SB 460

State Government – Environmental and Natural Resources Ombudsman – Establishment (Environmental Accountability and Transparency Act)

Sponsor: Senator ElfrethCommittee: Education, Health, and Environmental AffairsSubject: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsStatus: First Reading Environment and Transportation (as of Nov 6, 2020)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Environmental and Natural Resources Ombudsman; requiring the Ombudsman to have the ability to analyze environmental and natural resource-related data and communicate effectively with State agencies and the public; providing for the appointment, qualifications, and salary of the Ombudsman; requiring the Ombudsman to receive and process complaints involving suspected environmental and natural resources violations in a certain manner; requiring the development and maintenance of a certain website; etc.

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Testimony (23)

MGA witness list

FAV 15FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 4UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Volpitta, Alice	Baltimore Harbor-Keeper	Position only
FAV	Haverman, Anne	CCAN	Written (PDF)
FAV	RANSON, EMILYlobbyist	CLEAN WATER ACTION	Position only
FAV	Sikorski, Davidlobbyist	Coastal Conservation Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harbeson, Kristenlobbyist	MD LCV	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Berlin, Ruth	MD Pesticide Education Network	Written (PDF)
FAV	Radov, Lisa	MD Votes for Animals	Written (PDF)
FAV	iliff, jesse	arundel rivers federation	Written (PDF)
FAV	ANTOINE, JOANNElobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Haren, Angela	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kurtz, Josh	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Myers, Doug	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schaffer, Eric	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Elfreth, Senator Elfrethlegislator	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Trumbauer, Tim	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	enten, bob	Maryland Building Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Ballentine, Tom	NAIOP	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Tharp, Paul	Recovermat Mid-Atlantic	Written (PDF)
UNF	Tharp, Paul	Smith Industries	Written (PDF)
FWA	Johnston, Matt	ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Shirk, Cassie	MDA	Written (PDF)
INFO	mckitrick, james	department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
INFO	abbott, tyler	mde	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTYFWA 1

arundel rivers federationFAV 1

Baltimore Harbor-KeeperFAV 1

CCANFAV 1

CLEAN WATER ACTIONFAV 1

Coastal Conservation AssociationFAV 1

department of Natural ResourcesINFO 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationUNF 1

MD LCVFAV 1

MD Pesticide Education NetworkFAV 1

MD Votes for AnimalsFAV 1

MDAINFO 1

mdeINFO 1

NAIOPUNF 1

Recovermat Mid-AtlanticUNF 1

Smith IndustriesUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVRANSON, EMILYCLEAN WATER ACTIONRegistered for: Clean Water Action

FAVSikorski, DavidCoastal Conservation AssociationRegistered for: Coastal Conservation Association Maryland

FAVHarbeson, KristenMD LCVRegistered for: Maryland League of Conservation Voters

FAVANTOINE, JOANNERegistered for: Common Cause Maryland