The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
Week of Session: January 16 to 22, 2022
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Stay up to date on legislation through our Bill Tracker! View position statements, access bill text, and check hearing times and dates. |
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Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday honoring the civil rights leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for advancing racial equality and social justice.
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LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS-OFF |
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Advocacy Training with The Arc Maryland - January 12 |
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On the first day of Maryland's Legislative Session, over 100 advocates joined The Arc Maryland for our Legislative Calendar Day Advocacy Training to learn about Senate and House operating procedures, our Public Policy Platform, priority legislation for our community, and tips on effective advocacy. Thank you to our Governmental Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Dorothy Plantz and Anthony Zanfordino for guiding us through the materials, our partners and friends, and member organizations of The Arc in Maryland. Together, we will move the dial every forward in our mission to create a world where children and adults with IDD have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities! |
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Legislative Calendar Day on Lawyers Mall - January 13 |
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For decades, it has been a tradition to deliver The Arc's Legislative Calendar to representatives in Annapolis on the second day of session. The calendar contains important legislative dates, birthdays of each legislator, and the stories of people supported by chapters of The Arc across Maryland, their families, and essential workforce.
In a typical year, members of The Arc chapters across the state would visit Annapolis to distribute calendars to their elected representatives and share what matters to people with IDD and their families in Maryland. While the pandemic surge has forced many to stay home this year, the tradition lived on with calendar deliveries and fresh coffee for all who stopped by to learn about The Arc Maryland's priorities for the '22 Session!
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HB0136 - Education - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh's Act) |
Position: Support
Current Status: In House, Hearing 1/20 at 1 PM, W&M
Testimony Due on Tuesday, 1/18 by 3 PM
This legislation requires schools to develop Seizure Action Plans for students with seizure disorders and also requires schools to identify and train at least two school personnel on the identification, response, and treatment of seizures. With approximately 7,900 children living with epilepsy in Maryland, education, information, and training on seizure recognition would ensure school personnel are prepared and can recognize and respond appropriately and efficiently to a student experiencing a seizure. Parents, as critical partners in education, would be actively involved in collaboration with school personnel to create a seizure action plan for their students with a seizure condition.
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HB0023 - School Discipline - Data Collection and School Resource Officers |
Position: Support
Current Status: In House, Hearing 1/20 at 1 PM, W&M
Testimony Due on Tuesday, 1/18 by 3 PM
This legislation requires the Department of Education (MSDE) to make their discipline-related data public, with disaggregated information by grade level, race, ethnicity, and disability status including a 504 Plan or IEP by August 1, 2023, and continue to do so annually. Through this, the MSDE is required to note disproportionality and develop plans to lower the risk ratio to under or at the Federal IDEA compliance standards.
School suspension and expulsion data show a disproportionate application of discipline to black and brown students and students with disabilities, but the data is not helpful for holding school systems accountable to change as numbers are largely rolled up into lump totals. We need the data disaggregated to identify and address the problems where they are. The bill also notes that a School Resource Officer (SRO) cannot unilaterally enforce discipline-related school policies, rules, regulations, or procedures.
This is important for ensuring students have the opportunity to receive support from school personnel who know them best and are trained in how the student communicates, expresses frustration, and other aspects of the student which may contribute to how the student responds to a situation.
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SB0093 - Tax Credits- Employment of Individuals with Disabilities |
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Position: Support
Status: In Senate, Hearing 1/18 at 1 PM B&T
The Arc Maryland provided testimony with The Developmental Disabilities Coalition.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the fourth quarter of 2019, 19.2% of workers with a disability were employed compared to 66.6% of workers without a disability. As the economy recovered in 2021, the unemployment rates for people with and without disabilities declined from their highs in 2020. However, in the third quarter of 2021, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was more than twice that of people without disabilities: 10.6% compared to 4.9%.
The tax credits increased by this bill would provide a financial incentive for employers to hire people with disabilities. This makes sense for employers because they save money by hiring qualified, motivated candidates. The tax credit benefits the State because it provides one option to address the high unemployment of people with disabilities. Finally, the tax credits benefit people with disabilities because they earn money, receive benefits, become more independent, and are included in the community. The tax credit has not increased since 2015 when previous legislation was passed in Maryland.
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EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES |
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Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature
February 22nd
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Are you ready for the largest gathering of disability rights advocates in Maryland? Save the date for Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature on February 22! Due to the current state of public health, DD Day will once again take place virtually. Registration for the event is coming soon!
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FY23 DDA Budget Hearings
March 2nd (House) and March 3rd (Senate)
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Mark your calendars for March 2nd and 3rd, when the Developmental Disabilities Administration Budget will be heard by Maryland's Senate and House budget subcommittees. We will provide more information once it is available. The Governor's draft budget is due this week to the Maryland General Assembly. |
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Tuesday, January 18th at 1:00 PM In House, APP
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HB0019: Education - School Construction - Pedestrian Safety Plans (Safe Walk to School Act)
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Tuesday, January 18th at 1:00 PM In Senate, B&T
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SB0093: Tax Credits - Employment of Individuals With Disabilities
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Thursday, January 20th at 1:00 PM In House, W&M
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HB0023: School Discipline - Data Collection and School Resource Officers
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HB0056: Commission on Student Behavioral Health and Mental Health Treatment
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HB0084: Education – Crimes on School Grounds – Application
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HB0136: Education - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh's Act)
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Tuesday, January 25th at 1:00 PM In House, EMC
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HB0078: Discrimination in Employment - Reasonable Accommodations for Applicants With Disabilities
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HB0258: Employment Standards - Seating for Employees (Right to Sit Act of 2022)
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Tuesday, January 25th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
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SB0028: Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver - Participation and Applications
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SB0150: Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Dental Coverage for Adults
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Tuesday, January 25th at 1:00 PM In House, JUD
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HB0045: Crimes - Mitigation and Defense - Religious Beliefs, Disability, or Homelessness
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Tuesday, January 25th at 1:00 PM In House, W&M
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HB0099: Election Law – Absentee Ballots – Signature Requirements and Verification
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HB0113: Elections - In-Person Voting - Proof of Identity
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Tuesday, January 25th at 2:30 PM In House, HGO
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HB0177: 9–1–1 Registry Program – Autism and Other Special Needs – Established
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Wednesday, January 26th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
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SB0023: Equity in Transportation Sector - Guidelines and Analyses
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Wednesday, January 26th at 1:00 PM In Senate, JPR
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SB0008: Task Force to Study the Need for Enhanced Monitoring of Guardians of Vulnerable Minors
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Thursday, January 27th at 1:00 PM In House, E&T
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HB0141: Equity in Transportation Sector - Guidelines and Analyses
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Thursday, January 27th at 1:00 PM In House, JUD
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HB0161: Criminal Law - Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult or Elderly Individual - Undue Influence
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Thursday, January 27th at 2:00 PM In Senate, FIN
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SB0066: Labor and Employment - Hiring - Education Requirements (Give Me A Chance - Job Opportunities Act of 2022)
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SB0169: State Autism Strategy – Revisions
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Please Note: the following abbreviations identify the Legislative Committees in the Assembly: |
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House of Delegates:
APP - Appropriations
EMC - Economic Matters
E&T - Environment and Transportation
HGO - Health and Government Operations
HRU - Rules and Executive Nominations
JUD - Judiciary
W&M - Ways and Means
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Senate:
B&T - Budget and Taxation
EHEA - Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
EXN - Executive Nominations
FIN - Finance
JPR - Judicial Proceedings
SRU - Rules
R&R - Reapportionment and Redistricting
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