Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

HB 83
                      Department of Legislative Services
                              Maryland General Assembly
                                    2021 Session
                           FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
                                Enrolled - Revised
House Bill 83                   (Delegate Queen)
Ways and Means                             Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
       Public and Nonpublic Schools – Electric Retractable Room Partitions –
                             Operation Requirements
This bill prohibits an employee of a public or nonpublic school from operating an electric
retractable room partition under specified circumstances. Annual safety reviews,
evaluations, or exercises must include information and demonstrations regarding the safe
operation of an electric retractable room partition. The Maryland State Department of
Education (MSDE) must develop and disseminate model safety guidelines to each local
school board and nonpublic school, including publishing them on its website. The bill
takes effect July 1, 2021.
                                    Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None. MSDE can develop the required guidelines with existing budgeted
resources. No effect on revenues.
Local Effect: None. Local school systems can implement the bill’s requirements with
existing budgeted resources. To the extent that local school systems elect to install sensors
on their electric partitions, which is one of several methods to comply with the bill, they
may incur costs for their purchase and installation. No effect on local revenues.
Small Business Effect: None.
                                         Analysis
Bill Summary: The bill defines an “electric retractable room partition” as a room partition,
divider, curtain, or any other similar device that is opened and retracted by operation of an
electric motor.
A public or nonpublic school employee may not operate an electric retractable room
partition unless:
      the partition includes a safety sensor that automatically stops the movement of the
       partition when a body passes through the sensor;
      no students are present in the school building; or
      the room or area where the partition is located is locked or otherwise free of or
       inaccessible to students.
Current Law: There are no statutory requirements or limitations regarding the operation
of electric retractable room partitions by school employees.
                               Additional Information
Prior Introductions: SB 258 of 2020 passed the Senate as amended and was referred to
the House Ways and Means Committee, but no further action was taken on the bill.
Designated Cross File: SB 104 (Senator Bailey) - Education, Health, and Environmental
Affairs.
Information Source(s): Maryland State Department of Education; Baltimore City Public
Schools; Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Wicomico County Public Schools;
Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History:     First Reader - January 15, 2021
rh/hlb                   Third Reader - March 24, 2021
                                Revised - Amendment(s) - March 24, 2021
                         Enrolled - May 7, 2021
                                Revised - Amendment(s) - May 7, 2021
Analysis by: Michael C. Rubenstein                    Direct Inquiries to:
                                                      (410) 946-5510
                                                      (301) 970-5510
HB 83/ Page 2
Statutes affected: 
Text - First - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Electric Retractable Room Partitions - Operation Requirements: 7-447 Education
Text - Third - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Electric Retractable Room Partitions - Review and Report: 7-447 Education
Text - Enrolled - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Electric Retractable Room Partitions - Review and Report: 7-447 Education, 7-447 Education