Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
Introduced by: Councilmember Burnett
A Bill Entitled
An Ordinance concerning
title
Public Safety Apprenticeship Program Advisory Commission
For the purpose of defining certain terms; establishing the Baltimore City Public Safety Apprenticeship Program Advisory Commission; providing for the purpose, composition, and duties of the Commission; establishing terms, procedures, and duties of the Commission; and generally relating to the Baltimore City Public Safety Apprenticeship Program Advisory Commission.
body
By amending
Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencis
Section 29-1, to be under the new part designation,
“Part 1. General Provisions”
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
By adding
Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, and Executive Agencies
Sections 29A-6 through 29A-11 to be under the new part designation,
“Part 2. Advisory Commission”
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 1. Mayor, City Council, and Executive Agencies
Subtitle 29A. Public Safety Apprenticeship Program
Part 1. General Provisions
§ 29A-1. Definitions.
(a) In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b) Cadet.
“Cadet” means a participant in the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program who:
(1) has been hired into a specialized training program aimed at introducing young adults to public safety careers; and
(2) is at least 18 but no more than 21 years old.
(c) Chief.
“Chief” means the Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department.
(d) Commission.
“Commission” means the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program Advisory Commission.
(e) Commissioner.
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Baltimore City Police Department.
(f) [(c)] Department.
“Department” means the Baltimore City Fire Department.
(g) Equity.
“Equity” has the meaning stated in Article 1 § 39-1 {“Definitions”} of the Baltimore City Code.
(h) [(d)] Explorer.
“Explorer” means a participant in the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program who is:
(1) a Baltimore City resident;
(2) enrolled in a public, public charter, private, or parochial school within Baltimore City; and
(3) at least 11 but no more than 18 years old.
(i) [(e)] Public safety agency.
“Public safety agency” means the following:
(1) Baltimore City Fire Department;
(2) Baltimore City Police Department;
(3) Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management;
(4) Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office; and
(5) Baltimore City School Police.
(j) [(f)] Public Safety Apprenticeship Program; Program.
“Public Safety Apprenticeship Program” or “Program” means a program for recruiting, mentoring, training, and hiring a new generation of Baltimore City youth and young adults to prepare them for careers in law enforcement, fire suppression, emergency medical services, and emergency management.
(k) [(g)] Public safety cadet post; cadet post.
“Public safety cadet post” or “cadet post” means the branch of the Program that engages participants who are at least 18 but no more than 21 years old.
(l) [(h)] Public safety explorer post; explorer post.
“Public safety explorer post” or “explorer post” means the branch of the Program that engages participants who are at least 11 but no more than 18 years old.
(m) [(i)] Public safety internship.
“Public safety internship” means an 8 to 10 week paid summer internship in a Baltimore City public safety agency for participants in the Program who are at least 14 but no more than 18 years old.
Part 2. Advisory Commission
§ 29A-6. Commission established.
There is a Baltimore City Public Safety Apprenticeship Program Advisory
Commission.
§ 29A-7. Purpose.
The purpose of the Commission is to facilitate the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program by:
(1) providing oversight, advice, and recommendations to the Fire Chief and Police Commissioner regarding Program policies and procedures;
(2) providing recommendations to better use the Program to provide equitable career pathways into public safety professions;
(3) helping to develop community engagement and recruitment initiatives focused on attracting youth and young adults from Baltimore City; and
(4) creating a Program-specific mentorship model to be implemented in the Program to connect potential applicants with current Program participants, Program alumni, and public safety professionals.
§ 29A-8. Composition.
(a) In general.
The Commission is comprised of 7 voting members and 4 nonvoting members.
(b) Voting members.
(1) Composition.
The voting members shall be appointed by the Mayor in accordance with Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter and shall consist of the following individuals:
(i) 1 member from the Vulcan Blazers of Baltimore City, Incorporated;
(ii) 1 member from the Vanguard Justice Society, Incorporated;
(iii) 1 member from the American Civil Liberties Union;
(iv) 1 member from the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People;
(v) 1 member from the Baltimore City Lodge #3 Fraternal Order of
police;
(vi) 1 member from the International Association of Firefighters Local
734; and
(vii) 1 member from the International Association of Firefighters
Local 964.
(2) Requirement.
(1) Each voting member of the Commission must be a registered voter.
(2) Each voting member must be a resident of Baltimore City.
(c) Nonvoting members.
The following individuals shall be nonvoting members of the Commission:
(1) The Mayor or the Mayor’s designee;
(2) The President of the City Council or the President’s designee;
(3) The Comptroller or the Comptroller’s designee; and
(4) a member of the City Council committee overseeing public safety policy, nominated by the President of the City Council.
§ 29A-9. Terms and procedures.
(a) Terms.
(1) The term of a voting member is 4 years, conterminous with the terms of the Mayor and City Council.
(2) At the end of a voting member’s term, the voting member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(b) Compensation.
The members of the Commission shall:
(1) serve without compensation; and
(2) be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the Commission’s duties, as provided for in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(c) Chair.
The Mayor shall designate a voting member to serve as Commission Chair.
(d) Meetings; quorum.
(1) The Commission shall meet on the call of the Chair when required to perform its duties, but not less than 4 times a year.
(2) A majority of the voting members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of Commission business.
(3) An affirmative vote of the majority of the voting members is needed for any official action.
(e) Open meetings.
All meetings of the Commission must be conducted in accordance with the State Open Meetings Act (Title 3 of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code).
§ 29A-10. Rules and regulations.
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act - Regulations”} of the City General Provisions Article, the Commission may adopt rules and regulations to govern its meetings and operations.
§ 29A-11. Duties.
The Commission shall:
(1) meet on a quarterly basis to receive a briefing on the Program;
(2) review the annual report required by § 29A-5 {“Annual report”} of this subtitle;
(3) provide oversight, advice, and recommendations to the Chief and
Commissioner on the internal policies and procedures of the Program;
(4) conduct compliance reviews of the Program to ensure equity during the employment and training processes;
(5) field and review complaints from Program participants and provide assistance in resolving the complaints;
(6) work with agencies to promote community engagement and recruitment opportunities for City residents to join the program; and
(7) convene and oversee a subcommittee consisting of 5 total individuals:
(i) whose full-time job is directly associated with:
(A) the Program; or
(B) conducting investigations into the unlawful discrimination in
employment and hiring practices; and
(ii) who include the following:
(A) 1 individual designated by the Baltimore City Fire
Department;
(B) 1 individual designated by the Baltimore City Police
Department;
(C) 1 individual designated by the Baltimore City Public School
System;
(D) 1 individual designated by the Baltimore City Office of
Equity and Civil Rights; and
(E) 1 individual designated by the Mayor’s Office of
Employment Development.
Section 2. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on
January 1, 2023.