THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: TURNING DOWNED VOLUME ON LOUD CARS.

>> SOME OF THE LOUD MUFFLERS WE HEAR DECREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR COMMUNITY ANDED RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S HOLES IN MUFFLERS AND I'M OLD SCHOOL DEALING WITHED PAST AND PRESENT IT'S TOO MUCH NOISE.

>> Jeff: CARS WITHOUT DRIVERS.

>> THE MISSION IS TO BE THE TRUSTED DRIVER.

>> WITH A DRIVERLESS CAR THERE IS NO DRIVER.

>> Jeff: AND THERE IS A NEW SHERIFF ON UTILITY RATES.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MORE HARD EDGED.

>> Announcer: CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING THE BIG STORY AROUND "STATE CIRCLE" IS THE DIVIDING LINE.

WHEN SHOULD A YOUNG PERSON CHARGED WITH A SERIOUS CRIME GO TO ADULT COURT VERSUS JUVENILE SERVICES?

SUE COPPIN COVERED THE DEBATE.

>> THE BILL BEFORE THE SENATE PUTS LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES THAT JUVENILES CHARGED AS ADULTS.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNTY SENATOR AND CHAIR WILL SMITH IS THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

>> WHEN YOU ARE IN THE ADULT SYSTEM YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES TO GET YOU OUT OF THAT PATTERN IN LIFE.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL YOURSELF TO SERVICES TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK YOU ARE GOING TO BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

YOU ARE STILL GOING TO BE HELD IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM.

EXCEPT YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO BETTER SERVICES IMMEDIATELY.

IF YOU START OFF IN THE ADULT SYSTEM YOU CAN SPEND ANYWHERE FROM THREE MONTHS TO TWO YEARS LANGUISHING OUT SERVICES.

>> UNDER THE YOUTH CHARGE AND REFORM ACT IT WILL BE UP TO A JUDGE TO DECIDE WHETHER 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS WILL BE CHARGED AS A JUVENILE OR CHARGE, THE USE OF A FIREARM IN A DRUG CRIME, POSSESSION, SALE OR TRANSFER OF A REGULATED FIREARM OR WEARING, CARRYING OR TRANSPORTING A HANDGUN.

16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS WILL CONTINUE TO START IN ADULT COURT IF CHARGED WITH MURDER, RAPE OR ARMED ROBBERY.

AND 14 AND 15-YEAR-OLD TSZ WILL CONTINUE TO START IN ADULT COURT IF CHARGED WITH MURDER OR RAUP.

FREDERICK COUNTY SENATOR ASKED THE SENATE TO AMEND THE BILL TO PERMIT 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS TO BE AUTOMATICALLY CHARGED AS AN ADULT FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT.

>> ANYBODY THAT IS CARRYING A GUN, ANYBODY THAT'S IN AN ASSAULT TO THE LEVEL OF FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT THAT HOSPITALIZES AND CREATES A THREAT OF DEATH SHOULD GO TO CHARGING AND SHOULD BE HEARD IN FRONT OF A JUDGE.

>> UNDER THIS BILL, SOMEONE WHO WAS CHARGED WITH THIS OFFENSE IS GOING TO GO BEFORE A JUDGE.

AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY WILL BE THERE TO MAKE THEIR CASE AND THE OPTION TO GO TO ADULT COURT WILL ALWAYS BE THERE AFTER A JUDGE HAS BEEN ABLE TO BALANCE AND WEIGH ALL OF THE FACTORS OF THAT INDIVIDUALIZED CASE.

SO IN ORDER TO ALLOW A JUDGE TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THIS BILL HAS TO BECOME LAW.

>> SENATOR READY ASKED WHY OLDER TEENS CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES WOULD NOW START IN JUVENILE COURT.

>> I'M SURPRISED THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED SOMETHING PARTICULARLY THOSE 16 AND OLDER YOU WOULD NOT START IN ADULT COURT, THESE ARE CRIMES THAT SOMEBODY BEAT SOMEBODY REAL BAD.

