Harford County’s partially-elected school board bill becomes effective today (Wednesday) — a long-awaited day for local legislators who have been pushing to get some form of an elected board bill passed for years.

The school board bill, which was signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley in early May, calls for the election of two-thirds of the Harford County Board of Education’s members, and it will expand the number of members from seven to nine.

Three members will continue to be appointed by the governor, but for the first time in history, the other six will be elected by county voters. Under the new legislation, board members, who currently serve a five-year term, would serve a term of four years.

In April, the school board asked O’Malley to veto the partially-elected school board bill because of cited language issues regarding the bill’s implementation.

As the bill stands, the term of Lee Merrell, vice president of the school board, will expire on July 1, and a replacement still has not been appointed.

“We have heard nothing,” Patrick Spicer, legal counsel for the school system, said. “We had pointed out certain issues never received an explanation.”

Spicer said it’s his opinion that Merrell should continue serving as a board member until he is either reappointed or O’Malley appoints someone else to fill his position. Harford Sen. Barry Glassman agrees.

The first round of elections will take place in November of 2010 for the public to elect members to District A, which includes Edgewood and Joppatowne; District B, which includes Fallston and Abingdon; and District D, which includes Norrisville and Jarrettsville. The elected members will take their seats in July 2011.

The 2010 election will fill the seats of Patrick Hess, president of the board, and board members John Smilko and Robin Rich.

Hess’ term already expires in 2011, and in order for the terms of Smilko and Rich to expire in 2011, Smilko’s term will be extended a year and Rich’s term will be reduced one year.

There will also be two members appointed in 2010 to begin serving July 1.

“Now, the next part is to have good candidates and that it proves to be successful,” Glassman said.

The election for District C, which includes Bel Air; District E, which includes Aberdeen and Churchville; and District F; which includes Havre de Grace, will take place in 2014, along with appointment of the third appointed member.

With all of the seats up for election in 2014, along with the three appointed positions, Hess is concerned there will be no history on the board if all of the members are replaced.

“In theory, you could have a whole new board every four years,” Hess said.

Also taking effect today is a new Harford County law that authorizes the county’s sheriff to charge $10 for a 50/50 license and increases the maximum prize money to $500 that may be awarded for specified games will also go into effect today.

The law also authorizes specified charitable and fraternal organizations to hold 50/50 games at an event that is not a regular meeting of the organization, provided the organization acquires a license.

In addition to local laws, there are numerous state laws that also go into effect today (Wednesday).

A state law to exempt students who are moving to the county because of BRAC from out-of-county or out-of-state tuition fees at community colleges goes into effect today.

Prior to this exemption, students would have had to meet the three-month residency requirement in order to qualify for the state and county tuitions at Harford Community College.

In early June, the Harford Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved waiving out-of-state and out-of-county tuition fees for eligible students.

A state law requiring mortgage lenders and mortgage loan originators to conform to the requirements of the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 also goes into effect today.

Glassman said this bill was a reaction to the mortgage meltdown the nation faced 12 to 18 months ago.

He said the new law will make it harder for brokers to sell and get mortgages for people and it will also eliminate mortgages without proper financial documentation.

“It requires more documentation,” Glassman said.

Another state law going into effect today authorizes the purchaser of a farm that is already in agricultural preservation to build a new house on the premises.

The existing dwelling house can either be demolished or permanently converted into a use, such as a tenant home, that is nonresidential and integral to farm operation.

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