The commissioners president will get an extra $3,000. (HB 422)

Orphans Court judges' pay raise: Washington County Orphans' Court judges' salaries will increase from $6,000 to $7,000 under legislation sponsored by the Washington County Delegation. Judges will keep their $1,000 annual expense account. When they have to travel, their daily meal expense allowance will increase from $18 to $30 and their room allowance will increase from $50 to $85. (HB 443)

Hagerstown Soccer Club tax break: Legislation sponsored by the Washington County Delegation allows the Washington County Commissioners to exempt the Hagerstown Soccer Club Inc. from paying property taxes on its fields in Cearfoss. (HB 942)

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts: Limits the terms for members of the art museum board of trustees. Trustees currently can serve unlimited five-year terms. Legislation sponsored by the Washington County Delegation at the museum's request limits members to two three-year terms. (HB 1211)

Washington County Department of Social Services employees: Allows a handful of employees at Social Services to get credit for time they were contract employees. Identical bills were filed by Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, and Del. Sue Hecht, D-Frederick/Washington (SB 532 and HB 359)

Veterans Commission: Allows the Maryland Veterans Commission to replace commission member Lewis Powell of Halfway, a World War I veteran who died in December, with a veteran from the Persian Gulf War. It also adds a representative from the Battle of the Bulge. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington. (SB 666)

Sunday hunting: Extends the firearm deer hunting season from 13 days to at least 21 days. Allows hunting on the first Sunday of the firearm season in a handful of rural counties, including Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties. The legislation was sponsored by House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr., D-Allegany (HB 9)

Indecent exposure: Makes it a crime for an inmate to harass correctional officers by lewdly exposing themselves. Right now indecent exposure is not a crime in prison because it's considered private space. The legislation was sponsored by Del. Anne Marie Doory, D-Baltimore. (HB 232)

|

|

|