Ch. 658

1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article - State Government

2-1501.                                                                           

(A)     In this Part I of this subtitle[,] THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B)      ["bill"] "BILL" includes a joint resolution.

(C)     "MANDATE" MEANS A DIRECTIVE IN A BILL REQUIRING A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT TO PERFORM A TASK OR ASSUME A RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAS
A DISCERNIBLE FISCAL IMPACT ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT.

2-1504.

(A)     For each regular or special session of the General Assembly, the Department
of Legislative Reference shall prepare and distribute, in serial order:

(1)      a synopsis of each Senate bill that is introduced; and

(2)      a synopsis of each House bill that is introduced.

(B)      (1) IF THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE DETERMINES
THAT A BILL IMPOSES A MANDATE ON A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT, THE SYNOPSIS
SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT "THIS BILL IMPOSES A MANDATE ON A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT."                                                                 

(2) IN DETERMINING IF A BILL IMPOSES A MANDATE ON A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT, THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE MAY SEEK
ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FISCAL SERVICES.

2-1505.

(d)     (1) Upon request of the Department of Fiscal Services, a unit of State or
local government promptly shall provide any information requested by the Department
for preparing a fiscal note.

(2) IF A BILL SPONSORED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR BY A
DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, OR COMMISSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE
GOVERNMENT HAS A FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
FISCAL SERVICES WITHIN 5 DAYS OF THE BILL'S INTRODUCTION A STATEMENT OF
THE FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON
PROPERTY TAX RATES IF APPLICABLE AND IF DATA IS AVAILABLE.

(e)      (1) A fiscal note for a bill shall contain an estimate of the fiscal impact of
the bill on the revenues and expenditures of the State government and of local
governments:

(i) during the year in which the bill is to become effective and the next
4 years after that year; and

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