>> MARYLAND HAS 33 OFFENSES OF WHICH A YOUTH COULD BE AUTO CHARGED THAT IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION.

NINE OUT OF 10 OF THOSE YOUTHS ARE CHARGED AS ADULTS ARE CHILDREN OF COLOR.

EIGHT OUT OF 10 ARE BLACK KIDS.

>> WE CHARGE MORE YOUTH PER CAPITA AS ADULTS THAN ANY OTHER STATE EXCEPT FOR ALABAMA.

>> A HOUSE BILL AWAITS A DECISION.

I'M SUE COPPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THE BILL RECEIVED FINAL SENATE APPROVAL TODAY.

>>> SHOULD FULLY AUTONOMOUS OR DRIVERLESS CARS BE ALLOWED ON MARYLAND ROADS?

NANCY YAMADA HAS THAT STORY.

>> SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES OBVIOUSLY IS THEY DON'T DO THE DUMB THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO.

THEY DON'T DRIVE DRUNK THEY DON'T TEXT THEY DON'T SPEED.

>>ED DELEGATE SAYS IT'S TIME MARYLAND DRIVERS SHARE THE ROAD WITH AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES SHE TOLD THE HOUSE COMMITTEE THAT 25 OTHER STATES ALREADY ALLOW SELF-DRIVING CARS CAPABLE OF NAVIGATING ALL ROAD CONDITIONS, USING A.I., SENSORS AND CAMERAS.

HB1295 WOULD ESTABLISH THE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE VEHICLES TO USE THE ROAD.

AMONG THE PROPONENTS WAYMO, THE LARGEST DRIVERLESS TAXI DRIVER.

THE MISSION IS TO BE THE TRUSTED DRIVER THE WAYMO DRIVER IS INVOLVED IN 10 TIMES LESS SERIOUS CRASHES AND THESE AREN'T JUST STATISTICS THIS IS A REAL SAFETY BENEFIT AND THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE SERVE.

>> BEYOND THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAN SAYS ROBO TAXIS CAN BE LIFE CHANGING FOR THE DISABILITIES COMMUNITY.

>> INDEPENDENTS TRAVEL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY IS FILLED WITH INDIGNITIES.

THROW IN THE DISCRIMINATION WE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF OUR DOGS OUR CANES, OUR OTHER MOBILITY AIDS AND BEING DISABLED AND IT IS INTOLERABLE BUT THE ADD VENT OF CATEGORY FOUR AND FIVE IS A GAME CHANGER FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITYS.

OTHERS SAY THE RISKS CANNOT BE IGNORED.

THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE TECHNOLOGY POINT TO INCIDENTS WHERE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES CAUSED CHAOS MAKING SUDDEN STOPS, CRASHING INTO EMERGENCY VEHICLES OR DRIVING IN CIRCLES BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND THE TOLL IT COULD TAKE ON THOSE WHO DRIVE FOR A LIVING.

>> TO BE CLEAR THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS WILL BE THE MOST SKILLED, THE MOST PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND I WOULD ARGUE OBVIOUSLY THE SAFEST DRIVERS.

>> OTHERS SAY THEY SUPPORT THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE BILL BUT ARE ASKING LAWMAKERS TO AMEND IT TO CLARIFY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IN CASE THERE IS A MISHAP THAT LEADS TO DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

>> THE LAW PROVIDES YOU CAN SUE THE NEGLECT JENTS DRIVER WITH A DRIVERLESS CAR THERE IS NO DRIVER.

WE NEED SOMEBODY TO STEP IN AND BE THE DRIVER WHETHER IT'S THE CORPORATION, OR THE HUMAN THAT OWNS THE DRIVERLESS VEHICLE.

>> WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING TWEAKS WILL NEED TO BE MADE TO THE BILL, THE DELEGATE HOPES LAWMAKERS ADOPT THE TECHNOLOGY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> I REALLY FEEL AT THAT TIME MARYLAND AS A STATE THAT IS TRYING TO ATTRACT HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES AND NEEDS TO DIVERSIFY AND EXPAND OUR ECONOMY IT WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO ALLOW THIS NEW INDUSTRY TO COME HERE.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WE'VE ALL HEARD THEM CARS WITH BAD MUFFLERS OR VEHICLES INTENTIONALLY ENGINEERED TO MAXIMIZE NOISE IMPACT.

WE HAVE AN EXPERIMENT IN REMOTE LISTENING.

>> IF YOU ARE DRIVING NEAR DELPHI ROAD AND YOUR CAR MAKES A LOUD NOISE GET THAT FIXED SOON A PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY THE MARYLAND STATE LEGISLATURE PUT THIS NOISE CAMERA HERE IN HYATTSVILLE ACROSS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR CAR AND SEND YOU A WARNING IN THE MAIL.

ALONG THE ROAD DRIVERS ARE USED TO SEEING SPEED CAMERAS BUT THIS NEW DEVICE PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM, IS DESIGNED TO CRACKDOWN ON EXCESSIVE VEHICLE NOISE.

>> I CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS THOUGHT ABOUT AND IMPLEMENTED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND WAS NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS OCCURRING THEN.

AND NOW, WE HAVE IT HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

>> THE NOISE CAMERA MEASURES THE DECIBEL LEVELS.

IT'S DECIDED TO IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM.

ONCE DETECTED THE DRIVER WILL RECEIVE A WARNING FROM THE COUNTY NOTIFYING THEM OF THE ISSUE AND GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DRIVER TO ENSURE THE NECESSARY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE.

LAWMAKERS SAY THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.

>> PART OF THE REASON AT THAT TIME I PROPOSED THE LEGISLATION TWO YEARS AGO I HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA IN UNIVERSITY PARK AREA THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AROUND LOUD MUFFLER SOUNDS.

AND SO MANY LOUD MUFFLERS WE HEAR THAT DECREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THOSE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS.

>> I WAS A YOUNG PERSON MYSELF ONCE.

THAT'S FALSE SENSE OF POWER THAT COMES WITH THE NOISE.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE GETTING A TICKET TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE HOLES IN THE MUFFLERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT I'M OLD SCHOOL DEALING WITH THE PAST AND THE PRESENT IT'S TOO MUCH NOISE.

>> SOME SAY PROGRAMS COULD END UP BEING A WASTE OF STATE FUNDS.

>> IF ANYTHING IT'S MORE PEOPLE SPEEDING.

AND ESPECIALLY ON QUEENS CHAPEL ROAD, ADELEFY, THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IS VERY LOUD.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM, I THINK.

AND TRACKING NOISE IS I'M NOT SURE HOW IT GETS TO THE SOLUTION.

>> PUT FOR FRANCIS, SHE BELIEVES PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE WORTH IT.

>> YOU KNOW I HAVE A CHILD WITH DISABILITY AND SOMETIME THE NOISES IS AFFECTING HER.

SHE JUMPS.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE METRO ACCESS COME TO PICK HER UP, SHE WILL JUMP.

>> WHILE THE PROGRAM DOES NOT CURRENTLY ISSUE FINES TO DRIVERS, LAWMAKERS SAY THAT AFTER THE ONE-YEAR PILOT PERIOD ENDS, THEY WILL REVIEW THE DATA COLLECTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM AND IF FINES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: NOW FOR THE ANNAPOLIS FACE OFF WE ARE JOINED BY MARLON AMPREY DEMOCRAT OF BALTIMORE AND STEVEN ARENTZ A REPUBLICAN FROM THE UPPER EASTERN SHORE.

GENTLEMEN WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

DELEGATE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR BILL ON THE SUBJECT OF BEER AND WINE SALES.

