The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
For the Week of February 3 - 9, 2020
Every Monday in the Insider, check out updates on key legislation affecting the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and professional supports, learn about upcoming advocacy events and receive notices about Federal and other initiatives of The Arc of the United States!
The Annapolis Insider Bill Tracker
Tips for talking with your legislator about the Developmental Disabilities Budget
Some of our members have asked for suggestions on what to say to their legislators about the Governor's FY21 budget for the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

Important background information:
Supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are funded by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) through state and federal Medicaid funds. Almost 25,000 people in Maryland receive some form of support or service from DDA, ranging from "case management-only" services to 24-hour a day residential and day time supports.

Many people with I/DD and their families rely on these critical services and supports to live, learn, and work in communities of their choice. Medicaid providers (like those who provide community developmental disabilities services and supports) are funded through a combination of state and federal funds. They are prevented from passing on any increases in costs of doing business to the people they support. This makes them incredibly reliant on the state to ensure that any laws passed, to increase Direct Support Professional wages or impose other mandates that cost money, also include provisions to increase state funding (through Medicaid provider rates) to cover the increased costs.

When the General Assembly passed the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 ("Fight for $15), they included a mandate for a 4% annual increase for DDA community services for FY21 to help providers and people who self-direct their services to partially keep pace with the increased minimum wage. 

What happened:
Despite the mandate, the Governor's adjusted draft budget for FY21 includes only a 2% increase for DDA community services. The minimum wage increased in Maryland in January from $10.10 to $11.00 per hour without any increase in funding to DD Community Providers to cover the cost of the increase. On 1/1/21, the minimum wage is scheduled to increase again to $11.75 per hour.

At only a 2% increase for FY21, providers will not have enough to pay even minimum wage to their Direct Support Professionals (primary caregivers for people who access DDA services and supports).

We have been in dire straits before, with lower than promised funding for our budget, but we have never been in this situation; where the future of our services and supports are in truly in jeopardy.

The Maryland General Assembly has the power to restore the missing 2% funding to the DDA budget. We need our legislators to work together to restore our funding; We need a minimum of the 4% increase that was promised for provider rates in the FY21 budget.

The message:
Although there are a lot of good things in the proposed DDA budget for FY21 such as funding for waiting list services and transitioning youth, this funding for new services will amount to empty promises to families and people seeking services and supports. I f our existing community system of support is not properly funded and maintained and therefore does not have the capacity to fulfill its current commitments, it is unlikely to be able to develop capacity for growth.

The funding that was promised for Developmental Disabilities Community Services through the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 MUST BE RESTORED TO THE DDA BUDGET. That percentage increase promised was 4% and it is that amount, at a very minimum, that we need our legislature's help to restore.
Top Bills of the Week
HB0010 : Public Facilities- Changing Facilities

Status: There will be a meeting about HB10 on Tuesday, February 4 at 11 a.m. in the Government Operations and Health Facilities Subcommittee (HGO Hearing Room, 240)

Position: Support with sponsor amendments

This bill would create a requirement for newly constructed or extensively remodeled public buildings and facilities to provide changing stations suitable to hold the weight of an adult. 

Advocates, please join us in the hearing room on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and wear ORANGE to show solidarity in support of this important bill! This is not another hearing; it is a meeting between sub-committee members to make recommendations to the full committee on the fate of HB10. The meeting is open to the public.
We need your support to move HB10 out of committee favorably. Bathroom rights ARE Human Rights. Please contact Ande Kolp for more information and assistance -and-

Please contact members of the subcommittee today and tomorrow to tell your story about the importance of having access to changing facilities in bathrooms, and to communicate your support for HB10 .

