3 2/Maryland Manual

Among the important measures enacted were:
Congressional and Legislative redistricting; sever-
al bills aimed at further reducing drunken driving
violations, including the return of the drinking
age for beer and wine to 21 years; decriminali-
zation of certain other alcoholic beverage of-
fenses; a package of bills from the Joint Oversight
Committee on Transportation, including one
which raises motor vehicle fuel tax to provide for
road maintenance; designation of the Maryland
State Retirement System as an independent agen-
cy; several bills designed to enhance services for
the elderly to be administered statewide by the
Interagency Committee on Aging; completion of
the health laws recodification; a major revision of
the State's health planning process; and two om-
nibus bills on interest rates and financing.

Five proposals to amend the Constitution of
Maryland were enacted for referral to the voters
in the November general election. Titles of the
questions were: Imprisonment for Debt Support
and Alimony; Temporary Borrowing by the State;
Montgomery County—Election of County Coun-
cil; Baltimore City—Bond Authorization; and
Charter County and Referendum Petitions.

A HISTORY OF THE 1982 SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY

The Governor called the General Assembly
into special session on August 6, 1982 (Const.
1867, Art. Ill, sec. 14). This was the 385th ses-
sion of the legislative branch of Maryland govern-
ment.

Three bills were introduced in each house, and
one Senate bill was enacted. Senate Bill 1, Unem-
ployment Insurance—Additional Benefits, be-
came Chapter 1 of the 1982 Special Session.

One Joint Resolution was introduced in each
house, but neither passed.

Vetoes from the 1982 regular session were con-
sidered, but none was overridden.

STANDING COMMITTEES

SENATE

Budget and Taxation

Laurence Levitan, Chairperson
Room 100, James Building Telephone: 841-3690

State operating and capital budgets, including
revenues and expenditures; supplementary appro-

priation bills; State and county bond authoriza-
tions; legislative budgetary procedures; all taxa-
tion and property assessment legislation; and
creation of judgeships.

Constitutional and Public Law

Norman R. Stone, Jr., Chairperson
Room 400, James Building Telephone: 841-3582

Government operations; procedures of executive
and administrative departments and agencies; civ-
il rights; election laws; motor vehicle code; ad-
ministrative law; and constitutional amendments.

Economic Affairs

Jerome F. Connell, Sr., Chairperson
Room 200, James Building Telephone: 841-3661

Regulation of businesses, labor, occupations, and
professions in general; economic development; in-
surance; banking; utility regulation; consumer
protection; natural resources and environmental
matters; agriculture; energy; and land use plan-
ning and zoning.

Finance

Rosalie Silber Abrams, Chairperson
Room 100, James Building Telephone: 841-3677

Education; transportation; health and welfare
matters; gambling and horse racing; pensions;
and State personnel and pension matters.

Judicial Proceedings

Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Chairperson
Room 300, James Building Telephone: 841-3623

Judicial administration and court structure; legal
profession; crimes and punishments; criminal and
civil laws and procedures; juvenile justice; real
property; trusts, estates, and probate matters; and
legal rights and immunities.

Executive Nominations

Clarence M. Mitchell III, Chairperson

Examines all nominations for appointments made
by the Governor and reports thereon to the Sen-
ate with recommendations.

Rules, Organization, and Procedure

Melvin A. Steinberg, Chairperson

Considers proposals concerning the rules, organi-
zation, and procedures of the Senate and makes
recommendations thereon; reviews legislation in-
troduced after bill deadline.