For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 24, 2019
The Council will meet today, Sept. 24 at 9:30 a.m. Individuals interested in attending a Council meeting should confirm the information on the day of the meeting by visiting the Council’s web page or by calling the Council’s Legislative Information Office at 240-777-7832. All meetings are held in the Council Office Building (100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md) in the third floor hearing room, unless otherwise noted.
Hispanic Heritage Month Commemoration
On Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. the Council will hold its Hispanic Heritage Month Commemoration hosted by Council President Nancy Navarro. The theme of the event this year’s commemoration is Latin Americans: A History of Serving Our Nation. Those who will be recognized include: Jonathan Acosta, singer and writer, Claudia Campos Galván, program director at Nueva Vida, Ana Sol Gutiérrez, former Maryland State Delegate, Moisés Linares, sports anchor for Telemundo, a division of NBC, Ricardo Loaiza, executive director of After School Dance Fund, Maricé Morales, former Maryland State Delegate and Javier and María José Solís, entrepreneurs with Toro Taxes.
Receipt and release of Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2019-16, Findings from 2019 Racial Equity and Social Justice Community Conversations
The OLO report finding s will provide a summary of County- and community-sponsored conversations on racial education and social justice to identify challenges residents face as they experience racial inequities and to offer recommendations for County action and change. Council President Navarro recently introduced the Racial Equity and Social Policy Act, which will create a Racial Equity and Social Justice Program in the County. The Racial Equity and Social Justice Act will institutionalize the norms of equity and social justice into the work of county government.
The memorandum report will be available online at
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/olo after the Council votes to release the report.
The Council is scheduled to introduce the following bills:
Bill 30-19, Human Rights and Civil Liberties - Race Discrimination - Protective Hairstyles
The Council will introduce Bill 30-19, which would prohibit discrimination based on certain natural hairstyles. Councilmember Will Jawando and Council President Nancy Navarro are the lead sponsors. The goal of the CROWN Act is to prevent workplace and other forms of discrimination against people who wear such hairstyles including braids, locks, afros, curls and twists.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoCROWNAct is being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 31-19, Health and Sanitation - Electronic Cigarettes - Distribution
The Council will introduce Bill 31-19, which would prohibit the distribution of any tobacco product, coupon redeemable for a tobacco product, cigarette rolling paper, or electronic cigarette to any individual under 21 except under certain circumstances. Councilmembers Tom Hucker and Gabe Albornoz are the lead sponsors. Bill 31-19 also would prohibit an individual under 21 from using or possessing a tobacco product or electronic cigarette except under certain circumstances. The goal of this legislation is to update County law to reflect state law changes and provide an enforcement mechanism for young people using and possessing tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#SmokeFreeMontgomery is being used for this bill on social media.
The Council is scheduled to vote on the following bill:
Bill 22-19, Accessory Dwelling Units - Licensing - Requirements - Amendments
The Council is scheduled to vote on Bill 22-19, which would replace the phrase “accessory apartment” with “accessory dwelling unit.” Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Andrew Friedson, Will Jawando and Council President Nancy Navarro are the lead sponsors. Bill 22-19 also would do the following: amend the standards for minimum ceiling heights for basements or cellars used for an accessory dwelling; amend the accessory dwelling unit licensing procedures concerning ownership and common ownership associations; require information and notice concerning common ownership communities in the application and review of an accessory dwelling unit license; and require reporting by the County Executive on accessory dwelling unit problems and planned solutions.
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee recommends enactment with amendments to lower the ceiling height for habitable space and make technical changes.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#AccessoryDwellingUnits is being used for this bill on social media
The Council will also hold several public hearings starting at 1:30 p.m.:
The Council meeting will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM). The channel can be viewed on Cable Channels 996 (high definition) and 6 (standard definition) on Comcast; Channels 1056 (HD) and 6 (SD) on RCN; and Channel 30 on Verizon.
The Council meeting also will be available live via streaming through the Council web site at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
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Release ID: 19-306