Lawmakers pass flurry of legislation

Global warming, hospital, speed camera bills on the move

The Senate on Monday night approved a watered-down version of a bill that aims to combat global warming, leaving proponents disappointed but hopeful that it paves the way for stronger anti-pollution programs in the future.

The Global Warming Solutions Act requires a 25 percent reduction of carbon emissions by 2020 and sets a goal of 90 percent reduction by 2050. Critics said the restrictions are too onerous on businesses, which might be forced to lay off workers to pay for tighter pollution controls.

Senators reworked the measure last week to assuage concerns about possible job losses and the threat of energy rate spikes. The state Department of Environment opposed an amendment that requires legislative approval to impose new regulations, and supporters complained that it significantly weakens the bill.

Environmentalists are disheartened with the change but hope that the House will keep the initial bill intact.

‘‘The Senate completely dropped the ball on maintaining a decent bill,” said Brad Heavner, state director for Environment Maryland. ‘‘The bill is still alive and there’s two weeks to go so legislators still have the opportunity to do it right.”

Maryland is one of the most vulnerable states to the effects of global warming because of its vast shoreline, he said.

‘‘We’re still putting a 25 percent mandate in the state law and that’s important,” said Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Dist. 22) of University Park, who sponsored the measure.

Hospital bill clears House

An emergency bill that allows the Prince George’s County hospital system to remain open and plots a course for its future passed the House on a 134-4 vote on Monday.

The legislation, which if passed in the Senate would take effect as soon as it is signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), would clear the way for a deal struck earlier this month by county and state officials.

Under the deal, the state and county would each pay $12 million for each of the next two fiscal years while the county searches for a new owner for the troubled hospital system, which includes Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Bowie Health Center and Laurel Regional Hospital.

It also creates a seven-member hospital authority with three members appointed by each the county and O’Malley and one member appointed jointly by presiding officers in the House and Senate.

‘‘We hope that within the year we’ll be able to come up with a buyer,” said Del. Barbara A. Frush, chairwoman of the Prince George’s County House Delegation.

The Senate has not yet taken up the bill, though Frush said she is ‘‘very confident” it will pass, despite similar hopes last year that were dashed on the final day of the session.

‘‘No one wants to see this fail,” said Frush (D-Dist. 21) of Beltsville. ‘‘It’s in no one’s interest that this not work out.”

Speed cameras approved for use statewide

Soon, Montgomery might not be the only Maryland county that could use a camera to catch speeders.

The House passed a bill on Thursday to allow police to install speed cameras in work areas, school zones and residential areas in the state’s 23 other jurisdictions. Legislators must reconcile minor differences between the House version of the bill and a Senate version that also passed last week.

The measure, part of O’Malley’s legislative agenda, passed the House after significant debate. Critics said the cameras raise privacy concerns and could be abused by police departments looking to raise revenue.

‘‘People either love ’em or hate ’em,” said Del. Maggie L. McIntosh, who chairs the House Environmental Matters Committee that heard the bill.

The cameras have proven effective in slowing traffic in Montgomery County, said McIntosh (D-Dist. 43) of Baltimore. They can benefit police forces that are too stressed with other duties to conduct speed traps, she said.

‘‘We think they’re an effective tool for modern day policing,” McIntosh said.

A bill to ban the hand-held use of cell phones while driving passed the Senate on Thursday on a 26 to 21 vote.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike G. Lenett (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring, was amended to cut the fine for a first offense in half, to $50, and to include a two-year sunset provision. It was made a secondary offense, meaning that a driver can only be cited if they are stopped for another offense.

On Tuesday, the bill was to be heard in the House Environmental Matters Committee, which has already rejected a bill banning texting while driving.