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AIA Maryland
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Joe Miedusiewski By the time this year’s legislative session adjourned, approximately 2700 bills had been introduced by Maryland’s 188 legislators. Considering that 2010 is also an election year, one could have predicted the flurry of activity that occurred in the halls, committee rooms and chambers of the General Assembly. This year AIA MD had an interest in 42 bills. AIA MD action ranged from monitoring, to supporting or opposing via written statements, and direct testimony. This report will not attempt to discuss all 42 bills, but will highlight selected issues. One of the goals of AIA MD is to establish itself as a resource for legislators and government regulators. To that end, the profile of AIA MD continues to grow positively in Annapolis. That statement is evidenced by legislators requesting AIA MD’s advice on or support for various legislation. Delegate Dan Morhaim asked AIA MD to testify in support of his Greywater Recycling bill. The bill defines "greywater" and prohibits a county from adopting or enforcing provisions of a local plumbing code that prohibit a system that recycles greywater. The governor signed the bill into law on April 13, 2010. Delegate William Bronrott requested AIA MD to support two of his bills which promoted high performance buildings. One bill was making the High Performance Buildings Act applicable to specified capital projects that are funded solely or partly by a grant of State aid. The other was making the High Performance Buildings Act applicable to community college capital projects that receive State funds. The latter passed and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Senator Ulysses Currie, Chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, reached out to AIA MD for advice on legislation which would have expanded from one-half mile to one mile the geographic area within which a specified project could be constructed and yet qualify as a transit-oriented development. However, the press of managing the State budget precluded Senator Currie from moving forward with his bill. The twin-blizzards of 2010 forced AIA MD to reschedule its February 10th legislative luncheon at the AIA MD Chapter House. The event was moved to March 10th in hopes of drier weather and warmer climes. The decision proved to be a good one as the event was well attended by architects and legislators. In one of the conversations at the luncheon, architects engaged in a frank discussion with Senator Lowell Stoltzfus, who sponsored the Green Globes legislation, which AIA MD opposes. The bill required the membership of the Maryland Green Building Council to include members associated with the Green Globes Program and altered the definition of "high performance building" to include a building that achieves a rating of at least two Green Globes according to the Green Globes Program as adopted by the Green Building Initiative. The bill passed the Senate, but died in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. The continuing budget crunch prompted the legislature to transfer money from various special funds to the General Fund. These special funds have grown over time via professional licensing fees and are intended to provide services to those professionals. The transfer was authorized by the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (“BRFA”). Last year the State Occupational and Professional Licensing Design Boards’ Fund escaped being tapped. This year $300,000 was transferred from the Design Boards’ Fund to the General Fund. AIA MD successfully amended the Governor’s Smart, Green and Growing - Maryland Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 to include an architect who is resident and licensed in Maryland. This year is an election year for the offices of Governor/Lt. Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General, as well as all State Senate and Delegate seats. The campaigns present opportunities for licensed architects to get involved and support candidates who support the practice of architecture. I would like to extend sincere thanks to all who participated in AIA MD’s effort this session. Special thanks to those who took time to testify at
hearings, contributed their expert opinions for letters to committees and provided advice at meetings. Finally, congratulations to President Eileen English for her leadership during a demanding legislative session. Roster of Maryland Elected Officials [Prepared by the Public Sector Consulting Group)
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