>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

SO THE BILL WE ARE OFFERING THIS YEAR IS HOUSE BILL 1303, THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MODERNIZATION ACT IT WILL BRING US INTO ALIGNMENT WITH 46 STATES ACROSS OUR UNION WHICH ALLOWS FOR BEER AND WINE SALES IN GROCERY STORES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO THE BILL WOULD ALLOW GROCERY STORES AND RETAIL STORES TO HAVE SQUARE-FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS AND THAT SELL THINGS LIKE FRESH FOOD OR PHARMACIES, ET CETERA OR ALLOW THEM TO ACQUIRE LICENSES HELD BY ANOTHER STORE THAT SELLS BEER AND WINE AND ALCOHOL WE ARE NOT CREATING NEW LICENSES AND ADD IN NEW GROUPS INTO THE SYSTEM.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW GROCERY STORE OR RETAIL STORES TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE CURRENT LICENSES OR TO SELL BEER AND WINE IN GROCERY STORES.

ONLY BEER AND WINE.

RESTRICTION ON HOURS AND RESTRICTIONS HOW THEY SELL THE ITEMS COULDN'T WALK THROUGH A SELF SERVICE AREA YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT WITH AN INDIVIDUAL.

THE BILL OPEN MARYLAND UP FOR BUSINESS IN THE SENSE OF ALLOWING FOR BEER AND WINE TO BE SOLD.

>> Jeff: I SAW A POLL CAN'T VOUCH FOR THE VALIDITY BUT IT SAID THAT 80% OF MARYLANDERS WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BUY BEER AND WINE IN SUPERMARKETS.

WHY DOES THE LEGISLATURE ALWAYS SAY NO?

>> WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE IN MARYLAND OUR ALCOHOL SYSTEM IT'S A THREE-TIER SYSTEM FROM MANUFACTURER TO WHOLESALER TO RETAILER AND THIS WAS SETUP DECADES AGO.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT WAS WHEN WE DID THIS OUR RETAILORS ARE IT ISING OUT THERE AND WE CALL THEM PACKAGE STORES.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE PUT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IN PLACE.

AND WHAT WE'LL DO WITH THIS BILL, BECAUSE OF THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, WE'LL ELIMINATE SEVERAL OF THESE BUSINESSES.

MOST BUSINESSES 70% OF THEM ARE LOCATED NEXT TO A GROCERY STORE OR ANCHORED BY A GROCERY STORE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THESE ARE FAMILY-RUN BUSINESSES THESE ARE NOT BIG BOXES.

I THINK WE HEARD A NUMBER LAST NIGHT BUT I CAN'T QUOTE OF OF THE NUMBER OF HOMES AND FAMILIES.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE WILL FURNISH A BIG BUSINESS PART FOR THE GROCERS WHICH THE MAJOR GROCERS ARE NOT HEADQUARTERED IN MARYLAND SO THAT IS NOT GOING TO DO IT BUT WE ARE TAKING AWAY THE FAMILY-RUN BUSINESSES THEY ARE NOT JOBS THEY ARE ABSOLUTE BUSINESSES.

>> Jeff: DOES IT HELP THE MOM AND POP PACKAGE GOODS STORE THAT THE BIG OUT OF TOWN GROCERY COMPANY IS BASICALLY GOING TO HAVE TO COME BUY THEM OUT?

>> BUY THEM OUT IS A GREAT IDEA.

THESE ARE FAMILY BUSINESSES THESE ARE WHAT THEY HAVE INVESTED THEIR DOLLARS IN AND BUYING THEM OUT IS KIND OF A VAGUE ANSWER, BECAUSE NOT EVERY COUNTY HAS THE LIQUOR LICENSES FOR SALE AND THAT A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE THE LIQUOR LICENSE IS THE PART OF THIS THING.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IT'S COUNTY BY COUNTY?

>> QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WE DON'T SELL OUR LIQUOR LICENSE.

YOU HAVE TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS AND THE PERSON THAT BUYS IT HAS TO REAPPLY FOR IT.

SOME COUNTIES YOU CAN ATTACH THAT TO THE VALUE OF THE BUSINESS AND MARKET IT THAT WAY.

