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1 | Progress Tracker: Council President Brandon M. Scott's Legislative and Policy Proposal, 2019-2020 | LAST UPDATED: 7/21/2020 NOTE: A yellow box in the "Current Status" column indicates an upcoming hearing or deadline. A green box denotes that this proposal has been passed into law. | ||||||||
2 | AGENDA ITEM | CATEGORY | PROPOSAL TYPE | DESCRIPTION | SIGNIFICANCE | CURRENT STATUS | PROGRESS TRACKER | LINK | LATEST PROGRESS | |
3 | Nominate Advisory Commission for Public Safety | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Name an Advisory Commission for Public Safety to give residents a voice as we address the public safety needs of their communities in the context of the Consent Decree. | In 2017, Council President Scott passed a law establishing a Citizens Advisory Commission for Public Safety (17-0063). This Commission is established, but its members have not been nominated. The Commission is tasked with making recommendations to our agencies about how to address community concerns related to public safety. With new leadership at the Baltimore Police Department and the Consent Decree process underway, it's time for this group to get to work. | Applications have been reviewed by a review committee. Nominations were announced on November 2, 2020. | Nominations for the Advisory Commission has been made during the November 2, 2020 City Council Meeting and assigned to the executive appointments committee. | Access the application for the Public Safety Advisory Commission here (available in English and Spanish). | Complete - Nominations announced November 2, 2020 | |
4 | Read Bill 17-0063: Citizens Advisory Commission for Public Safety | |||||||||
5 | Create City Administrator For Baltimore | CLEANING UP CITY GOVERNMENT | CHARTER AMENDMENT | Pass Bill 19-0382, a Charter Amendment Council President Scott introduced as a Councilmember, to establish a City Administrator in Baltimore City. | In many jurisdictions, the roles of the Mayor and chief administrator are separate. Mayors are executives who focus on the challenges facing the city, while administrators play a politically-neutral role maintaining efficient city operations. | The Equity and Structure Committee held a hearing on 1/22/20 and a work session on 2/3/20, 3/2/20 and 4/23/20 on this Charter Amendment. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑ Passed ☑ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Read Bill 19-0382: Charter Amendment - City Administrator | Complete - Passed into Law on August 9, 2020 | |
6 | Require a Comprehensive Crime Strategy | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ORDINANCE | Pass Bill 19-0451: Biennial Comprehensive Crime Reduction Plan, requiring the biennial development and presentation of a comprehensive crime reduction strategy plan. This plan should be developed with input from the Baltimore Police Department, the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, the State's Attorney's Office, the Health Department, the Fire Department, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Office of Children and Family Success. | The Baltimore Police Department cannot be expected to reduce crime alone. Every city agency has a role to play in addressing the disease of gun violence in our city. I will continue to advocate for a violence reduction strategy that treats violent crime as a public health issue and incorporates more city resources in the fight. | Became law without the Mayor's signature on 5/18/20 | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑Passed ☑Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Watch Council President's 11/14 address regarding the need for a comprehensive, coordinated agency response to violence. | Complete - Passed into Law on May 18, 2020 | |
7 | Read Bill 19-0451: Biennial Comprehensive Crime Reduction Plan. | |||||||||
8 | Fight for More Money for Our Public Schools | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | ORDINANCE | Closing the digital divide by using money from the Children and Youth Fund to provide laptops to Baltimore's public school students | The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought the City's vast technological and digital divide into stark relief. It means that many students who are now expected to learn at home do not have the basic equipment to do so. This bill created a permanent fiscal agent for the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund and transfered $3 millon from the Youth Fund to BCPS to provide students with laptops | Signed into law by the Mayor on May 18, 2020 | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑ Passed ☑ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Read Bill 20-0519 Children and Youth Fund - Establishment of Permanent Fiscal Agent | Complete - Passed into Law on May 18, 2020 | |
9 | Fight for More Money for Our Public Schools | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | RESOLUTION | Introduce a Resolution demanding the Maryland General Assembly ovride the Governor's veto of House Bill 1300 - Blueprint for Maryland’s Future - Implementation | While the new funding formula has not been finalized, we know it will require that the City invest more local dollars into our school system. We must ensure we are prepared to meet that responsibility. This is not an option. | Unamimously adopted by the City Council at the May 11, 2020 Council Meeting | ☑ Introduced ☑ Immediately Adopted | Read 20-0224R Request for State Action - Override Veto on House Bill 1300 | Complete - Adopted by the Council May 11, 2020 | |
10 | Strengthen City Ethics Watchdog | CLEANING UP CITY GOVERNMENT | ORDINANCE | Fight for the passage of a bill to separate the Board of Ethics from the Department of Legislative Reference.
