Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SB 658
                                  Department of Legislative Services
                                             Maryland General Assembly
                                                   2021 Session
                                         FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
                                               Third Reader
Senate Bill 658               (Senator Kagan, et al.)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs         Health and Government Operations
   Maryland Department of Emergency Management - Establishment and Transfer
                           of Maryland 9-1-1 Board
This bill establishes the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) as a
principal department of the Executive Branch of State government and as the successor to
the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). All duties and responsibilities
associated with MEMA’s existing functions continue under MDEM. The bill also transfers
the Maryland 9-1-1 Board from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
(DPSCS) to MDEM. Employees transferred under the bill are transferred without any
change in pay and retain all rights, status, and merit system and retirement status they may
have on the date of transfer. The bill also makes a series of conforming changes.
                                                      Fiscal Summary
State Effect: The transfer of existing MEMA and Maryland 9-1-1 Board personnel, duties,
revenues, and expenditures to MDEM has no net effect on State finances. General fund
expenditures for MDEM increase by $212,100 in FY 2022 for fiscal and administrative
staff and office rent. Future year expenditures reflect annualization and ongoing costs.
      (in dollars)               FY 2022               FY 2023                FY 2024               FY 2025                FY 2026
   Revenue                                $0                    $0                     $0                    $0                     $0
   GF Expenditure                   $212,100              $251,100               $258,200              $266,900               $275,900
   Net Effect                     ($212,100)            ($251,100)             ($258,200)            ($266,900)             ($275,900)
Note:() = decrease; GF = general funds; FF = federal funds; SF = special funds; - = indeterminate increase; (-) = indeterminate decrease
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: None.
                                         Analysis
Bill Summary:
Secretary of Emergency Management
The head of MDEM is the Secretary of Emergency Management, who must be appointed
by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary (1) serves without
a fixed term and may be removed by the Governor; (2) is entitled to the salary provided in
the State budget; and (3) must devote full time to the duties assigned to the Secretary.
Transfer of MEMA to MDEM
In every law, executive order, rule, regulation, policy, or document created by an official,
an employee, or a unit of the State, the names and titles of those agencies and officials
mean the names and titles of the successor agency or official.
The bill does not affect the term of office of an appointed or elected member of any board,
commission, office, department, agency, or other unit. An individual who is a member of
a unit on the bill’s effective date must remain for the balance of the term to which appointed
or elected, unless the member sooner dies, resigns, or is removed under provisions of law.
The bill specifies that the continuity of every board, commission, office, department,
agency, or other unit is retained by MDEM. All files, furniture, fixtures, records, other
properties, credits, liabilities, and obligations are also retained by MDEM.
Documents, including letterhead and business cards, reflecting the renaming of MEMA to
MDEM may not be used until all documents already in print have been used.
Transfer of Maryland 9-1-1 Board to MDEM
All the functions, powers, duties, assets, liabilities, and records of the Maryland 9-1-1
Board in DPSCS must be transferred to the board in MDEM. All the functions, powers,
and duties of the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services with respect to the
board must be transferred to the Secretary of Emergency Management.
A member of the Maryland 9-1-1 Board in DPSCS before the bill’s effective date continues
to serve on the board in MDEM for the remainder of the member’s term.
SB 658/ Page 2
Current Law:
Maryland Emergency Management Agency
MEMA, which is a part of the Military Department, is responsible for coordinating the
State response in any major emergency or disaster. This includes supporting local
governments as needed or requested and coordinating assistance with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and other federal partners. MEMA manages many of the
federal grants that fund a broad range of initiatives leading to enhanced protection from
and responses to the full range of natural and man-made disasters that could threaten the
State’s citizens.
Maryland 9-1-1 Board, Generally
The Maryland 9-1-1 Board (previously known as the Emergency Number Systems Board),
is the agency responsible for administering the 9-1-1 Trust Fund and overseeing the State’s
9-1-1 system. Its responsibilities include, among other things, (1) dispersing funds to local
governments from the 9-1-1 Trust Fund; (2) reviewing and approving or disapproving
requests for reimbursement of the costs of enhancing 9-1-1 systems; (3) ensuring the
inspection of public safety answering points (PSAPs); (4) auditing counties to ensure that
9-1-1 trust funds are being used for authorized purposes; and (5) establishing training
standards for PSAP personnel based on national best practices and related to
Next Generation 9-1-1.
