The Prince George’s
County Council, during session on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, voted to amend its
Rules of Procedure allowing for a restructuring of the Council’s standing committees. The new committee structure accommodates the
expansion of the legislative body from nine to eleven members. The legislation also revises the number of
members required to override an Executive Veto.
The County Council accomplishes most of its
work through five standing committees.
The primary role of these committees in the legislative process is to
consider bills assigned to them and make recommendations about whether the
bills should become law. The Council
also conducts its budget review and adoption process through its committees,
including important fiscal oversight over the budgets of assigned departments
and agencies.
Council Chair Dannielle
Glaros says the addition of two At-Large Council Members offers an important
opportunity to address a reorganization of the Council’s committee
structure.
“Because we are adding
two new At-Large Members, we are looking at the Council’s overall Rules and
Procedures which includes our committee structure,” said Chair Glaros “This
will give us the first opportunity in almost 25 years to rearrange the Council’s
committee structure. Additionally, the restructuring will offer an important
opportunity to reframe some of the critical conversations happening in the
County and build synergies among different agencies.”
The Council’s current
committee structure includes five standing committees: Health, Education and
Human Services, Planning, Zoning and Economic Development, Public Safety and
Fiscal Management, Transportation, Housing and Environment, and Rules and
General Assembly. Under the new legislation, the following standing committees
will be appointed by the Chair of the Council at the beginning of their first
term in office:
·
Education and Workforce
Development
·
Health, Human Services
and Public Safety
·
Planning, Housing and
Economic Development
·
Government Operations
and Fiscal Policy
·
Transportation,
Infrastructure, Energy and Environment
·
General Assembly
The Education and
Workforce Development Committee, which will include oversight of the Prince
George’s Community College, will enable a focus on the shared priority of college
and career readiness. Combining Health,
Human Services and Public Safety provides a wider platform for addressing the
County’s quality of life issues, including domestic violence and mental health.
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee will support the
outcomes of the Council’s economic development initiatives, including a focus
on housing and permitting, and the Transportation, Infrastructure and
Environment Committee will include work around energy and bi-county
concerns. A new committee, Government
Operations and Fiscal Policy will focus on improving service delivery through
various County agencies. General
Assembly will remain unchanged.
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