| Currently, a small volunteer Board of Ethics with no full-time staff conducts investigations into potential violations of the Ethics Code. The Department of Legislative Reference, a department primarily tasked with bill drafting and legal research, spends part of its time working on ethics issues. | Became law without the Mayor's signature on 4/13/20 | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑ Passed ☑ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Read Bill 19-0378: Ethics Board - Administration and Staff. | Complete- Passed into law April 13, 2020 | |
11 | Restore Local Control and Oversight of the BPD | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Continue advocacy in Annapolis to restore local control of the Baltimore Police Department. | Baltimore is the only jurisdiction in Maryland that does not directly oversee its police department. Baltimore’s residents must advocate for legislative reforms to the police department by traveling to Annapolis to lobby our state representatives. Without the ability to set policies and provide oversight, we will not be able to truly transform this department and fulfill Consent Decree requirements. | Action to restore local control of BPD to Baltimore City must be taken at the State level in the Maryland General Assembly. Due to COVID-19 and the shortening of the 2020 MGA session no legislation was passed this year. Council President Scott supported SB1057 and will support it again next year. | Read General Assembly Bill SB 1057: Baltimore City - Control of Police Department of Baltimore | Complete with end of Maryland General Assembly March 18, 2020 | ||
12 | Resist Regressive "Tough On Crime" Laws | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Fight attempts to re-introduce harmful and ineffective legislation that seeks to be "tough on crime," such as increasing mandatory minimums for gun violations. | Mandatory minimum sentencing law and broken-windows policing can be attractive to elected leaders who desperately want to curb violent crime. These approaches do not bear out as successful crime-fighting strategies with sustained results. Furthermore, Maryland law already establishes mandatory minimums for certain gun violations and these laws have not disincentivized gun violence. | Council President Scott spoke out against Governor Hogan's attempt to pass regressive ineffective "tough on crime" laws. Per President Scott: "If we want violence in Baltimore to end, we must be smart on crime, not just tough.” Scott opposed the Governor's regressive crime laws for Baltimore. | Read: Council President Scott Rejects Governor Hogan's Attempt to Pass Regressive & Ineffective “Tough On Crime” Policies | Complete with end of Maryland General Assembly March 18, 2020 | ||
13 | Target Gun Traffickers and Straw Purchasers | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ORDINANCE | Strengthen our Gun Offender Registry to better identify straw purchasers, illegal users of assault weapons, and those who sell guns to minors. | Most weapons traced by the BPD originate from outside of Baltimore City — and even outside Maryland. Straw purchasers buy guns for people who are prohibited from having them. Currently, several offenses are omitted that are critical to stopping the flow of illegal guns into Baltimore City. Common sense additions to the gun registry would help hold the people trafficking guns into the city accountable. | Signed into law by the Mayor (reported at the 1/27/20 Council Meeting). Unanimously approved by the City Council at 12/5/19 City Council meeting. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑ Passed ☑ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Read Bill 19-0443: Gun Offender Registration - Additional Violations | Complete - Passed into Law on January 27, 2020 | |
14 | End ‘Gag Orders’ in City Legal Settlements | CLEANING UP CITY GOVERNMENT | ORDINANCE | Pass Bill 19-0409 "Transparency and Oversight in Claims and Litigation" – legislation co-sponsored by Council President Scott and Councilwoman Sneed. | This bill makes the use of non-disparagement agreements, or "gag orders," illegal for settlement agreements in police misconduct and unlawful discrimination claims levied against the City of Baltimore. “Gag orders” require residents to keep silent in cases of police misconduct, if they reach a financial settlement with the City. The bill also requires the City's Law Department to publish information about claims filed. | Became law without the Mayor's signature on 12/2/19. Passed unanimously on final vote at the 10/28/19 City Council Meeting. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑ Passed ☑ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Read Bill 19-0409: Transparency and Oversight in Claims and Litigation | Complete - Passed into Law on December 2, 2019 | |
15 | Watch 10/28 press conference with advocates after final passage of the bill in the City Council. | |||||||||
16 | Activate the New Cybersecurity Committee | CLEANING UP CITY GOVERNMENT | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Work with the co-chairs of the new Cybersecurity & Emergency Preparedness Committee to lead the Council’s efforts to modernize the City’s cybersecurity infrastructure. | The recent ransomware attack illuminates a gap in important tech know-how and protection within city government. We must do more as a city to build critical cybersecurity infrastructure while expanding access to technology to all residents. A modern city needs modern technology infrastructure. | First hearing of the Cybersecurity and Emergency Preparedness Committee was held on 11/6. | Link to Cybersecurity and Emergency Preparedness Committee's calendar. | Complete - Committee Activated on November 6, 2019 | ||
