PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 351

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Transportation
Section 16-208(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The State of Maryland recognizes that for too many families, welfare
has become what it never was intended to be: a permanent way of life, and this system of
continuous income maintenance not only destroys all incentive for an individual to
become self-sufficient but often leads to intergenerational dependency; and

WHEREAS, The State's welfare system does not reward work or any effort to seek
and secure a job, and the total package of welfare benefits can be better than the package
of benefits the working poor can obtain, creating an incentive to stay on welfare; and

WHEREAS, The State's welfare system has numerous disincentives for the
maintenance of a two-parent family unit, and the role and responsibilities of the father
are largely ignored in the current system; and

WHEREAS, The State's role is to promote family and community responsibility for
nurturing children, not to take their place; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly has established welfare reform as one of the
major human service priorities of State government, with the intended goal of achieving a
significant reduction in the number of citizens who are enrolled in the Aid to Families
with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program; and

WHEREAS, The State must transform a "one size fits all" welfare system that
fosters dependence, low self-esteem, and irresponsible behavior to one that rewards work
and fosters self-reliance, responsibility, and family stability; and

WHEREAS, Local departments of social services require flexibility and autonomy
to craft local solutions to their needs; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer, religious, and charitable organizations have historically
provided aid to the needy, and these organizations represent a critical means of
leveraging the reduced funding available for welfare programs; and

WHEREAS, Cooperative living arrangements can concentrate and maximize
resources as well as assist welfare recipients in developing living and other skills necessary
for gaining an independent and productive role in society; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has thus far been unsuccessful in replacing
the current welfare system on a national level; and

WHEREAS, Maryland is well-positioned to take the initiative in creating a system
that is just and compassionate but that holds individuals accountable for their actions;
and

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