The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted by voice to endorse a bill adding the state comptroller to the Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Board, supporters told the committee.

Supporters said adding the comptroller recognizes an office that already has helped publicize and promote the Maryland Saves program to small employers. Josh Gotbaum, chair of the Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Board, and Glenn Simmons, executive director of Maryland Saves, both urged the committee to add the comptroller to the board. Tammy Brosnahan of AARP Maryland also voiced support, saying the progr am has increased retirement coverage for many Maryland workers.

The bill would add the comptroller as an ex officio member to the board that manages the state’s small-employer retirement savings program; witnesses described the controller’s office as having actively assisted marketing and outreach to small businesses. Committee members moved, seconded and approved the measure by voice vote; the hearing record includes the motion and the oral “Aye” from the chair but not a roll-call tally.

Proponents said the change formalizes an existing practice in which the comptroller’s office has cooperated with the program’s outreach work. The board membership, as described in testimony, includes appointments by legislative leaders and the governor, the state treasurer and the secretary of labor; the bill would add the comptroller to that list.

The committee’s approval was recorded on the hearing record as a favorable voice vote following a short round of testimony from program leaders and advocates.