17 | Enact Youth Athletic Protection | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | ORDINANCE | Pass Bill 19-0337: The Jordan McNair Youth Athletic Protection Act to keep our youth athletes safe by requiring safety training and equipment for all youth team officials that use the Department of Recreation & Parks’ facilities. | Too often, youth team coaches are not equipped with the training and equipment to keep our young athletes safe. If a medical emergency happens during a youth related sports event, I want to make sure that this city has taken every step possible to ensure the coaches are equipped to properly respond. | Signed into law by the Mayor (reported at 11/4/19 City Council meeting). Passed unanimously on final vote at the 10/7/19 City Council Meeting. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☑ Passed ☑ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☑ Signed into Law | Read Bill 19-0337: The Jordan McNair Youth Athletic Protection Act. | Complete - Passed into Law on November 11, 2019 | |
18 | Watch 10/7 press conference on final passage of bill with family of Jordan McNair. | |||||||||
19 | Require Legislation to Have Fiscal and Equity Analysis | EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ORDINANCE | Pass a law requiring all ordinances to have a completed fiscal and equity analysis. | Good policy starts with a deep understanding of the issue at hand. Before it votes on any bill, the City Council should know what the bill does, how much it will cost taxpayers, and what impact it will have on all Baltimoreans. | Bill 19-0442 moved to 3rd Reader at the Baltimore City Council Meeting on November 2, 2020. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☑ 2nd Reader ☑ 3rd Reader ☐ Passed ☐ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☐ Signed into Law | Read Bill 19-0442: Equity Assessment and Fiscal Note Requirement | November 5, 2020 | |
20 | Change the Makeup of the Board of Estimates | CLEANING UP CITY GOVERNMENT | CHARTER AMENDMENT | Introduce a Charter Amendment to reduce the size of the Board of Estimates from five members to three. | Changing the makeup of the Board of Estimates is one way to increase transparency and deliberation in how taxpayer dollars are spent. The Board is currently made up of the City Council President, Mayor, Comptroller, City Solicitor, and Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW). The City Solicitor and DPW Director are both appointed by the Mayor. | The Equity and Structure Committee held a hearing on this charter amendment on 10/30/2020. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☐ 2nd Reader ☐ 3rd Reader ☐ Passed ☐ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☐ Signed into Law by August '20 | Read Bill 20-0489: Charter Amendment - Board of Estimates - Composition | November 5, 2020 | |
21 | Promote Workforce Re-Entry | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ORDINANCE | Introduce legislation to establish a pilot program for the use of Community Workforce Agreements (CWAs) or Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on certain city contracts. | CWAs and PLAs expand entry level employment opportunities, bringing individuals from disadvantaged populations in Baltimore City into the construction labor force through apprentices. | The Labor Committee's previously scheduled hearing has been postpoined due to COVID-19 and will be reschedueled as soon as possible. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Referred to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ In Committee ☐ 2nd Reader ☐ 3rd Reader ☐ Passed ☐ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☐ Signed into Law | Read Bill 20-0488: Construction Projects - Project Labor Agreements | March 9, 2020 | |
22 | Implement Equity Assessment Program | EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Direct the Council Committees to hold the Administration accountable for compliance with the requirements of the Equity Assessment Program (18-0223). | In 2018, Council President Scott introduced and passed important legislation that requires City agencies to conduct an equity analysis and to participate in equity training. This legislation is an important step toward redressing Baltimore’s historic and current inequitable policies and practices. These requirements will move government agencies to rethink the way they formulate and implement policy. | On Monday 12/16, Council President Scott established a new City Council committee: the Equity and Structure Committee. This Committee, chaired by Councilman Bill Henry and made up of Councilwoman Dani McCray and Councilman Kris Burnett, will ensure the Equity Assessment Program is being implemented across city government. | Read Bill 18-0223: Equity Assessment Program. | December 6, 2019 | ||
23 | Visit the Facebook page of the Equity and Structure Committee to learn about upcoming hearings. | |||||||||
