May 26th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
In addition to the more than 200 bills Gov. Larry Hogan signed and the one prominent bill on paid sick leave that he vetoed Thursday, the governor took actions on several other bills from the legislative session. His office announced those decisions Friday.
Hogan vetoed a bill that would have kept colleges from using information about criminal history of applicants, but allowed third-party admissions applications to ask about criminal history in certain cases, It would have kept colleges from unreasonably rejecting a prospective student based on their criminal history. However, Hogan said the bill jeopardizes student safety by restricting how schools can ask about criminal history.
Hogan allowed a bill that would combat price gouging of generic drugs to become law without his signature.
“I am not convinced that this legislation is truly a solution to ensuring Marylanders have access to essential prescription drugs, and may even have the unintended consequence of harming citizens by restricting their access to these drugs," Hogan said in a statement..
Also becoming law without the governor's signature is a controversial measure that paves the way for the Guinness brewery in Baltimore County. It allows holders of a Class 5 brewery license to serve specified samples of bier at no charge and sell beer for on-premises consumption. Hogan said he's troubled by provisions he say will hamper the state's craft beer industry.
Another bill reforming alcohol oversight in Prince George's County also became law. The new bill gives the county executive, instead of the governor, the ability to appoint liquor board members, though all must be confirmed by the county delegation to the state Senate. The governor noted recent ethical violations in the county, including current and former elected officials tied up in bribery claims involving liquor store owners.
The governor also allowed a bill on public broadcasting to become law. The bill includes language that would direct state funds to the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission if Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds are ever cut. It also included language mandating that the commission stream the State of the State, floor sessions in the last two weeks of the session and the State of the Judiciary address. The governor called it a "pitifully small step" toward what he wanted, which was the streaming of the entire session.