>> Jeff: I HEARD SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON SAY THAT HE DOESN'T THINK THE BILL IS GOING TO MOVE THIS YEAR BUT HE THINKS IT WILL MOVE IN THE NEXT TERM OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A REALLY AWESOME OPPORTUNITY IN MARYLAND BECAUSE WE WAITED SO LONG TO DO THIS WE CAN USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE EQUITY AND BALANCE.

IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER STATES THAT HAVE THIS THEY ARE ABLE TO DO IT.

OTHER STATES I VISIT GEORGIA WHERE MY WIFE IS FROM AND THERE'S GROCERY STORES THAT SELL BEER AND AARON TOMARCHIO THE CORNER FROM A PACKAGE STORE THAT IS THRIVING.

IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WE HAVE GRANDFATHERED STORES THAT HAVE GROCERY STORES LIKE EDDIE'S THAT SELLS BEER AND WINE AND SPIRITS FROM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PACKAGE STORES IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

PRESIDENT FERGUSON IS ELUDING TO WE HAVE TO AN ECOSYSTEM THAT ENSURES THAT ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES TYPES OF BUSINESSES CAN WORK TOGETHER AND NOT OVERCOMPETE.

I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN A LAW WE'VE THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS BILL WE HAVE TONS OF AMENDMENTS WE ADDED TO THE BILL AND DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PUT IN HOUR REQUIREMENTS TO PUT IN WAYS WE CAN ENSURE THAT IF FAMILIES WANT TO SELL THEIR BUSINESS THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST VALUE WHEN THEY SELL IT.

PRESIDENT FERGUSON WHAT HE IS SAYING HE COMES TO THE TABLE SOMETIME SOON TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE PIECE THIS TOGETHER SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONVENIENCE BUT THERE'S FAIR COMPETITION AND CHOICE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE CONVENIENCE OF ME, I'M A PROUD FATHER OF TWO GIRLS AND WHEN I GO SHOPPING AND MY WIFE IS OUT OF TOWN I WANT TO GRAB THE WINE AND STREAK AND VEGGIES ALL IN ONE BUILDING.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO.

>> Jeff: DO YOU THINK THIS BILL PASSES THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES THIS YEAR?

AND WILL CONSUMERS SAVE MONEY?

>> WELL, I -- LOOK WE ARE AT THE POINT IN SESSION WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I WILL NEVER SAY NEVER.

I THINK THAT WE HAD A GOOD BILL HEARING MY COLLEAGUES ARE TALKING ABOUT OFFERING AMENDMENTS AND SO FORTH.

I HOPE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE IT THIS YEAR.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Jeff: DELEGATE, A SENTENCE OR TWO THE CONSUMER SIDE OF THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THIS YESTERDAY WE HAVE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE SEVERAL BUT TWO ARE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.

IN MY WORLD, WHEN I LOOK AT PUTTING THIS STUFF IN GROCERY STORES WHERE IT'S EXPOSED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE CLIMATE OF THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE WHAT THEY WANT, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SIT BACK AND SAY IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO EXPOSE MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES TO A PRODUCT THAT IS HARMING SOCIETY AND HARMING THEM.

THAT IS A HARD SELL FOR ME TO SAY THIS IS A GOOD BILL.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONVENIENCE ISSUE I CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALCOHOL AND BEER AND THEY ARE A COMMODITY AND I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE FAMILIES TO GET RID OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND PRODUCTS AND GOODS.

AS WE SAID YOU CAN GO TO A SAFE WAY OR TARGET, AND YOU ARE NOT SPONSORING THE LOCAL BASEBALL TEAM.

THESE ARE COMMUNITY BUSINESSES THESE ARE PEOPLE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO GET RID OF THEM.

BUT THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: DELEGATES WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Jeff: UNDER PRESSURE FROM SENATE PRESIDENT FERGUSON, BG AND E IS RECONSIDERING A ELECTRICAL PROJECT IN SOUTH BALTIMORE.

THE UTILITY WORK IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE GROWTH AROUND THE BALTIMORE PENINSULA DEVELOPMENT.

THOSE COSTS WOULD BE PAID BY ALL UTILITY CUSTOMERS.