24 | Fight for More Money for Our Public Schools | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | OVERSIGHT HEARING | Introduce a Resolution demanding the Department of Finance present the City Council with a proactive plan to increase local funding for our public schools. | While the new funding formula has not been finalized, we know it will require that the City invest more local dollars into our school system. We must ensure we are prepared to meet that responsibility. This is not an option. | Hearing held in Education & Youth Committee on 12/3. Council President Scott continously advocated for the center to prepare to meet fiscal obligations under the Kirwan Comission recommendations, even in face of Governor Hogan's veto will continue to do his part to make sure the city has fully funded public schools. | ☑ Introduced ☑ Assigned to Committee ☑ Referred to Departments ☑ Hearing Date Scheduled ☑ Hearing Held ☐ Follow Up | Read 19-0162R: Informational Hearing - Baltimore’s Fiscal Readiness for Kirwan. | December 3, 2019 | |
25 | Fight for More Money for Our Public Schools | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Advocate for increasing the City's contribution to our public schools. | The upcoming legislative session in Annapolis will be critically important for the fate of our children and public education system. Fighting for Baltimore's public schools as the Kirwan Commission finalizes its recommendations will be a top priority of my legislative agenda in Annapolis. | On 10/16, Council President Scott asked Mayor Young to contribute the City's projected $34 million surplus from FY19 to Baltimore City Public Schools to support the effort to bring reliable heat and air conditioning to all students. This one-time surplus of leftover funds would be best spent ensuring all of our students can learn in comfortable environments and avoid missing class time due to extreme temperatures. This is not an either or — we have the obligation to meet the basic needs of our students in the classroom AND fight for our fair share of state education funding. | Read the letter sent to Mayor Young regarding Baltimore's projected $34 million budget surplus here. | October 16, 2019 | ||
26 | Create More Modern Opportunities for Youth | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Fight for our recreation centers to be open seven days per week. | Our recreational centers must be a community resource all week round. In the Council President's first month on the job, he and the Council secured an additional $2.6 million dollars to keep Baltimore's recreation centers open on Saturdays. In the upcoming budget process, he will fight for our recreation centers to be open on Sundays. | Baltimore's recreation centers began operating on Saturdays beginning 9/7/19. Under Council President Scott's leadership, the Baltimore City Council secured an additional $2.6 million for the Department of Recreation and Parks in the June 2019 budget process. | September 7, 2019 | |||
27 | Address Trauma Associated with Violence and Addiction | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | RESOLUTION | Ask the Administration to strengthen cross-agency responses to violence and addiction, with a particular focus on having a more robust mental health response for our youth, families, and communities. | When someone is harmed by violence the harm inflicted reverberates beyond the victim — families and communities are impacted as well. Our city agencies all have a role to play in serving and supporting those who have been directly and indirectly impacted by gun violence. There are many ways we could better deploy city resources to respond to trauma inflicted by violence and addiction. | ☐ Introduced ☐ Adopted | ||||
28 | Implement Small, Local Business Preference | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Propose solutions that increase opportunities for small businesses and hold oversight hearings to encourage agencies to use thie small, local business preference. | Council President Scott supported charter amendment 16-0672 which allowed for the creation of a small and local business enterprise procurement preference. After this was approved, the Council passed an ordinance creating a Small Local Business Enterprise Procurement Preference, which I also supported. Unfortunately, the City has yet to implement this program. The ordinance allows a 10% preference for local and small businesses. | Read Bill 16-0723: Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises - Small Local Business Enterprise Procurement Preferences | ||||
29 | Promote Workforce Re-Entry | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ORDINANCE | Introduce an ordinance requiring each agency to study their staffing model and search for opportunities to hire returning citizens and youth. This includes reviewing their hiring practices and conducting an analysis of budgeted but vacant positions to identify opportunities to hire returning citizens. | We are missing a huge opportunity. Our reentry workforce is ready, willing and able to work but they are also the most vulnerable to the drug trade. They come home, many hoping to change their lives, but are unable to because of the realities of how tough it can be to find a job. | ☐ Introduced ☐ Referred to Committee ☐ Referred to Departments ☐ In Committee ☐ 2nd Reader ☐ 3rd Reader ☐ Passed ☐ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☐ Signed into Law | ||||
