Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
Introduced by: Councilmember Sneed
A Bill Entitled
An Ordinance concerning
title
Street Harassment Advisory Commission
For the purpose of establishing the Street Harassment Advisory Commission; providing for the Commission’s composition, terms of office, officers, meetings, quorum, and rules of procedure; establishing the general purposes and specific duties of the Street Harassment Advisory Commission; defining certain terms; requiring certain City agencies to adopt model policies and training materials developed by the Street Harassment Advisory Commission; and generally relating to the Street Harassment Advisory Commission.
body
By adding
Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, & Municipal Agencies
Sections 57-1 to 57-5, to be under the new subtitle,
“Subtitle 57. Street Harassment 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, & Municipal Agencies
Subtitle 57. Street Harassment Advisory Commission
§ 57-1. Definitions.
(a) In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b) City agencies.
“City agencies” means:
(i) the Department of Housing and Community Development;
(ii) the Department of Public Works;
(iii) the Department of Recreation and Parks;
(iv) the Department of Transportation;
(v) the Health Department; and
(vi) the Parking Authority of Baltimore City.
(c) Commission.
“Commission” means the Street Harassment Advisory Commission.
(d) High-risk location.
“High-risk location” means:
(1) the enclosed area within any Maryland Transportation Authority bus, Baltimore City Circulator bus, Metro SubwayLink car, Light RailLink car, or any other commercial vehicle capable of carrying more than 6 passengers;
(2) the area within 25 feet of any Maryland Transportation Authority bus stop, Baltimore City Circulator stop, Metro SubwayLink station, Light RailLink station, or a space designated for the loading and unloading of a commercial vehicle capable of carrying more than 6 passengers;
(3) the enclosed area within any passenger-for-hire service vehicle, as defined in City Code Article 28, § 24(1)(d);
(4) any establishment that serves food or alcohol;
(5) any school, library, or any other building primarily used for the instruction of students, including a day care center, nursery, elementary school, secondary school, college, and university;
(6) any bank, health care facility, laundromat, retail store, shopping mall, sports arena, music venue, and theater;
(7) all the publicly-owned property between property lines shown on the records of the City, including any railway, sidewalk, or parking between such property lines; and
(8) all buildings that are owned, leased, or occupied by the City government.
(e) Street harassment.
“Street harassment” means disrespectful, offensive, or threatening statements, gestures, or other conduct that is:
(1) directed at an individual in a high-risk location without the individual’s consent; and
(2) based on the individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or housing status.
§ 57-2. Commission established.
(a) In general.
There is a Baltimore City Street Harassment Advisory Commission.
(b) Composition.
(1) In general.
The Commission comprises 16 voting members and 3 non-voting members.
(2) Voting members.
Voting members are appointed by the Mayor, in accordance with City Charter Article IV, § 6, as follows:
(i) 1 shall be a member of the Baltimore City Community Relations Commission;
(ii) 1 shall be an employee of the Victim’s and Witness Services Unit of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office;
(iii) 1 shall be a member of the Baltimore Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Commission;
(iv) 1 shall be an employee of the Department of Transportation;
(v) 1 shall be an employee of the Baltimore Police Department;
(vi) 1 shall be an employee of the Maryland Transportation Authority;
(vii) 1 shall be an employee of the Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City; and
(viii) 9 community representatives who are members of organizations that engage in policy, advocacy, or direct services within the City related to:
(A) street harassment;
(B) gender-based violence;
(C) gender equity;
(D) LGBTQ rights;
(E) racial equity;
(F) religious tolerance;
(G) poverty or homelessness; or
(H) immigrant rights.
(3) Non-voting members.
The 3 non-voting members are:
(i) the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee;
(ii) the President of the City Council or the President’s designee; and
(iii) the City Comptroller or the City Comptroller’s designee.
§ 57-3. Terms, organization, meetings, etc.
(a) Terms.
(1) Commission members serve for a term of 4 years, concurrent with the term of the Mayor.
(2) At the end of a term, each member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(b) Compensation; expenses.
The members of the Commission:
(1) serve without compensation; but
(2) are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(c) Officers; committees.
(1) Chair of the Commission.
The member representing the Baltimore City Community Relations Commission is the Chair of the Commission.
(2) Vice-Chair of the Commission.
Annually, one community representative shall be selected by a majority vote of the community representatives to serve as Vice-Chair of the Commission.
(3) Committees.
The Commission may establish committees to assist it in carrying out its functions and duties.
(d) Meetings; quorum.
(1) The Commission shall meet at least once quarterly, at times to be determined by the Chairperson at the Commission’s first meeting of the fiscal year.
(2) A majority of the voting members of the Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
(3) An affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.
(e) Rules of procedure.
The Commission may adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings and operations.
§ 57-4. Commission purposes and duties.
(a) General purposes.
The Commissions’ purposes are to:
(1) increase general awareness of the problem of street harassment and the need for prevention of street harassment;
(2) identify categories of individuals most at risk of street harassment;
(3) create model policies and training materials to assist City agencies in reducing street harassment; and
(4) assist City agencies in implementing these model policies and training materials.
(b) Specific duties.
The Commission shall:
(1) encourage public awareness of street harassment and the importance of eliminating it through conducting public information campaigns about street harassment and resources available in the City for victims of street harassment;
(2) identify categories of individuals most at risk of street harassment;
(3) create model policies and training materials to be adopted by City agencies for preventing and responding to harassment, including model policies and training materials for employees who work directly with the public;
(4) assist City agencies in adopting the model policies and training materials;
(5) monitor the implementation of model policies and training materials by City agencies;
(6) discuss the need, if any, for a process by which victims and witnesses of street harassment can report instances of the harassment to City agencies, and, if needed, work with City agencies in implement the process; and
(7) perform any other duties as required by the Mayor.
§ 57-5. Annual reports.
On or before July 31 of each year, the Commission must submit a report to the Mayor and City Council describing the model policies and training materials created by the Commission during the previous fiscal year and assessing the implementation of the policies and training materials within each of the City agencies.
Section 2. And be it further ordained, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
Section 3. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.