AND THE PROJECT AS DESIGNED WOULD ESCAPE STATE REVIEW.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL TO CLOSE THAT REGULATORY LOOPHOLE.

NOW, OUR NEWSMAKER IS THE STATE'S NEW TOP REGULATOR OF UTILITY COMPANIES, KUMAR BARVE.

[♪♪] >> IT IS A MOMENT OF CRISIS FOR THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PJ INTERCONNECTION THE 14 STATES WE LIVE IN AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AND IN A BROADER SENSE, THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND WHAT YOUR VIEWERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT PRIMARILY THERE ARE THREE FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE COST OF UTILITIES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ELECTRICITY RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT APPLIES TO NATURAL GAS AS WELL.

THE FIRST IS, OF COURSE, THE COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE UTILITY COMPANIES BUILD POWER COMPANIES BUILD WIRES THEY BUILD TRANSFORMERS, THEY BUILD SUBSTATIONS AND THOSE THINGS ARE PAID OFF OVER 30 YEARS LIKE YOUR MORTGAGE.

SO WHEN A TRANSFORMER IS BUILT, THAT COST IS EMBEDDED IN OUR UTILITY RATES FOR 30 YEARS ROUGHLY.

THE LIFE -- THE PERIOD OF TIME OVER WHICH IT'S PAID OFF.

ONCE IT'S PAID OFF SUDDENLY THAT COST GOES DOWN PRECIPITOUSLY FOR AT THAT TIME DEVICE.

THE SECOND IS THE COST OF THE ACTUAL ELECTRONS OR NATURAL GAS MOLECULES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ELECTRICITY.

THE ELECTRONS IN OUR SYSTEM IN MARYLAND WE EVERY 90 DAYS HAVE AN ACTION WE PICK THE GENERATOR COMPANY WITH THE LOWEST PRICE.

IF THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS GOES UP AS IT RECENTLY HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WILL DRIVE UP THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY BECAUSE ABOUT ROUGHLY 50% OF OUR ELECTRONS ARE GENERATED BY NATURAL GAS.

ON THE OTHER HAND IF THE WAR IN UKRAINE GOES AWAY AND THE MIDDLE EAST IS TURNED TO PEACE AND THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS COMES UP WE PICK THE LOWEST BIDDER SO THAT GETS -- THE RATEPAYERS WILL SEE THAT DECLINE IN THEIR UTILITY BILLS WITHOUT HAVING -- >> Jeff: LET ME STOP YOU THERE.

WE'LL COME BACK TO THE THIRD COMPONENT DOES IT MATTER THAT MARYLAND DOESN'T GENERATE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY WITHIN OUR BORDERS AND WE'VE GOT TO BUY SOMETHING LIKE 40% FROM OUT OF STATE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE GENERATION IN YOUR OWN STATE, BECAUSE ELECTRONS ARE LAZY THEY LIKE TO GO TO THE POINT OF LEAST RESISTANCE WHICH IS THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO IF WE HAD TWO REACTORS THAT THE NUCLEAR REACTORS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ELECTRONS WOULD BE USED BY PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN 500 MILES BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY ELECTRONS BEHAVE.

I WILL SAY THIS, THOUGH, MARYLAND HAS BEEN AN ENERGY IMPORTER FOR WELL, I THINK FOR OVER 30 YEARS, PROBABLY 40 YEARS.

NOBODY CARED ABOUT IT UNTIL 15 MINUTES AGO, YOU KNOW.

AND WE HAVE VERY MODERN ELECTRICITY RATES BACK THEN.

LET ME GET TO THE THIRD FACTOR AND THAT IS ONE NOBODY HAS CONTROL OVER AND THAT IS THE WEATHER WHETHER IT'S FREEZING TEMPERATURES LAST MONTH OR WHETHER IT IS 105° IN JULY AND AUGUST, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

SO ORDINARILY IN THE PAST, MAYBE ONE FACTOR OR TWO FACTORS WENT AGAINST US BUT THIS LAST WINTER WITH WINTER STORM FERN ALL THREE FACTORS KICKED IN.

