Members of the Maryland General Assembly have introduced a bill that would provide increased funding to enforce housing codes, specifically around state public colleges and universities.
Delegate Susan Aumann of the 42nd district, which includes Towson, is the lead sponsor of the bill that also includes delegates Steven Deboy, Pat McDonogh and Nancy Stocksdale.
According to Aumann, there are laws in place that concern how many non-related individuals may live together in a house, but not in an apartment.
House Bill 184 is meant to address this and other issues in college towns.
"Some problems occur when there are more than the regulated amount of students living in apartments," Aumann said. "You have increased traffic and parking problems and sometimes you get other issues that aren't so pleasant."
The Baltimore County Division of Code Enforcement is only open until 4 p.m. on weekdays, leaving the county police department responsible for answering any calls concerning housing code violations later in the evening.
The bill proposes required code enforcement officials be on call past 4 p.m.
"What I'm trying to do with this bill is have a part-time individual be available for [the evening]," Aumann said. "If issues arise, the communities will have someone to contact."
First introduced on Jan. 21, the bill aims to determine what communities are "affected by the student population of a public senior higher education institution." If a district fits the standards set forth by the state, funding would be provided to increase code enforcement.
The Towson University Student Government Association has expressed opposition to the bill, stating that it unfairly aims code enforcement toward college students.
"I understand the need to enforce housing codes and the need to enforce the law, but I don't agree that they write legislation that specifically targets students," SGA president Jenny Haley said. "If they are going to create legislation like this, they should do it for all of Maryland, not just the areas surrounding [universities]."
The SGA passed a resolution formally opposing the bill during their Feb. 5 meeting. Members will be traveling to Annapolis to give testimonial in opposition to this bill on Feb. 7.
"We have a large student population, and the majority of these students live off-campus," SGA director of legislative affairs Isaac Meyer said.
"For the most part, we all follow the rules. What I see here is an unfair targeting of students."
Aumann has stated that she understands why the SGA is opposed to the bill, but also said that the bill was not meant to be negative.
"It was trying to enhance the relationship between students and the community," Aumann said. "I have the pleasure of having Towson in my district. I think it's a great school. I want it to strive, and I want it to thrive, but I also want to be able to extend an opportunity for people to have a resource dealing with code enforcement for when the regular offices close."
If passed, this bill would take effect Oct. 1, 2008 and would affect most of the larger public universities in Maryland, including Towson, Morgan State, UMBC, and the University of Maryland College Park.
Aumann is considering an amendment to the bill to affect a larger area of Maryland, as opposed to just areas in college towns.
"We are trying to mediate the situation," Aumann said.
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