A Word About the Referendums…
-St. Mary’s County has no local question this year on the ballot.
-Questions 1 and 2 address two constitutional amendments which would require judges of the orphans’ courts in both Prince George’s and Baltimore counties to be attorneys and also to be members of the Maryland state bar. Currently, Maryland law only requires that these judges be citizens of Maryland. These ballot questions are thus adding requirements of possessing a professional law degree and being able to practice law in Maryland to a candidate’s qualifications.
-Question 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment which would suspend any elected official when found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor related to public duties and would subsequently remove them from office at sentencing. Any official pleading guilty (or no contest) would be removed immediately. Current Maryland law allows those officials who are guilty to remain in office until sentencing. Legislation also would allow for any official to be reinstated for the remainder of a term if the conviction is overturned on appeal.
-Question 4 is known as the “Dream Act” and would allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at Maryland’s community colleges providing the student meets certain conditions dealing with income tax filing and intent to apply for permanent residency. Most importantly, the Dream Act does not allow for free tuition. It allows for those undocumented children who have resided in the county to which they are applying to attend community college to pay in-state tuition rates vs. out-of-state tuition rates. And they must have graduated from a Maryland high school, having attended that high school for at least three years.They must first attend a community college and subsequently transfer to a university for completion of a four-year degree. There are several other significant stipulations for students, as well. Concerning a student’s parents – those parents must have filed a state income tax return each year for the three years prior to the child’s high school graduation and will continue to do so through the college graduation. Also, the student must file an application to become a U.S. citizen within 30 days of qualifying to do so, as well as providing documentation of registering for the Selective Service. If students do not adhere to these criteria, then they would be obligated to pay back the tuition. It is already Federal law to provide K-12 education for undocumented students (elementary, middle and high school); the Dream Act just takes this to the next level. There are those who insist that even once these students earn their degrees it would still be illegal for them to work in the U.S. However, one of the particulars of this bill is that students must provide an affidavit stating that they will file to become a perm
