Feb. 9, 2012
Del. Wendell R. Beitzel (R–Dist. 1A) announced this week that he has filed several bills in the Maryland General Assembly that directly affect Garrett and Allegany counties.
House Bill 660, a bill that would cap the losses of state funding for education incurred by local governments, has been assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.
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Beitzel said this bill is important in light of the 11.8 percent proposed cut included in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s FY 2013 budget for Garrett County schools. A similar bill, Senate Bill 586, was filed by Sen. George C. Edwards (R–Dist. 1).
“The children of Garrett County deserve quality education,” Beitzel said. “These cuts proposed by the governor severely hamper the BOE’s ability to adequately fund K–12 education in the county, which is evidenced by recent proposals to close three more public schools. Senator Edwards and I will fight, as we did last year, to continue quality education for western Maryland’s children.”
Beitzel also filed bills regarding the leases of natural gas and oil. HB 403 would require the inclusion of an intake sheet for natural gas and oil leases when the leases are recorded by the clerk of the court. Edwards has filed similar legislation, SB 773.
The delegate explained that current law does not require the inclusion of an intake sheet, and stipulates that a clerk can accept a lease without such a sheet.
“Upon passage of this legislation, the intake sheet can be used to better index these natural gas and oil leases,” Beitzel said.
Other measures dealing with natural gas and oil include HB 732/ SB 773, which would require natural gas and oil leases to contain certain uniform language. Each also provides for the recordation of leases.
In addition, HB 744/SB 770 would require leasing agents, known as “landmen,” be registered with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation in order to do business in the state of Maryland. Similar measures were presented to the Texas legislature, Beitzel noted.
More here.
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