The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
Week of Session: March 28 to April 1, 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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Supplemental Budget #3 Includes Additional Funding For Developmental Disabilities Services |
On Friday, the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Community in Maryland received great news! Governor Hogan released Supplemental Budget #3, which contains an additional $56,866,193 in funding for DDA Community Services. This amount includes $29 million from the State General Fund and an additional $27 million in federal funding.
This is a massive victory for the over 18,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Maryland who rely on DDA-funded supports to live and work in the community!
Funds from Supplemental Budget #3 can be used to aid in resolving the staffing crisis faced by DD Service providers and assist people with IDD to receive better care within their services. It can also give people on the DDA Waiting List the opportunity to connect with providers and receive the services they need.
Hogan’s budget initially included a 4% rate increase for Developmental Disabilities Providers and Self-Direction participants, and the additional funding will bump that figure to nearly 8%.
In his remarks, Governor Hogan said, “Every day, we are inspired by the commitment of our health care and child care providers, and these investments will help further expand access to critical services for Maryland families. We continue to devote part of our record surplus to relief and resources for those in need, including our developmentally disabled community.”
The Supplemental Budget now makes its way to the Maryland General Assembly for approval.
This success could not have happened without you! Thank you to everyone who called and emailed Governor Hogan and Budget Secretary Brinkley to express the dire nature of the situation.
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Now, we ask that you share in our gratitude by contacting Governor Hogan and David Brinkley, Secretary of the Department of Management to thank them for this addition to the Supplemental Budget!
Contact Governor Hogan through his Chief of Staff:
And Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management:
You can also check out the full Supplemental Budget through the button below. Funding for Community Services is listed on page 3, item 7.
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LAST WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS |
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HB0660 - Commission to Study the Division of Rehabilitative Services (Student Job Training Reformation Act)
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Position: Support with Friendly Amendments
Current Status:
Waiting for Committee Vote; Senate Hearing was on 3/23 in EHEA
This bill would establish the Commission to Study the Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) to evaluate and make recommendations on improving various aspects of DORS's programs and services. It would require the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 15, 2022.
Proposed amendments include adding the Maryland Department of Disabilities, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, and People On the Go, and include additional tasks for the Commission to evaluate the Workforce Training Center location, accessibility, and purpose.
The Hearing went well with strong support for creating a Commission to look at DORS.
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HB0496 - Commission on the Establishment of a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
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Position: Support with Amendments
Current Status:
Crossed Over; In Senate, Hearing Tuesday, 3/29 at 1 PM, FIN
This bill has been renamed. This version of the bill to create a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program would establish the Commission on the Establishment of a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program to study and make recommendations for establishing a Family Medical Leave and Insurance Program in the State; providing that the intent of the General Assembly is to establish a certain statutory framework for a family medical leave and insurance program in the State that is effective not later than June 1, 2023. The Senate-sponsored bill to create a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in Maryland is also under consideration to promulgate the program. We anticipate the final version of what passes this year may be a compromise of both this bill and SB0275.
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SB0636 - Maryland Department of Health - Waiver Programs - Waitlist and Registry Reduction (End the Wait Act)
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Position: Support
Current Status:
Crossed Over; In House, Hearing Tuesday, 3/29 at 1:30 PM, HGO
Pictured are two siblings, one with disabilities.
This legislation would require the Maryland Department of Health to develop plans to reduce the waitlist for waiver programs by 50% beginning in FY24. The plans must include a review of current provider capacity and rates for sufficiency. A clarifying amendment notes the Autism Waiver Registry would be "cleaned up," and for the eligible individuals on that list, a plan would be developed to serve 50%.
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SB0705 - Education - Physical Restraint and Seclusion - Limitations, Reporting, and Training
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Position: Support
Current Status:
Crossed Over; In House, Hearing Thursday, 3/31 at 1 PM, W&M
Pictured is a Senate Hearing Sponsor's Panel including Senate Bill Sponsor Zucker and Maryland Superintendent of Schools, Mohammed Choudhury
This legislation prohibits a public agency from using seclusion as a behavioral health intervention for a student, prohibits a public agency from using physical restraint, and a nonpublic school from using physical restraint or seclusion as a behavioral health intervention for a student, except under certain circumstances. It also requires the State Department of Education to develop an accountability system to measure compliance with regulations adopted on the use of physical restraint and seclusion.
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Tuesday, March 29th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
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HB0496: Labor and Employment - Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program - Establishment
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Tuesday, March 29th at 1:00 PM In Senate, B&T
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HB0089: Child Care Stabilization Grant Program and Child Care Expansion Grant Program - Established
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HB0993: Child Care Capital Support Revolving Loan Fund - Established
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Tuesday, March 29th at 1:00 PM In Senate, EHEA
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HB0664: Child Care Programs – Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program – Information and Assistance
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HB0146: Education – Reportable Offenses and Student Discipline – Alterations
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HB1327: Education - Home and Hospital Teaching Program for Students - Report
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Tuesday, March 29th at 1:00 PM In House, E&T
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SB0744: Housing and Community Development – Affordable Housing – Listing and Disposal of Excess Real Property
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Tuesday, March 29th at 1:30 PM In House, HGO
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SB0636: Maryland Department of Health - Waiver Programs - Waitlist Reduction (End the Wait Act)
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Wednesday, March 30th at 1:00 PM In Senate, FIN
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HB0662: Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs, Interagency Disabilities Board, and the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy - Membership, Staffing, and Appointment
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Wednesday, March 30th at 1:00 PM In Senate, B&T
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HB0406: Children in Out–of–Home Placements – Placement in Medical Facilities
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Wednesday, March 30th at 1:00 PM In House, JUD
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SB0694: Estates and Trusts - Guardianship of the Property of Disabled Persons - Court-Appointed Attorneys
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Wednesday, March 30th at 1:30 PM In House, HGO
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SB0003: Facilities - Disabilities, Juveniles, Behavioral Health, and Health Care - Safety Plans
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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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SB0241: Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services - 9-8-8 Trust Fund
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SB0518: Career Pathways for Health Care Workers Program
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Thursday, March 31st at 1:00 PM In Senate, EHEA
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HB0878: Howard County - Department of Housing and Community Development - Housing Opportunities Trust Fund Ho. Co. 05-22
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Thursday, March 31st at 1:00 PM In House, W&M
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SB0705: Education – Physical Restraint and Seclusion – Limitations, Reporting, and Training
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SB0920: Early Childhood Development - Child Care Scholarship Program - Alterations
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SB0362: Primary and Secondary Education - Virtual Schools - Revisions
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SB0706: Nonpublic Educational Programs - Children With Disabilities - Costs of Teacher Salaries
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Monday, April 4th at 1:00 PM In House, W&M
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SB0169: State Autism Strategy – Revisions
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SB0838: Transportation – Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Service – County Funding
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Tuesday, April 5th at 1:00 PM In Senate, EHEA
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HB0023: School Discipline - Data Collection and School Resource Officers
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HB0019: Education - School Construction - Pedestrian Safety Plans (Safe Walk to School Act)
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HB0657: Public Schools - Standardized Behavioral Health Screenings for Students - Development and Implementation
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Please note that 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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