CODE HOME RULE GOVERNMENT

EFFICIENCY

ACCOUNTABILITY

TRANSPARENCY

Local Government Now. . .

• Commissioners are a combined Executive and Legislative body

• Local laws are adopted by authority of the Maryland General Assembly

• Up to 21 months elapse from proposal to effective date

• Legislative hearings are in Annapolis

188 State legislators decide what laws are right for St. Mary’s County

Commissioner Government

Local Government Under Code Home Rule . . .

• Commissioners are a combined Executive and Legislative body

• Local laws are adopted by Commissioners (Authority from General Assembly NOT required)

• Only 2 months from proposal to effective date

• Legislative hearings in Leonardtown

5 Commissioners decide what laws are rightfor St. Mary’s County

Code Home Rule Government

CODE HOME RULECOUNTY POPULATION

KENT (20,191)

ALLEGANY (74,012)

WORCESTER (51,578) 

CAROLINE (32,718)

QUEEN ANNE’S (48,595)

CHARLES (150,592)

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

CHARTERCOUNTY POPULATIONBALTIMORE CITY ( 621,492)MONTGOMERY (1,004,709)BALTIMORE ( 817,455)ANNE ARUNDEL ( 550,488)PRINCE GEORGE’S ( 881,138) WICOMICO ( 100,647)HOWARD ( 299,430)HARFORD ( 248,622)TALBOT ( 38,098)DORCHESTER ( 32,551)CECIL ( 101,696)FREDERICK ( 239,582)

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

COMMISSIONERCOUNTY POPULATION

CALVERT ( 89,628)CARROLL (167,217)GARRETT ( 29,854)ST. MARY’S (108,987)SOMERSET ( 26,253)

WASHINGTON (149,980)

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

EfficiencyLocal Law-making Authority

The Constitution of Maryland: “a code county may enact, amend,

or repeal a public local law of that county.”  

Public Local Law: a law applicable to the incorporation,

organization, or government of a code county and contained in the county's

code of public local laws. 

Public Local LawDOES NOT INCLUDE:

- Laws which apply to more than one county

- Statewide laws

EfficiencyLocal Law-making Authority

COMMISSIONERS MAY NOT ENACT ANY

• New tax• New license fee• New franchise tax • New fee

Code Home Rule = NO NEW LOCAL TAXES

EfficiencyLocal Law-making Authority

  Any enactment, amendment, or repeal is subject

to a referendum

AccountabilityRight of Referendum

- Petition with signaturesof at least 10% of the voters

- Filed with the county board of electionswithin 40 days after a local law is enacted If more than one-half but less than the full number of

signatures required are filed within 40 days, the time is extended for an additional 40 days

AccountabilityRight of Referendum

Any enactment, amendment, or repeal is subject

to a referendum

LEGISLATIVE DAYS  

Commissioners specify a number of days, not exceeding 45 days, in each year on which the Commissioners may meet to

enact public local laws. 

Days do not have to be consecutive.

TransparencyLegislative Process

SPONSORSHIP  

A Commissioner may introduce a billon any legislative day.

The name of the Commissionerwho introduced the billwill appear on the bill.

TransparencyLegislative Process

PUBLIC HEARING

Commissioner President schedules a public hearing on a proposed law.

Hearing takes place no sooner than 7 days after introduction.

Bill may be rejected without a hearing by vote of 4 of 5

Commissioners.

TransparencyLegislative Process

AMENDMENT  

Entire proposalreprinted locally as amended.

TransparencyLegislative Process

PASSAGE

Final passage on a legislative day

Affirmative vote of3 of 5 Commissioners required

Yeas and nays recorded

TransparencyLegislative Process

NOTICE

Bill or fair summary published at least 3 times during the following 4 weeks

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

45 days after enacted or later date specified

TransparencyLegislative Process

Draft:Subject to approval at referendum, the county shall operate under Article XI-F of the Maryland Constitution

At least 2 public hearings

Commissioners’ decision - Within 60 days - 4 of 5 affirmative votes required

PROCESS FOR ADOPTION OF HOME RULE

RESOLUTION

PROCESS FOR ADOPTION OF HOME RULE

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON CODE HOME RULE:

SEPTEMBER 17 – RIDGE VFDOCTOBER 14 – HOLLYWOOD VRSNOVEMBER 10 – 7TH DISTRICT VFDJANUARY 19 – BAY DISTRICT VFDFEBRUARY 23 – 2ND DISTRICT VFDMARCH 22 – LEONARDTOWN VFDAPRIL 12 – GOLDEN BEACH VFD

REFERENDUM

Certified copy of the Resolution to the County Board of Elections

Referendum at November 8, 2016 General Election

COUNTY BECOMES A CODE COUNTY ON DECEMBER 8, 2016

PROCESS FOR ADOPTION OF HOME RULE

• NO NEW TAXES

• NO COUNTY EXECUTIVE

• NO NEW DEPARTMENTS

• NO NEW COSTS OF GOVERNMENT

CODE HOME RULE GOVERNMENT

• LOCAL LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS

• RIGHT OF REFERENDUM

• EFFICIENCY

• TRANSPARENCY

• ACCOUNTABILITY

CODE HOME RULE GOVERNMENT

CODE HOME RULE GOVERNMENT

IT’S UP TO

YOUTO DECIDE