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2010 Legislative Session
Joe Miedusiewski Lobbyist, AIA MD
Money. In the 50s, 60s and 70s it seems everybody was singing about money. There was the
early Motown classic, “Money, (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong. Pink Floyd used a symphony of cash registers in its song “Money”. ABBA gave us “Money, Money, Money”.
We were also entertained by “First I Look At The Purse” by the Contours,
“Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” by the Clovers and “Busted” by Ray Charles. Songs which now seem to have been rather prophetic.
We now find ourselves in 2010 and money is once again on everybody’s mind. Ask
anybody who is involved with the 427th session of the Maryland General Assembly what the big issues will be and you will get one answer. M-O-N-E-Y.
Maryland is facing a $2 Billion budget deficit. The recession’s hold on our state
is now in its third year. Budget gaps need to be addressed. Painful decisions must be made as to which services will be eliminated, trimmed or maintained. Billions of dollars have already been cut, thousands of jobs
eliminated, and programs reduced.
The Governor’s budget will be scrutinized dollar by dollar. Those who need jobs or
money for their programs will face off with legislators and fiscal analysts who must make the unpleasant decisions of allocating slices of a much smaller pie than is usually available.
The Governor has been asked by a legislative spending committee to not increase spending
for Fiscal Year 2011, a request which is unprecedented. Legislation with a price tag in excess of $100,000 will need to be approved by the leadership and the House Appropriations Committee. Basically, any bill that
will cost money must include a funding source.
Money will be scarce. Wherever there appears to be a fund which can spare a few dollars,
some of those dollars may well be transferred to a needier entity. This is generally accomplished by the Budget Financing and Reconciliation Act (BRFA). A device utilized to move money around within the budget.
In addition to monitoring the fiscal issues, AIA MD will be watching for a professional
services tax, which we oppose. We will oppose any attempt by the administration to raid the Special Fund. We will oppose any effort by the state to use standardized school designs throughout Maryland. We will oppose
any effort to establish an Interior Designer Practice Act. We will support an SBOA effort to establish a retired architect’s license.
Though money will remain on everybody’s agenda this session, let’s hope
“Taxman” by the Beatles isn’t the theme song.
AIAMD State Component Legislative Update
Your state component is currently monitoring, supporting, or determining a position on the following bills in this year's legislative session. Comments or questions may be sent to Pam Rich.
(You may obtain full and current information on the status of each bill at http://mlis.state.md.us/#bill.)
HOUSE BILLS: HB 80: State Board for Professional Engineers; Hearing –
3/24/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
HB 168: Architectural or Engineering Services - Construction Industry - Indemnity
Agreements - Void; Hearing held 1/28/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 1/26/10
HB 224: Plumbing - Greywater Recycling; Hearing held 2/3/10 Letter of Testimony sent
2/3/10. SGN Representative Chris Parts, AIA LEED AP testified at the hearing of this bill on February 3rd.
HB 268: Minority Business Enterprise Program and Small Business Reserve Program -
Architectural and Engineering Services; Hearing held 2/3/10; Bill has been withdrawn.
HB 348 (Crossfiled with SB334): Public Institutions of Higher Education - New Design and
Substantial Exterior Modification - Notice and Consultation; Hearing held 2/09/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
HB 474: Smart, Green, and Growing - Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission AIAMD
Position: 2/17/10 Support Letter w/request that the bill be amended to require that at least one of the twelve representatives to be appointed by the Governor under Section 5-703.A.V to be an architect who is both
licensed and resident in the State.