30 | Create President’s Business Roundtables | SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Host quarterly open meetings with Baltimore’s small businesses to better understand their role in our local economy, their needs, and how they support sustainable economic development in our communities. | A regular convening of our small business community can help ensure that the perspectives and ideas of the business community are heard with regularity. These quarterly roundtables present an opportunity to have a regular dialogue with our businesses and to hear their concerns and suggestions on pending City Council legislation that might affect their operations. | |||||
31 | Create More Modern Opportunities for Youth | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Work with the Department of Recreation and Parks and Baltimore's non-profit sector to improve facilities and programming to ensure that they meet the needs of our youth. | Keeping the recreation center doors open is not enough. Many of our facilities need serious renovation and basic maintenance. Our centers must be places young people want to go, with modern facilities and modern programming that is relevant and appealing to our young people. | |||||
32 | Improve Planning for Summer YouthWorks | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | OVERSIGHT HEARING | Work with the City Council and the Mayor's Office of Employment Development to increase oversight and planning of the YouthWorks Program. | Every young person in our city who wants a summer job should be able to have one. In advance of application season, the City Council will use its oversight functions to work with the Mayor's Office of Employment Development to ensure the City is on target to provide the appropriate level of placements. | ☐ Introduced ☐ Assigned to Committee ☐ Referred to Departments ☐ Hearing Date Scheduled ☐ Hearing Held ☐ Follow Up | ||||
33 | Lower Voting Age for Municipal Elections | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | CHARTER AMENDMENT | Introduce and pass a charter amendment to lower the voting age in Baltimore City municipal elections to 16. | Sixteen-year-olds are permitted to drive, work, pay taxes, and be charged as an adult. If we want to foster civic engagement and show our youth that we take their voices seriously, we must allow them to vote. Several cities in Maryland already allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections: Takoma Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, and Riverdale Park. These policy changes have dramatically increased youth engagement. | ☐ Introduced ☐ Referred to Committee ☐ Referred to Departments ☐ In Committee ☐ 2nd Reader ☐ 3rd Reader ☐ Passed ☐ Sent to Mayor for Signature ☐ Signed into Law by August '20 | ||||
34 | Inspire More City Government Mentors | INVESTING IN YOUTH, OUR FUTURE | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Increase the number of city employees engaging in youth mentoring across the City of Baltimore, while working with the administration to identify incentives for participation. | Many of Baltimore’s youth need positive adult role models. The Council President will encourage City Council staff to take time out of the office during the work week to engage in mentoring activities and programs. There is already a policy in place that permits such activity, but it has not always been promoted or encouraged. | |||||
35 | Implement Equity Assessment Program | EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Hire an Equity Coordinator for the Baltimore City Council and require the Council and all Council staff members to complete equity training. | The Equity Coordinator's job is to normalize and prioritize equitable outcomes in all decision making. To bring the necessary transparency to this process, the City Council will hold hearings that will track the agencies’ progress in the public. | |||||
36 | Establish Funding Stream for the Equity Assistance Fund | EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Identify a funding source for the Equity Assistance Fund (18-0222), a Charter Amendment sponsored by Council President Scott that received the support of voters in 2018. | Baltimore City’s long history of segregation and discrimination is embedded in the law and manifests itself in countless ways, from the lack of access to safe, affordable housing, to real-world, lived experiences with the criminal justice system. To address this history, the Council President created a fund to assist with efforts that reduce inequity based on race, gender, and economic status in Baltimore. | Council President Scott continues to work with the original champions of the Equity Assistance Fund, Councilman Kris Burnett, to identify a funding source for the Equity Assistance Fund | Read Bill 18-0222: Charter Amendment - Equity Assistance Fund | |||
37 | Investigate Racially and Economically Disparate Impact of Fines and Fees | EQUITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES | Establish a task force of government officials, residents, community partners, and experts to study and provide recommendations on how to address the many ways our city government places burdensome fees and fines on individuals. | Every day, Baltimoreans across the city are fined for a range of infractions; from parking tickets, to high grass and weeds, also known as “quality of life” citations. These fines often tax poverty and can send a person or family into a debt spiral. |