The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
Week of Session: January 31 to February 4, 2022
Stay up to date on legislation through our Bill Tracker! View position statements, access bill text, and check hearing times and dates.
LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND EVENTS
Register for DD Day at the Legislature
February 22nd - 8:15 to 10:30 AM
Join us for the largest statewide advocacy event of the year for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities! On February 22nd, Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature is back on zoom! Learn about important advocacy topics for this legislative session before meeting with your representatives. Please register ASAP as we are close to capacity for the event.
Update: FY23 Draft Budget for Developmental Disabilities
The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition continues to work to clarify the numbers provided in the DDA Budget Summary document. While the budget is complicated this year, we are working to figure out how the federal and state funds that flowed to the state through increased Medicaid matching percentages and the American Recovery Protection Act weigh into the budget numbers. We will continue working on clarification and hope to have a more comprehensive update next week.
Supported Decision Making
HB0529 SB0559
Efforts to improve state guardianship systems and to develop alternatives to guardianship continue to expand at both the state and national levels. As of today, 20 jurisdictions in the United States have passed laws formally recognizing Supported Decision Making (SDM) as a legal option.

For almost 2 years, the Maryland Cross-Disability SDM Coalition members have worked to develop a plan to bring Supported Decision Making to Maryland. We are so pleased to have amazing bill sponsors and champions, working to make Supported Decision Making a reality for people. Stay posted for more information coming in the Insider, and go to the National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making for more information!
TOP BILLS OF THE WEEK
SB0299 - Education - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh's Act)
Position: Support

Current Status: In House, Hearing Thursday 2/3 at 1 PM, EHEA

Testimony Due Tomorrow, 2/1 by 3 PM

This legislation requires schools to develop Seizure Action Plans for students with seizure disorders and identify and train certain 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 to 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.

Similar laws have already been passed in 12 states, including Virginia and New Jersey. It is time this law was passed in Maryland.

We are looking for parents who will provide their stories on why seizure training and seizure action plans are important to them and their children. We are also looking for teachers who will provide testimony on the benefits this training will provide them in their work.
HB0226 - Public Schools- Self-Contained Special Education Classroom - Use of Video Recording Devices
Position: Support

Current Status: In House, Hearing Thursday, 2/3 at 1 PM in W&M

Testimony Due on Tuesday, 2/1 by 3 PM

This bill requires each county board of education, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, to install a video recording device in each self-contained special education classroom; provide for the installation, operation, notification, and use of a video recording device and the viewing, use, and confidentiality of system recordings; requires the school administration to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency on receipt of a complaint of alleged neglect or abuse of a student under certain circumstances; etc.

We are looking for parents who will provide their stories on why this is important to them and their children. We are also looking for teachers who will provide testimony on the benefits of having cameras in their self-contained classrooms.
COMING UP NEXT
SB0275 - Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment (Time to Care Act of 2022)
Position: Support- Only if significant amendments are made to address concerns with definitions and applications.

Current Status: In Senate, Hearing 2/10 at 1 PM, FIN

This legislation establishes the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in the Maryland Department of Labor to provide certain benefits to individuals who take leave from employment for certain purposes; establishing the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund as a special, non-lapsing fund; requiring, beginning January 1, 2023, certain employees, employers, and self-employed individuals to contribute to the Fund in a certain manner; etc.

While the creation of the insurance program would provide paid leave for families and people with IDD who need to take leave for health reasons, the bill is written too broadly, which would create significant hardships for our systems of DD provider support and people who self-direct as they employ one or more people. We have attempted to influence changes to the bill language the previous two times it was presented in legislative sessions to more closely align with parameters already in place through the Federal Family Medical Leave Act and the Maryland Healthy Working Families law that passed a few years ago in Maryland. Please see below for The Arc Maryland's support for Family Medical Leave, but not as laid out in the current legislation/ as currently written.

There is at least one other bill we are monitoring that would create the Family Leave Insurance Program, HB0496, which we are currently reviewing to determine whether it addresses all of the concerns we have. While it looks like it addresses one or two of them, it does not appear to move the definitions to a point we can fully support the legislation.
SB0357 - Adult Protective Services - Vulnerable Adults Registry - Investigations and Records of Abuse and Neglect and Workgroup Study
Position: Monitoring

Current Status: In Senate, Hearing 2/9 at 1 PM, JPR

The Arc Maryland is providing testimony for this legislation alongside the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition

This bill establishes certain requirements and procedures relating to the reporting, disclosure, investigation, and appeal of civil allegations and findings of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults. It also authorizes the Social Services Administration to establish and maintain a centralized confidential database for abused and neglected vulnerable adults; establishing a Workgroup to Study Best Practices for a Vulnerable Adult Registry in Maryland.

