The Maryland General Assembly is a little more than three weeks from coming to an uneventful conclusion.   MADA is well positioned for another very successful session.  Below is a list of wins for the Association thus far.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure:  Legislation that creates a council to study electric vehicle infrastructure in Maryland was amended to include a member of MADA.

Impervious Surfaces:  Legislation that gives every County authority to implement fees for all impervious surfaces in order to benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed was defeated.

Temporary Tags:  Committees in the Senate and House have passed legislation that will allow dealers to issue a temporary tag to a customer with an existing insurance violation.  This legislation will pass this session.

Many bills are still sitting in Senate and House committees waiting for votes.  One such bill is a transportation package proposed by Senator Garagiola.  This bill increases the gas tax by a dime, increases registration fees by 50% and prohibits the Governor from shifting funds outside of the Transportation Trust Fund.  With the current state of gas prices, a gas tax will be a tough vote for legislators.  The General Assembly is looking at other revenue sources such as doubling the title fee.  MADA is using the transportation package and capital budget negotiations to remove the cap on the dealer processing charge.  Lifting the cap on the dealer processing charge will be extremely difficult given the liberal stand of the General Assembly, but MADA is committed to finishing the 2011 Session strong with this victory.

The National Automobile Dealers Association is urging its 16,000 members to support the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund of the American Red Cross.

To jumpstart the campaign, the NADA Charitable Foundation announced today a $100,000 donation to the Red Cross' special Japan fund. The Red Cross set up the fund to support disaster relief efforts in Japan after last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

"The magnitude of the disaster in Japan keeps growing. Relief needs are staggering," said Stephen Wade, NADA chairman. "We're reaching out to dealers and their employees across the country to help support the international relief efforts in Japan."

A massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Pacific Ocean and nearby Japan on March 11. Nearly 10,000 people are feared dead. More than half a million people have been evacuated and many others are homeless without food, water and electricity.

To make an online donation, click here, or checks can be mailed to: American Red Cross, Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief, PO Box 37242, Washington, DC  20013. For more information, visit www.redcross.org

The Maryland Automobile Dealers Association invites Dealers and Managers to a half-day workshop on employment law.  Presented by Art Brewer of Shawe & Rosenthal LLP. Topics to be covered include the following:

• Navigating Federal and State Wage and Hour Laws
• Hiring Practices Do's and Don'ts
• Understanding the Employer's Rights and Responsibilities

DATE:   Thursday, April 21, 2011
TIME:    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
LOCATION:   Turf Valley Resort
                     2700 Turf Valley Road
                     Ellicott City, Maryland 21042
                     (410) 465-1500

REGISTRATION FEE:  MADA Members  $  90.00 P/P
                                  Non-Members      $180.00 P/P

Advance registration is necessary.  To register today, please download the registration form and return to MADA's office. 

April 21, 2011 - Employment Law Workshop, Turf Valley Resort  

June 26-29, 2011 - MADA/VADA Family Convention, Williamsburg, VA