HB 475: Smart, Green, and Growing - The Sustainable Communities Act of 2010; Hearing
3/9/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 2/22/10
HB 563: Prince George's County - Public School Construction - Planning and Design -
State Funding PG 409-10; Hearing 2/23/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
HB 604: Environment - Greywater - Residential Use; Hearing 2/24/10 AIAMD Position:
Support Letter 2/22/10
HB 687: Frederick County - Municipalities - Water and Sewer Classifications; Hearing
3/10/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
HB 705 (Crossfiled with SB 656): Energy Performance Ratings - State, County, and
Municipal Buildings; Hearing 3/3/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 3/1/10
HB 734: Washington County - Advisory School Design Review Committee; Hearing
2/23/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
HB 757: Public Safety - Maryland Building Performance Standards - Accessibility
Standards for Dwelling Units; Hearing 2/25/10 AIAMD Position: 2/22/10 Support Letter w/qualifications - noting concerns that this bill’s requirements may result in unintended consequences and suggesting
modifications that will strike a balance between the need for visitability, the difficulties imposed by natural topography, and the interests of home buyers.
HB 837: Washington County - Procurement of Professional or Technical
Services AIAMD Position: TBD
HB 907: Civil Actions - Limitations of Actions - Land Surveyors; Hearing
2/24/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 2/22/10 and Testimony by Joe Miedusiewski (Lobbyist)
HB 932: Public Schools – New Construction or Renovation – Children’s
Environmental Health; Hearing 3/2/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 3/1/10 w/suggested modification
HB 964: Environment – Stormwater Management – New Development and
Redevelopment Projects; Hearing 3/10/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
HB 1040: High Performance Buildings Act - Applicability to Recipients of State Aid;
Hearing 3/11/10 AIAMD Position: Support
HB 1044: High Performance Buildings Act - Applicability to Community Capital
Projects; Hearing 3/11/10 AIAMD Position: Support
HB 1112: Carroll County Green Building Tax Credit; Hearing 3/2/10 AIAMD Position:
Support Letter 3/1/10
HB 1212: MBE – Graduation Program – Architectural and Engineering Services;
Hearing 3/15/10 AIAMD Position: TBD
HB 1357: Professional Boards – Transfer of Funds – Repayment; Hearing
3/11/10 AIAMD Position: TBD
SENATE BILLS: SB 103: State Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects - Sunset
Extension and Program Evaluation; Hearing held 2/3/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
SB 215: High Performance Buildings Act - Applicability to Recipients of State Aid;
Hearing held 2/2/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter with qualifications 2/2/10
SB 234: High Performance Buildings Act - Applicable to Community College Capital
Projects; Hearing 2/10/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 2/8/10
SB 278: Smart, Green, and Growing - Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission; Hearing
2/23/10 AIAMD Position: Support with Amendments
SB 285: Smart, Green, and Growing - The Sustainable Communities Act of 2010; Hearing
2/17/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 2/15/10
SB 334: Public Institutions of Higher Education - New Design and Substantial Exterior
Modification - Notice and Consultation; Hearing 2/17/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
SB 350: Maryland Transit Administration - Transit-Oriented Development - Expansion of
Geographic Area; Hearing 2/24/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
SB 420: Environment - Stormwater Management - New Development and Redevelopment Projects;
Hearing 3/2/10 AIAMD Position: Monitor
SB 479: State Capital Projects - High Performance Buildings - Green Globes Rating
Committee; Hearing 2/24/10 AIAMD Position: Opposition Letter 2/22/10
SB 531: Civil Actions - Limitations of Actions - Land Surveyors; Hearing 2/23/10 AIAMD
Position: Support Letter 2/22/10
SB 551: Education - Public School Construction - Procurement - Preference for Local
Business Entities AIAMD Position: TBD
SB 656: Energy Performance Ratings - State, County, and Municipal Buildings;
Hearing 3/11/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 3/1/10
SB 760: Transportation – Consolidated Transportation Program – Evaluation and
Selection of Proposed Capital Projects AIAMD Position: TBD
SB 786: Public Schools – State Aid for School Construction – Planning and
Design Costs; Hearing 3/16/10 AIAMD Position: TBD
SB 814: Public Schools – New Construction or Renovation – Children’s
Environmental Health; Hearing 3/9/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 3/1/10
SB 832: Maryland Community Enhancement Transit-Oriented Development Fund; Hearing
3/3/10 AIAMD Position: Support Letter 3/1/10
SB 925: Carroll County - Green Building Tax Credit AIAMD Position: TBD

Legislative Information
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