Cable guy crackdown among bills on ‘Not Top 5’ list

Cable guy crackdown among bills on ‘Not Top 5’ list

 

Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed laws on gambling, gay marriage and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. Up next: cable companies, cart thieves and crab sandwiches.

The 2013 session is less than three weeks old, and hundreds of bills have been submitted for consideration. Last week, Delegate Kathy Szeliga culled the extensive list of proposed legislation to find humor — and not a small amount of humbleness — in Annapolis.

Ms. Szeliga’s “Not Top 5 Bills” list runs the gamut. One bill, for example, seeks to limit the number of companies a licensed tree specialist can supervise.

“These are really not that important,” said Ms. Szeliga, Baltimore County Republican.

Elected two years ago, Ms. Szeliga said she tries to send out a weekly update to her constituents. Earlier this month, she posted a video with her top five priorities for the session, which include the issues of gun regulation, the death penalty, pit bull laws and wind power.

So now she looked at five bills, sponsored by Democrats and Republicans, that she thought didn’t need to be law.

“Right now, it’s the beginning of the session. People are upbeat, happy,” Ms. Szeliga explained. “We just kind of wanted to bring some humor, have everybody lighten up. I didn’t want to poke anyone in the eye.”

At the top of her list is a bill that would designate golf cart zones along Charles County highways.

Proposed by the four-member delegation that represents the Southern Maryland county, the bill stems from an October recommendation to the county commissioners, asking them to work with state leaders to get golf carts allowed on main roadways.

“It lends itself to humor,” Ms. Szeliga said. “I think, what’s next, rascal zones? Look out, here comes grandma!”

Another bill that made the cut is Senate Bill 220, which imposes a number of penalties for “television service providers” who miss appointments. According to the bill, which is sponsored by Delegate Talmadge Branch, companies would be required to credit customers for one month of basic service if they miss their appointment window.

“I agree that no one likes waiting for the cable guy, but I’m not sure we need a codified fine against them,” Ms. Szeliga said.

Mr. Branch, Baltimore Democrat, explained that the proposal addresses the frustration of customers who have to take off a full day of work just to wait for a four-hour appointment window.

“It’s not fair to the consumer,” he said.

Another bill that caught Ms. Szeliga’s eye was Senate Bill 191, which would raise the penalty for stealing grocery store carts from $25 to $100.