COUNCIL APPROVES LEGISLATION ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MINIMUM WAGE DURING FINAL SESSION OF LEGISLATIVE YEAR 2016
The Prince George’s County Council, during the final session for Legislative Year 2016 on Tuesday, November 15, held 31 public hearings, and enacted several zoning bills and legislation addressing a wide range of issues including, but not limited to, public safety and health; economic development and opportunity; and minimum wage.
A trio of bills were passed as a part of Council Member Deni Taveras’ Quality of Life Legislative Package. Council Bill 59-2016 expands and clarifies laws governing the use of an apartment for drug activity or prostitution. Under the legislation, landlords, owners, management staff, or tenants could be held liable if their property is used for drug activity or prostitution, including human trafficking. Council Bill 63-2016 prohibits the illegal sale of vehicles on County roads, more commonly known as “curbstoning.” Council Bill 64-2016 addresses public health concerns related to the accumulation of garbage or litter following an eviction and mandates landlords to remove all garbage, litter and trash from the property within one business day.
Council Bill 75-2016 was also adopted, requiring that at least 50% of County funds be deposited and maintained in county-based, minority, or small banking institutions or depositories.
The Council’s Rules and General Assembly Committee has also completed its work for Legislative Year 2016, which included a revision of the County Council and District Council Rules of Procedure.
Council Vice Chair Dannielle Glaros (D) – District 3, Rules and General Assembly Committee Chair, says updating Council rules was a priority for the committee.
“This is the first major review of the County Council and District Council Rules of Procedure in nearly twenty years so I am extremely pleased with what we were able to accomplish. Most notable being an even greater level of transparency concerning standing committee meetings, which will be recorded and posted on the Council’s website beginning 2017.”
In other Council Action, Council Resolution 84-2016 was adopted, establishing process for Developmentally Disabilities Administration Providers to seek a waiver from the County’s minimum wage law. While the minimum wage was increased in Prince George’s County under CB-94-2013, the wage rate has caused a challenge for certain disability providers who cannot afford to pay their workers the County’s minimum wage. CR-84-2016 closes the gap between wages paid by the State and what County law requires. Companion legislation, CB-96-2016, which was also approved, establishes the extension in Prince George’s County.
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