By LIAM FARRELL, Staff Writer
The county's House delegation yesterday unanimously approved a bill that would give the county government more time to prosecute people who violate critical area laws.
Under the legislation, introduced at the request of County Executive John R. Leopold, the statute of limitations would be increased from one to three years to bring criminal cases involving the county's Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
The legislation would apply to anyone along the county's 500 miles of waterfront who violates grading, sediment control, stormwater management, zoning, construction or health and public safety laws within the 1,000-foot shoreline buffer zone.
"It's an important issue," said Alan Friedman, the county's director of government relations. "We do want to protect them."
Amendments to the bill clarify that the intent of the law is not to target innocent purchasers of critical area property and it would require anyone selling property with a violation to disclose that information to the buyer.
Although the county will prosecute whoever commits the infraction, someone who knowingly buys a property with a critical area violation could also be held responsible for fixing the problem.
The Senate delegation approved a similar version earlier this month. Under "local courtesy," local bills that receive the blessing of a county delegation are virtually guaranteed General Assembly approval.
The majority of the delegation yesterday also supported a bill to extend part of the worker's compensation law to county deputy sheriffs. If the legislation passes, any deputy sheriff suffering from heart disease or hypertension that results in disability or death would be presumed eligible for worker's compensation.
That right is already extended to county police officers and firefighters.
To receive worker's compensation, a deputy sheriff would still have to undergo a medical examination to determine the validity of his or her claim, said Del. Bob Costa, R-Deale, who's a firefighter.
"All it does is put a little weight on your case because of the nature of your job. There's no freebie here," Mr. Costa said. "This is something everybody else has."
But the nature of deputy sheriffs' work - mainly providing courthouse security and serving warrants - raises the question about whether they should be placed in this category, said Del. Steve Schuh, R-Gibson Island.
"We are not talking about leaving anybody uncared for," Mr. Schuh said. "The issue is what system they are in."
Mr. Schuh was joined by Del. Tony McConkey, R-Severna Park, and Del. Don Dwyer, R-Glen Burnie, in voting against the bill.
Among other local bills, the House delegation will wait for versions of a revised school board appointment process and a ban on roadside panhandling and sign-waving to cross over from the Senate chamber before taking any action.
But the delegation will no longer consider a bill to give the County Council the option of waiving or reducing impact fees for developments that include workforce housing.
A statewide version of that bill, sponsored by Del. Kumar Barve, D-Montgomery, passed the House on March 15 by a vote of 135-2 and will accomplish the same result as the local effort. Mr. Dwyer and Mr. Schuh voted against the legislation.
"The two key bills (on the school board and panhandling) are moving through the Senate," Mr. Friedman said. "The statewide (impact fee) bill is perfect.
Published March 20, 2007, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2007 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
