Sunday, March 10, 2013
by Jocelyn Rubin, Capital News Service
Grace McComas, of Howard County, Md., was just 15 years old when she took her own life after becoming a victim of cyber-bullying. Her family gathered in Annapolis on Thursday to testify for HB396, a bill sponsored by Baltimore County Del. Jon Cardin, that would prohibit a person from using a computer or computer network to harass a minor. Under the proposed bill, if someone is convicted of using a computer to threaten, harass, or post private information about a minor, they could be sentenced up to a year in jail and have to pay a fine of up to $500.
Friday, March 1, 2013
By AMBER LARKINS, Capital News Service
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Friday, March 1
Several Maryland legislators are pushing for stricter limits on custody and visitation rights for parents convicted of sex crimes. Thursday, the Judicial Proceedings Committee heard a bill from Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Caroline, which would prevent courts from awarding custody and visitation to a parent guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, unless there is “good cause” to award custody. What do you think? Do the current laws do enough to protect children or are new laws necessary? Tell us in comments. Colburn’s bill was cross filed with legislation by Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, R-Talbot, who learned of two cases where a parent convicted of sexually abusing a minor either won custody of their child, or could get it. In one of the cases, …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Director of the Carroll County Humane Society served on the Governor's Spay Neuter Task force which helped facilitate the creation of the bill being considered.
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Wednesday, February 27
by Caroline Woodall, Capital News Service Supporters of legislation that would create a special fund to support spay/neuter services in the state through a surcharge on registration fees paid by the makers of pet food sold in Maryland, recently made their case before the House Environmental Matters Committee. The bill would create a voucher program for financially qualified individuals, and establish a competitive grant program for organizations and local governments that facilitate and promote spay and neuter services. More than 96,000 animals enter shelters in Maryland each year, and only half of them make it out alive. Carroll County Humane Society Director Nikki Ratliff was a member of the Governor's Spay Neuter Task Force that …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
By AMBER LARKINS, Capital News Service
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, February 9
Sen. Jennie Forehand, D-Montgomery County, is passionate about Marylanders not smoking. She remembers coming to the Senate in 1979 and hiding all of the ashtrays under the radiator. “I was the laughingstock of everybody, but I made the point,” Forehand said. Last year, she proposed a ban on smoking in cars with young children, which passed in the Senate, but died in a House committee. This year, Sen. Bobby A. Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, is sponsoring legislation that would impose a fine of $50 on anyone caught driving or riding with children under 8. “A little kid in a baby seat doesn't have any option but to be there,” Zirkin said. “This is an important bill. During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, advocates from the Maryland …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The proposed bill aims to stop people from legally purchasing guns and handing them over to criminals.
By JEREMY BARR Capital News Service U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in announcing a bill Tuesday to combat weapons trafficking, an issue he said is personal. “It is a painful thing to see your blood splattered on the walls of an apartment,” Cummings said, speaking of his nephew, Christopher Cummings, who was fatally shot in June 2011. “When I think about my nephew, I know he would be so proud of us here today." He espoused the importance of working across partisan lines and “reaching higher ground” in light of the recent tragedies in Newtown, Conn., where 20 school children were killed by a lone gunman, and Webster, N.Y., where two firefighters were ambushed and killed. The bill, the first …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
By KAYLA FARIA, Capital News Service
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, January 31
A bill meant to ease liability for pit bull dog owners and landlords was criticized by victims' families, dog advocates, attorneys and legislators Wednesday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. The committee heard testimony on legislation that would override a decision by the state’s highest court that imposed “strict liability standards” on owners of “pure bred pit bulls” and landlords who rent to these dog owners. Sponsored by Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery, the legislation mandates that evidence of a dog causing injury creates a “rebuttable presumption” that the owner knew or should have known that the dog had dangerous tendencies. While it reinstates common law that has been popularly referred to as the “one-bite” rule, Simmons…
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Carroll County's commissioners created a list of laws they would to see the state legislature consider in its upcoming session.
The board of Carroll County Commissioners discussed ideas for legislation they would like to see Carroll's state representatives present in the upcoming legislative session. The following are summaries of some of the ideas discussed at an open meeting Tuesday night. Commissioner Robin Frazier was not present at the meeting. Commissioner Doug Howard: Commissioner Haven Shoemaker: Commissioner Richard Rothschild: Do you think there are other laws the county should be pursuing? Tell us in comments.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Prince George's County Democrat introduced two pieces of legislation in the General Assembly that would require more collaboration between homeschool families and public schools.
Although the Carroll County Board of Education has not taken an official position on two homeschool-related bills introduced in the General Assembly, public schools superintendent Steve Guthrie said he doesn't think the bills are likely to become law. And one local homeschool advocate dismissed both bills, calling one an attempt to "buy out" homeschool families. The homeschooling legislation introduced by Del. Tiffany Alston (D-Prince George's) would extend some additional benefits to families who educate their children at home in exchange for complying with additional oversight requirements. "My concern is that this legislation would blur the clear lines that exist now between homeschooled students and children enrolled in public school…
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Carroll County Superintendent of Schools Steve Guthrie said Carroll County schools already have a system in place for dealing with air quality issues.
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
By LIZZY MCLELLAN Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS - A Maryland lawmaker wants to require the use of carbon monoxide detectors in all public schools following two leaks of the harmful gas in a Baltimore school last February. Delegate Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore, reintroduced a bill last week that would mandate installation of the detectors, which are currently absent from many Maryland schools. Glenn first proposed the legislation in February in reaction to two carbon monoxide leaks which took place within one week at Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle School. Both leaks sent students to the hospital. "I was stunned to learn that schools aren't required ... to have carbon monoxide detectors," said Glenn. "All of the schools in Baltimore city…
Den Ionie Embalzado
11:06 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
I once was a problematic mother with bullied children because of these social networking sites. But I searched for solutions or programs that could help me monitor them while they are online. I want to know who are harassing them so that I can make my own move. I can’t tell them to stop using these sites because it’s the trend. But at least I can speak to those people bullying them and can advise… more ›