AND BY THE WAY,S CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED TO ALLOW UNFETTERED EXPORTING OF NATURAL GAS, WHICH IS GOOD FOR OUR ALLIES.

THAT'S UPSIDE BUT THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT IT HAS A TENDENCY TO PUT PRESSURE ON NATURAL GAS FOR RATEPAYERS IN MARYLAND AND IN AMERICA GENERALLY.

>> Jeff: AS YOU TAKEOVER AS CHAIR, DO YOU SEE A NEED FOR A COURSE CORRECTION OF ANY KIND FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT AT THE PSC OR ENERGY POLICY?

>> YOU KNOW, YEAH, I DO.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MORE HARD EDGED ACCOUNTANTS AS YOU KNOW I AM AN ACCOUNTANT I SPENT 45 YEARS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF A MEDIUM SIZED COMPANY AND THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF SKILLS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO DEPLOY IN THE POSITION OF THE CHAIR AND IN THE WHOLE COMMISSION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE CAREFUL ABOUT THESE FACTORS.

LET ME SAY SOMETHING HERE, JEFF.

ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WE HAD THE [INAUDIBLE] WHERE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY BECAUSE OF THIS HORRIBLE STORM.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE PUBLIC REALLY DEMANDED WE IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR STATE.

AND THE UTILITIES WENT AND DID THAT.

PEPCO DID, BG AND E DID, THEY ALL WENT AND BUILT FIRST OF ALL THEY STARTED CUTTING TREES, WHICH PEOPLE TYPICALLY DIDN'T LIKE BUT THEY GOT AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THAT TRIMMING TREES.

THEY BUILT MORE POWER LINES, THEY BUILT MORE TRANSFORMERS.

THEY BEEFED UP THE GRID.

WE USED TO HAVE A SITUATION IN ROCKVILLE WHERE IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, BLUE SKY AND POWER OUTAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

THE SYSTEM THE UTILITY COMMISSIONS BEFORE ME AND THE UTILITIES BUILT UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THE GOOD THING IS WE HAVE A RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE BAD THING IS THAT'S AN EMBEDDED COST THAT WE WILL BE PAYING OFF FOR ANOTHER 15-20 YEARS.

>> Jeff: HOW SERIOUSLY DO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON THESE RATE CASES?

JUST WATCHING THE HEADLINES GO BY, IT SEEMS LIKE A UTILITY WILL ASK FOR $100 MILLION INCREASE FOR SOMETHING, THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE SAYS NO.

THERE IS A LOT OF LEGAL PAPERS GO BACK AND FORTH AND ULTIMATELY THE UTILITY GETS HALF OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR.

>> WE TAKE PUBLIC INPUT SERIOUSLY AND THE OPINION OF THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE'S COUNSEL, THE AGENCY THAT LOOKS AFTER THE RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS WE TAKE THAT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THE UTILITIES SAY WE WANT TO SPEND ON THIS OR THAT, WE LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF DOES THAT PEN FIT THE RATEPAYER IN THE SHORT RUN, THE MEDIUM AND LONG RUN.

RECENTLY A UTILITY ASKED FOR A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE AND WE CUT IT IN HALF AND WE DID THAT BECAUSE THE ITEMS THAT WE ALLOWED TO REMAIN ON THE BOOKS WERE ITEMS THAT WE FELT RATEPAYERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM IN THE MEDIUM TO LONG-TERM.

AND, OF COURSE, WE NEVER NONE OF US EVER -- TWO YEARS AGO, NOBODY TALKED ABOUT DATA CENTERS, NOBODY REALLY CONSIDERED THESE CLIMATE DISRUPTION AS INTENSIVELY AS WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

AND WHEN I WAS FIRST COMMISSIONER TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT DATA CENTERS.

NOBODY DID.

NOW EVERYBODY IS.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO CHAIRMAN KUMAR BARVE AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVERY WEEK AS WE BRING THE STATE HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

AND THROUGH THE FREE PBS APP VMENT WE CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

[♪♪]