Government Operations And Health Facilities
Subcommittee members:
Click on their names for contact information

 Chair
District 41
Baltimore City

District 24
Prince George's County

District 31B
Anne Arundel County

District 12
Baltimore and Howard Counties

District 34A
Harford County

District 31B
Anne Arundel County

District 21
Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties

District 37A
Dorchester and Wicomico Counties

District 7
Baltimore and Harford Counties

District 3A
Frederick County
HB0231 / SB530 : Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act

Status: House Hearing Tuesday, February 4 at 1:00 PM, Environment and Transportation Committee, Room 251

Senate Hearing Tuesday, February 4 at 1:00 PM, Judicial Proceedings Committee, Room 2 East, Miller

Position: Support with DD Coalition Partners Testimony

This bill would prohibit discrimination in housing on the basis of source of income. Several other states have laws preventing source of income discrimination along with many Maryland counties and cities. This bill would expand these protections from discrimination statewide.
SB0158 : Lodging Establishments - Accessible Rooms for Individuals With Disabilities - Bed Height

Status: Hearing Thursday, February 6 at 1:00 PM, Senate FIN, 3 East Miller

Position: Support

This bill would require that lodging establishments ensure that accessible rooms have beds that meet ADA standards for height from the floor, and include at least 7 inches of clear space from the floor to the bottom of the bed to accommodate a lift.

The lack of compliance with accessibility standards has made statewide travel and lodging very difficult for people who need to transfer from a wheelchair into a bed. Most beds are too high or do not have under-bed clearance to accommodate the legs of a adaptive equipment such as a hoyer lift.
Education and School Bills

All of the following bills will be heard on Wednesday, February 5 in House W&M Committee (Rm 231) starting at 2:00 PM
HB0264 : Prince George's County - Elementary School Students - Daily Physical Activity PG 503-20

HB0277 : State Department of Education - Guidelines on Trauma-Informed Approach

HB0327 : Public Schools – School Resource Officers – Prohibited Conduct
Support.

HB0328 : State Department of Education – School Discipline – Data Collection

HB0331 : Public Schools – Medical Cannabis – Guidelines for Administration to Students (Connor’s Courage)
Position: Support

Each of the bills are detailed in our bill tracker along with rationale for our positions of support.
Recap of Bills of the Previous Week
HB0010 : Public Facilities- Changing Facilities

Status: Hearing January 29th at 2:00 PM, House HGO, Room 241

Position: Support with sponsor amendments

This bill would create a requirement for newly constructed or extensively remodeled public buildings and facilities to provide changing stations suitable to hold the weight of an adult.  Thank you to the self-advocates, siblings and parents of people with disabilities who need access to adult changing stations in the community for reaching out to members of the HGO committee, and to those who joined us on January 29th for the hearing.
HB0184 : Special Education – Judicial Actions – Attorney’s Fees and Related Costs

Status: Hearing January 30th at 1:00 PM, House W&M, Room 131

Position: Support

This bill would create a mechanism for judges to award expert witness fee recovery to parents when they are the prevailing party in a Special Ed case. The law currently allows for the award of attorney's fees to prevailing parents, but families have the burden of assuming expert witness expenses and many families cannot afford the expense of having expert witnesses while the school system regularly brings experts in at state expense.
HB0140 / SB0056 : Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Plain Language Requirement

Status (HB0140): Hearing January 29th at 1:00 PM, House W&M, Room 131
Status (SB0056): Hearing January 28th at 2:00 PM, Senate EHEA, Room 2 West, Miller

Position: Support

The standard for Readability is 7th grade and this bill creates a lower threshold (6th grade). While we were seeking an additional lowering of the reading standard to be adequate to meet the needs of some people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the reduction to a 6th grade level is supported by election material guidance and will be enforceable in that respect.
Hearing Schedule
February 4th
House:

E&T, 1:00 PM, Room 251
HB0231 : Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act

HGO, 1:00 PM, Room 241
HB0259: Health Occupations - Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment of Patients - Disciplinary Actions (The Patient's Access to Integrative Healthcare Act of 2020)

JUD, 1: 00 PM, Room 101
HB0320 : Criminal Law - Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult or Elderly Individual - Undue Influence

Senate:

EHEA,1:00 PM, Room 2 West, Miller
SB0133 : Education – High School Students – Graduation and Attendance Credit for Vocational Training

JPR, 1:00 PM, Room 2 East, Miller
SB0530 : Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act
February 5th
House:

HGO, 1:00 PM, Room 241
HB0255 : Health Care Facilities - Hospitals and Related Institutions - Discrimination Protections

HB0374 : Behavioral Health Administration – Children With Mental Disorders – List of Available Services

W&M, 2:00 PM, Room 131
HB0264 : Prince George's County - Elementary School Students - Daily Physical Activity PG 503-20

HB0277 : State Department of Education - Guidelines on Trauma-Informed Approach

HB0327 : Public Schools – School Resource Officers – Prohibited Conduct
Support.