State Fiscal Effect: The transfer of existing MEMA personnel, duties, revenues, and
expenditures to MDEM has no net effect on State finances. The Governor’s proposed
fiscal 2022 budget includes $57.3 million for MEMA ($35.3 million in federal funds,
$19.3 million in special funds, $2.3 million in general funds, and $0.3 million in
reimbursable funds). It includes 63 regular positions and 12 contractual positions that
transfer to MDEM as a result of the bill. MEMA indicates that it does not expect MDEM
to have to relocate, so moving costs are not anticipated.
The transfer of existing Maryland 9-1-1 Board personnel, duties, revenues, and
expenditures to MDEM also has no net effect on State finances. The Governor’s proposed
fiscal 2022 budget for the board includes $183.8 million in special funds. It includes
six regular positions that transfer to MDEM as a result of the bill. Any costs to relocate the
board to MDEM are assumed to be minimal and absorbable within existing resources.
MDEM requires three additional positions to carry out critical administrative functions
previously administered through the Military Department and DPSCS, such as
procurement and accounting. Therefore, general fund expenditures increase by $212,098
in fiscal 2022, which accounts for the bill’s October 1, 2021 effective date. This estimate
SB 658/ Page 3
reflects the cost of hiring one procurement officer, one accountant, and one fiscal services
officer. It includes salaries, fringe benefits, one-time start-up costs, and ongoing operating
expenses, including office rent. As there is not enough office space to house the Maryland
9-1-1 Board staff that are transferred under the bill, MDEM must rent additional office
space.
         Positions                                                             3.0
         Salaries and Fringe Benefits                                    $184,104
         Rent                                                              11,250
         Other Operating Expenses                                          16,744
         Total FY 2022 State Expenditures                                $212,098
Future year expenditures reflect full salaries with annual increases and employee turnover
and ongoing operating expenses.
                                Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: HB 990 (Delegate Krebs) - Health and Government Operations.
Information Source(s): Department of Budget and Management; Military Department;
Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History:      First Reader - February 16, 2021
rh/mcr                    Third Reader - March 20, 2021
Analysis by: Thomas S. Elder                            Direct Inquiries to:
                                                        (410) 946-5510
                                                        (301) 970-5510
SB 658/ Page 4
Statutes affected: 
Text - First - Maryland Department of Emergency Management - Establishment and Transfer of Maryland 9-1-1 Board: 8-103 Public Safety, 8-106 Public Safety, 14-107 Public Safety, 14-803 Public Safety, 1-301 Public Safety, 1-305 Public Safety, 14-101 Public Safety, 14-102 Public Safety, 14-103 Public Safety, 14-104 Public Safety, 14-106 Public Safety, 14-107 Public Safety, 14-108 Public Safety, 14-109 Public Safety, 14-110 Public Safety, 14-112 Public Safety, 14-115 Public Safety, 14-116 Public Safety, 8-201 State Government, 5-803 State Government, 4-314.1 General Provisions, 17-602 Health General, 17-701 Health General, 9-232 Labor and Employment, 3-1005 Natural Resources, 3-1015 Natural Resources, 8-101 Natural Resources, 8-102 Natural Resources, 8-103 Natural Resources, 8-104 Natural Resources, 8-105 Natural Resources, 8-105 Natural Resources, 8-106 Natural Resources, 13-501 Natural Resources, 14-201 Natural Resources, 14-603 Natural Resources, 14-803 Natural Resources, 92-901 State Government, 10-1503 State Government
Text - Third - Maryland Department of Emergency Management - Establishment and Transfer of Maryland 9-1-1 Board: 8-103 Public Safety, 8-106 Public Safety, 14-107 Public Safety, 14-803 Public Safety, 1-301 Public Safety, 1-305 Public Safety, 14-101 Public Safety, 14-102 Public Safety, 14-103 Public Safety, 14-104 Public Safety, 14-106 Public Safety, 14-107 Public Safety, 14-108 Public Safety, 14-109 Public Safety, 14-110 Public Safety, 14-112 Public Safety, 14-115 Public Safety, 14-116 Public Safety, 8-201 Public Safety, 5-803 Public Safety, 4-314.1 General Provisions, 17-602 Health General, 17-701 Health General, 9-232 Labor and Employment, 3-1005 Natural Resources, 3-1015 Natural Resources, 8-101 Natural Resources, 8-102 Natural Resources, 8-103 Natural Resources, 8-104 Natural Resources, 8-105 Natural Resources, 8-105 Natural Resources, 8-106 Natural Resources, 13-501 Natural Resources, 14-201 Natural Resources, 14-603 Natural Resources, 14-803 Natural Resources, 92-901 State Government, 10-1503 State Government