For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The committees will meet virtually to review legislation on tax credits for energy conservation devices and energy efficient buildings at 9:30 a.m. and discuss diversity and cultural competency in the mental health professions at 1:30 p.m.
The joint Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) and Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee will meet on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 a.m. to review Expedited Bill 31-21, Property Tax Credits – Energy Conservation Devices and Energy Efficient Buildings – Amendments, which would define and clarify terms related to property tax credits for energy conservation devices and energy-efficient buildings.
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz. The members of the T&E Committee include Chair and Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer.
The joint Education and Culture (E&C) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to review diversity and cultural competency in the mental health professions.
The members of the E&C Committee include Chair Craig Rice and Councilmembers Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Nancy Navarro. The members of the HHS Committee include Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice.
More details on each meeting can be found below.
Review: The joint GO and T&E Committee will meet to review Expedited Bill 31-21, Property Tax Credits – Energy Conservation Devices and Energy Efficient Buildings – Amendments. The legislation would define and clarify terms related to property tax credits for energy conservation devices and energy-efficient buildings; repeal a sunset clause affecting property tax credits for energy-efficient buildings; provide for certain application timelines related to property tax credits; and generally amend the law regarding property tax credits.
In September 2020, the Council enacted Bill 10-20, which phased out the existing Energy and Environmental Design property tax credit, established a new Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit for commercial and residential buildings to encourage energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings and incentivize newly constructed buildings to exceed the current building code requirements. The proposed amendments in Expedited Bill 31-21 would clarify the sunset provisions of the Energy and Environmental Design property tax credit program and make minor implementation improvements to the new Energy Efficient Buildings property tax credits for existing and newly constructed buildings.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Lindsay Shaw, energy and sustainability programs manager, Department of Environmental Protection and Mike Parent, Department of Finance.
The lead sponsor is Council President Hucker, at the request of the County Executive.
Diversity and Cultural Competency in Mental Health Professionals
Review: The joint E&C and HHS Committee will hold its second meeting to review diversity and cultural competency in the mental health profession. The joint committee will meet with key stakeholders to discuss current efforts and potential solutions to increase the language capabilities, racial and ethnic diversity and cultural competency of the County’s mental health workforce.
In 2020, Councilmember Navarro proposed, and the full E&C Committee supported, a recommendation to hold these joint committee meetings to discuss diversity and cultural competency in the mental health field.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Jose Hernández, bilingual psychotherapist, Affiliated Sante Group; Jade-Ann Rennie, program manager, Public Health, Collaboration Council; Joseph Wilson, senior director of mental health services, Jewish Social Service Agency; Emmanuel Nusta, director of nursing, Maryland Treatment Centers, Inc.; Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Dr. Rolando Santiago, chief of behavioral health and crisis services, DHHS; and Darryl Gorman, acting director and acting chief of recruitment, Office of Human Resources (OHR).
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The Council and Committees are meeting via Zoom this fall because of ongoing construction and technology upgrades in the Council's Hearing Room and the inability to conduct meetings in a socially distant way in other areas of the Council Office Building with television broadcast capacity. Councilmembers will continue to hold meetings in their offices by appointment.
The virtual Council and Committee meetings will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
Release ID: 21-367