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ANNAPOLIS — Three high-profile environmental bills sponsored by Montgomery County lawmakers were among legislation signed into law Thursday by Gov. Martin O'Malley.
O'Malley (D) signed a much-celebrated bill mandating a statewide reduction of global-warming pollutants by 25 percent of their 2006 levels by 2020.
"No. 1, Maryland takes responsibility for its part in the solution, and No. 2, we are now part of a small group of states that become a leader on this issue," said House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Dist. 17) of Gaithersburg, who sponsored the bill in the House of Delegates. "My hope is the federal government will really follow our lead."
Two other bills target runoff pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay.
One requires labeling of fertilizer containing phosphorus and prohibits the sale of phosphorus fertilizer in 2010. The other requires any new or replacement septic systems installed near shorelines to use nitrogen-removal technology. Fertilizer is the biggest source of phosphorus pollution. Nitrogen is the biggest problem pollutant in the Bay.
"So this will make a very serious dent into the problem," said Sen. Mike G. Lenett (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring, who sponsored the bills.
The septics law met stiff resistance from lawmakers whose districts include shoreline. Property owners could spend $12,000 to install the nitrogen-removing technology.
O'Malley also signed several Montgomery County delegation bills, including a bill originally sponsored by Del. Alfred C. Carr Jr. that requires the Montgomery County Board of Education to create by 2010 a free, public, searchable Web site that details board payments of $25,000 or more.
"MCPS has a $2 billion budget," said Carr (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington. "This will go a long way to making the spending more transparent and encourage people to participate in the process."
Other legislation originally sponsored by Carr allows municipalities to pass stricter regulations on commercial signage than the county and allow the county to use cameras to enforce traffic laws at railroad grade crossings.
The automated enforcement would be a safety feature that exceeds physical barriers required at crossings in order to establish "quiet zones" along rail lines under new federal rules, Carr said. Residents near the railroad crossing at Forest Glen Avenue in Silver Spring would like to create such a zone to eliminate train whistle noise.
Another Carr bill requires the Maryland Transit Authority to hold a public hearing and collect public comment before eliminating a MARC train or bus service.
Del. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Dist. 19) of Derwood and Sen. Rona E. Kramer (D-Dist. 14) of Olney teamed up for two bills that protect seniors.
"Senior residents are specifically being targeted by scammers, con artists," Benjamin Kramer said. "Seventy percent of the wealth in the U.S. is in the hands of people over 55 [years of age]. Many are isolated; they don't have people looking out for them."
One bill makes it a crime to use "deception, intimidation, or undue influence" to take the property of someone 68 years old or older. The bill takes effect Oct. 1.
Another increases the penalties for a person who falsely claims to have special expertise in investment management for seniors. As emergency legislation, it takes effect immediately.
Benjamin Kramer sponsored another bill that expands the state's hate crimes statute to include crimes against the disabled.
Also among the more than 300 bills signed Thursday were measures that:
- Require proof of lawful presence to get a driver's license, to bring the state into compliance with a federal law for state-issued photo IDs.
- Limit capital punishment cases to instances where there is biological or DNA evidence, a videotaped confession or a videotape of a murder taking place.
- Allow early voting starting in 2010.
- Ban text messaging while driving. While police can pull someone over solely for a violation of the ban, which carries a $500 fine, reading a text message while driving is still legal. The ban takes effect Oct. 1.
- Require state employees to pay union dues, beginning July 1, even if they are not union members.