Question A - Charter Amendment - Deadline for Expiration of Bill -

Summary

Amending the Howard County Charter to allow the County Council to consider a bill for seventy calendar days after its introduction and to approve, by vote of two-thirds of its members, a maximum of two 35-day extensions of the 70-day deadline. Currently, the County Council may consider a bill for sixty-five days before the bill expires, and the Council may extend the 65-day deadline a maximum of two 30-day periods by a two-thirds vote. The Charter amendment also extends the deadline for expiration of a bill to the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday on which the Council does not meet, and to the end of a rescheduled legislative session if the legislative session scheduled before expiration of the bill is postponed because of inclemenet weather or emergency conditions.