Text of MD HB 150 (2021)

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *hb0150* HOUSE BILL 150 P5 1lr0855 (PRE–FILED) By: Delegate Crosby Requested: October 5, 2020 Introduced and read first time: January 13, 2021 Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 State Government – House of Delegates – Bill Sponsorship – Limit 2 FOR the purpose of prohibiting a member of the House of Delegates from sponsoring more 3 than a certain number of bills in a legislative session; authorizing a certain member 4 to introduce a certain number of bills in excess of a certain limit under certain 5 circumstances; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to bill 6 sponsorship by members of the House of Delegates. 7 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8 Article – State Government 9 Section 2–1502 10 Annotated Code of Maryland 11 (2014 Replacement Volume and 2020 Supplement) 12 BY adding to 13 Article – State Government 14 Section 2–1502.1 15 Annotated Code of Maryland 16 (2014 Replacement Volume and 2020 Supplement) 17 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19 Article – State Government 20 2–1502. 21 (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 22 (2) “Department” means the Department of Legislative Services. 23 2 HOUSE BILL 150 (3) “Prefile” means to direct the Department, before a regular session of 1 the General Assembly, to file a bill for introduction during that session. 2 (b) A member or member–elect of the General Assembly may prefile a bill, as 3 provided in this section. 4 (c) (1) In a year when an election for members of the General Assembly is held: 5 (i) a bill may be prefiled only by an individual elected or re–elected 6 to the General Assembly at that election; 7 (ii) the deadline for directing the Department to file a bill for 8 introduction is December 10; 9 (iii) the deadline for requesting the Department to prepare a bill for 10 prefiling is November 20; and 11 (iv) an individual first elected at that election may not request the 12 Department to prepare a bill until after the election. 13 (2) In any other year, a member may prefile a bill at any regular session 14 by: 15 (i) on or before the preceding November 1, requesting the 16 Department to prepare the bill; and 17 (ii) on or before the preceding November 20, directing the 18 Department, in writing, to file the bill for introduction. 19 (d) A directive to file a bill for introduction shall be in writing and shall state the 20 name of each sponsor of the bill. 21 (e) (1) On the first day of each regular session, the Department shall send to 22 the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House, as appropriate, copies of each 23 bill, in the form that the Senate rules set for introduction in the Senate or that the House 24 rules set for introduction in the House. 25 (2) Each bill that is sent under this subsection shall be considered as filed 26 for introduction. 27 2–1502.1. 28 (A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION, A 29 MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES MAY NOT SPONSOR MORE THAN 12 BILLS 30 IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. 31 HOUSE BILL 150 3 (B) THE LIMIT IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A 1 BILL THAT: 2 (1) A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SPONSORS BY REQUEST OF: 3 (I) THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH; 4 (II) AN ENTITY CREATED BY STATE LAW OR AN EXECUTIVE 5 ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR; OR 6 (III) A LOCAL JURISDICTION; OR 7 (2) IS SPONSORED BY A STANDING COMMITTEE OR COUNTY 8 DELEGATION. 9 (C) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, FOR EACH 10 BILL THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE PREFILES UNDER § 2–1502 OF THIS SUBTITLE, 11 THE MEMBER MAY INTRODUCE ONE BILL IN EXCESS OF THE LIMIT UNDER 12 SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 13 (2) A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE MAY NOT INTRODUCE MORE THAN 14 THREE BILLS IN EXCESS OF THE LIMIT UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 15 UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 16 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17 1, 2021. 18