The way this bill is worded is confusing and problematic. We would be very interested in the creation of an abuse registry in Maryland, but the infrastructure is not currently in place to support an effective and fair process. This bill does not create that process for people in DDA services.
SB0241 - Support - Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services - 9-8-8 Trust Fund
Position: Support

Current Status: In Senate, Hearing 2/8 at 1 PM, FIN

Testimony Due Friday, 2/4 by 3 PM

This legislation establishes the 9-8-8 Trust Fund as a special, non-lapsing fund to provide reimbursement for costs associated with designating and maintaining 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. It also requires the Maryland Department of Health to designate 9-8-8 as the primary phone number for the State's behavioral health crisis hotline; requiring the Department by December 1 each year to report on the expenditure of funds and additional services provided by the funding; etc.
HEARING AND BRIEFING SCHEDULE
Tuesday, February 1st at 1:00 PM In Senate, EHEA
  • SB0082: Certified Nursing Assistants - Licensing Requirements
Tuesday, February 1st at 1:00 PM In House, W&M
  • HB0212: Election Law - Signature Verification of Absentee Ballots and Absentee Ballot Applications and Ballot Canvassing
Wednesday, February 2nd at 12:00 PM In House, W&M, Education Subcommittee
  • HB0023: School Discipline - Data Collection and School Resource Officers
  • HB0084: Education – Crimes on School Grounds – Application
Wednesday, February 2nd at 1:00 PM In House, APP
  • Briefing: Health and Social Services Subcommittee - Maryland Department of Health Overview
Wednesday, February 2nd at 1:00 PM In House, EMC
  • HB0135: Environment – Single–Use Plastics – Restrictions
Wednesday, February 2nd at 1:00 PM In House, JUD
  • HB0214: Juveniles - Reportable Offenses
  • HB0244: Civil Actions - Damages - Use of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Data
  • HB0269: Juvenile Law - Juvenile Interrogation Protection Act
Wednesday, February 2nd at 1:30 PM In House, HGO
  • HB0297: Facilities - Disabilities, Juveniles, Behavioral Health, and Health Care - Safety Plans
Wednesday, February 2nd at 4:00 PM In House, HGO
  • Briefing: Maryland Department of Health - Behavioral Health - OPTUM Issues (Joint with Health and Social Services Subcommittee)
Thursday, February 3rd at 1:00 PM In Senate, EHEA
  • SB0116: Public Schools - Inclusive and Diverse English Language Arts - Development of Content Standards and Implementation
  • SB0119: Education – Crimes on School Grounds – Application
  • SB0299: Education - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh's Act)
Thursday, February 3rd at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
  • SB0003: Facilities - Disabilities, Juveniles, Behavioral Health, and Health Care - Safety Plans
Thursday, February 3rd at 11:00 AM In House, W&M
  • Briefing: The Role of SROs and School Security in Public Schools
Thursday, February 3rd at 1:00 PM In House, W&M
  • HB0089: Child Care Stabilization Grant Program and Child Care Expansion Grant Program - Established
  • HB0146: Education – Reportable Offenses and Student Discipline – Alterations
  • HB0226: Public Schools – Self–Contained Special Education Classroom – Use of Video Recording Devices
Thursday, February 3rd at 2:30 PM In House, HGO
  • HB0173: State Board of Social Work Examiners - Temporary License to Practice Social Work
Tuesday, February 8th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
  • SB0241: Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services - 9-8-8 Trust Fund
Wednesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM In Senate, JPR
  • SB0357: Adult Protective Services - Vulnerable Adults Registry - Investigations and Records of Abuse and Neglect and Workgroup Study
Wednesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM In Senate, EHEA
  • SB9318: More Opportunities for Career-Focused Students Act of 2022
  • SB0422: Adult Protective Services - Vulnerable Adults Registry - Investigations and Records of Abuse and Neglect and Workgroup Study
Wednesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
  • SB0407: Health Occupations - Health Care Staffing Shortage Emergency - Declaration and Licensing and Practice Requirements (Health Care Heroes Act of 2022)
Wednesday, February 9th at 1:30 PM In House, HGO
  • HB0006: Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Dental Coverage for Adults
  • HB0080: Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver - Participation and Applications
Thursday, February 10th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
  • SB0275: Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment (Time to Care Act of 2022)
  • SB0048: Health - Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives
Thursday, February 10th at 1:30 PM In House, HGO
  • HB0407: Health Occupations - Health Care Staffing Shortage Emergency - Declaration and Licensing and Practice Requirements (Health Care Heroes Act of 2022)
Please note that the following abbreviations identify the Legislative Committees in the Assembly:
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
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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