2023 Maryland General Assembly Update
Week Six: Three Carozza Bills Moving Through Senate,
Voting Against Confirmation of Juvenile Services Secretary
THREE CAROZZA BILLS MOVING THROUGH SENATE

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted unanimously in favor of my Senate Bill 68 on Thursday. The purpose of the bill is to allow members of the Crisfield Police Dept. to participate in the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System (LEOPS).
 
This is a local priority bill that is absolutely essential to the recruitment and retention of the Crisfield Police Department. This will allow the Crisfield Police to remain competitive during the rampant law enforcement shortage across the Shore and the State of Maryland.
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee also voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 244 on Friday. The purpose of the bill is to ensure that Lena Williams, the widow of Correctional Officer Gregory Collins, is allowed to apply for the special death benefits established in Senate Bill 198. Due to a time restriction, Ms. Williams was left unable to apply.
 
Lena Williams and her family have suffered for years after the brutal murder of her husband, Correctional Officer Greg Collins who served our state with honor in a dangerous job and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. We have an obligation to Ms. Williams and her family to ensure that this special death benefit is available to this family.
The Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 246, which will enable Wicomico County to create a Sanitary District Commission which is the first step for Wicomico County to implement its Water and Sewer Master Plan which was finalized in 2021.
Senate Bills 68, 244, and 246 will be brought to the Senate Floor for a full vote next week.
THE CONFIRMATION OF FORMER SALISBURY MAYOR JAKE DAY AS MARYLAND SECY OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (as reported in Delmarva Now 2-15-23 by Dwight Weingarten)

"All of Jake Day’s prior professional and personal experience will be brought to bear in the leadership of this new position at the state level,” said Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, R-38 (Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties), who introduced Day and strongly supported his nomination.

Carozza, the sole member to ask a question of Day during the public hearing, noted his work experience as a veteran and mayor as well as his familial background as the son of Randy Day, CEO of Perdue Farms, and Debbie Day, a retired teacher. 
I VOTED "NO" IN COMMITTEE ON CONFIRMATION
OF DJS SECRETARY
Together with my fellow Republican members of the Senate Executive Nominations Committee, we voted against the nomination of Vincent Shiraldi as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.
 
I sharply questioned the Acting Secretary during his nomination hearing on Monday saying “Public safety is job number one, for all of us involved, and we talked a little bit about the balance, and I have to tell you many of my constituents believe that the balance right now in society, between rehabilitating the offender and protecting the general public, is out of whack. Many in Maryland don’t believe we’re doing enough to protect them against violent offenders and violent juveniles. so, my question is, what are your specific plans and approaches to violent juveniles?”
 
My colleagues and I have severe concerns that the nominee’s radical reform philosophies, including treating 25-year-olds as juveniles and closing juvenile detention facilities, would further exacerbate an out-of-balance system that treats offenders as the victims and neglects the true victims’ right to justice. The full Senate is expected to vote on the DJS Secretary nominee on February 21st.

MY BILL REQUIRES A PERSON CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENT AND RECKLESS DRIVING CAUSING DEATH TO APPEAR IN COURT 
Together with Executive Director Bob Spanburgh of ABATE of Maryland, we testified in strong support of Senate Bill 252 before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday. The purpose of the bill is to require that a person charged with reckless or negligent driving which contributed to the death of another must appear in court.
 
Under current law, if someone is charged with reckless or negligent driving, even when they are involved in a fatal accident, they do not have to appear in court. They are charged with a misdemeanor and subject to a maximum fine of $1,000, and they can pay this fine without ever appearing before a judge or facing the loved ones that are left behind.
 
Being able to face the person who caused such pain often plays a major role in the healing process and requiring that person to show up in court provides a safe environment. These types of cases, where there is a victim, should not be treated the same as a victimless vehicle accident.
THIS BILL CREATES ANAEROBIC DIGESTION WORKGROUP 
With a panel of experts in anaerobic digestion, I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 447, which would create a workgroup composed of all the stakeholders to identify recommendations for the thoughtful expansion of anaerobic digesters throughout the State.
Anaerobic digestion is a process through which bacteria breaks down organic matter, such as animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food wastes. This process creates a product known as biogas, and when purified, biogas is a renewable energy that can be used to provide heat, generate electricity, fuel our vehicles, and create other energy products.
Anaerobic digestion is hugely beneficial to our farmers in ways that more traditional waste management systems simply do not offer. Both Planet Found in Pocomoke City (right) and CleanBay Renewables in Princess Anne provide a sustainable, manageable agricultural byproduct.
Senate Bill 447 is supported by the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Delmarva Chicken Association, the Maryland Farm Bureau, and Maryland Coastal Bays.
LOCALS IN ANNAPOLIS
Ben Seidel of Real Hospitality Group of Ocean City was in Annapolis for his confirmation hearing to serve on the Maryland Tourism Development Board.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes and Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis visited my office. That day Sheriff Lewis testified against Senate Bill 290, which expands the authority of the Attorney General to prosecute cases involving a police officer.
Mayors Rick Meehan of Ocean City (top left), Mike Pruitt of Snow Hil top center)l, Jack Heath of Salisbury (top right), Zack Tyndall of Berlin (left of Senator Carozza), and Darlene Taylor of Crisfield (behind Carozza) for the Maryland Municipal League conference. Also shown: Delegate Hartman( R-D38C) and Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-D37A)
Michael Hall (L) and Jonathon Roberts (R) of Ocean Downs Racetrack
Representing Harness Racing and Maryland Horse Industry
Local librarians Jennifer Ranck of Worcester, Ed Goyda of Somerset,
 and Seth Hershberger of Wicomico
Several other local officials visited Annapolis this week including Thomas Spangler of CleanBay Renewables in Westover; local dentists Dr. Greg Allen of Ocean City, Dr. Celeste Ziara of Chesapeake Health in Salisbury, and Dr. Joe Merai; and local members of the Alzheimer’s Association including Jennifer Schermerhorn of Salisbury University and SU intern Morgan Todd.
We also welcomed William Kozma, a senior at Stephen Decatur High School who participated in the Maryland General Assembly Page Program this week, to the Senate Floor and my Annapolis office. 
SNEAK PREVIEW
Both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee will be having hearings on alcohol bills next week. Senate Bill 135, which would enable businesses to sell and serve beer, wine, and liquor at an entertainment event that is held in Ocean City if it is approved by the Mayor and City Council, and Senate Bill 795, which would allow cigar lounges in Wicomico County to sell liquor, will be heard on Friday.
Additional Resources
Following Legislation and Testifying
Not only does the General Assembly provide multiple ways to participate in your state government proceedings, but a full set of videos is also available online:
  • Understanding the MD General Assembly
  • Finding your legislator
  • Searching for bills by number, sponsor, subject matter
  • Understanding a bill
  • Tracking a bill
  • Searching media
  • Creating a personal MyMGA Account
  • Witness Sign Up-to testify on Bills
I look forward to hearing from you soon! Please contact me on issues important to you.

410-841-3645
marybeth.carozza@senate.state.md.us
In Service,





Mary Beth Carozza
State Senator-District 38
Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset
410-841-3645