HB0328 : State Department of Education – School Discipline – Data Collection

HB0331: Public Schools – Medical Cannabis – Guidelines for Administration to Students (Connor’s Courage)
February 6th
House:

W&M, 1:00 PM, Room 131
HB0353 : Frederick County – Elderly or Disabled Renters – Grants

JUD, 1:00 PM, Room 101
HB0369 : Foster Parents, Preadoptive Parents, and Caregivers - Right to Intervene

Senate:

FIN, Room 1:00 PM, 3 East, Miller
SB0158 : Lodging Establishments - Accessible Rooms for Individuals With Disabilities - Bed Height
February 7th
House:

W&M, 1:00 PM, Room 131
HB0383 : State Department of Education - Student Performance Reports - Students With Disabilities

HB0413 : Prince George's County - Elementary School Students - Daily Physical Activity (Student Health and Fitness Act)
February 11th
House:

E&T, 1:00 PM, Room 251
HB0209 : Plastics and Packaging Reduction Act

EMC, 1:00 PM, Room 231
HB0312 : Discrimination in Employment - Reasonable Accommodations for Applicants With Disabilities

APP, 1:00 PM, Room 121
HB0475 : Community Colleges - Students With Disabilities

HB0498 : Department of Aging - Grants for Aging-in-Place Programs - Funding

Senate:

EHEA, 1:00 PM Room 2 West, Miller
SB0371 : Environment - Drinking Water Outlets in School Buildings - Testing for Elevated Level of Lead
February 12th
House:

EMC, 1:00 PM, Room 231
HB0304 : Consumer Protection – Unfair, Abusive, or Deceptive Trade Practices – Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults

HGO, 1:00 PM, Room 241
HB0317 : Mental Health - Involuntary Admissions - Procedures

HB0332 : Mental Health - Emergency Facilities List - Comprehensive Crisis Response Centers, Crisis Stabilization Centers, and Crisis Treatment Centers

JUD, 1:00 PM, Room 101
HB0477 : Estates and Trusts – Guardianship of the Property of Disabled Persons – Court–Appointed Attorneys

Senate:

EHEA, 1:00 PM, Room 2 West, Miller
SB0326 : State Libraries - Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and State Library Board - Alterations

SB0610 : Community Colleges – Supplemental Services and Supports for Students With Disabilities Grant Program

JPR, 1:00 PM, Room 2 East, Miller
SB0401 : Places of Public Accommodation and Public Buildings - Single-Occupancy Public Restrooms - Availability (The Accessible to All Act)

SB0407 : Office of the Attorney General - Senior and Vulnerable Adult Asset Recovery Unit
February 13th
Senate:

JPR, 12:00 PM, Room 2 East, Miller
SB0481 : Criminal Law - Crime of Violence - Vulnerable Adult

FIN, 1:00 PM, Room 3 East, Miller
SB0260 : Labor and Employment – Leave With Pay – Bereavement Leave (Family Bereavement Act)

EHEA, 1:00 PM, Room 2 West, Miller
SB0576 : Health Occupations – Nurse Practitioners – Certifications of Competency and Incapacity
February 14th
House:

W&M, 1:00 PM, Room 131
HB0548 : Career and Technology Education - Training in Soft Business Skills

Save the Date: DDA Budget Hearings
At this time, DDA Budget hearings are scheduled with the OLA-MDH/DDA Audits on the following schedule:

February 26 , 1:00 PM, House Room 150, Health and Social Services Subcommittee

February 27 , 1:00 PM, Senate Amos Room (4th Floor), Health and Human Services Subcommittee

Please note: the following abbreviations identify the legislative committees in the Assembly:

House of Delegates:
  • APP - Appropriations Committee
  • EMC - Economic Matters Committee
  • E&T - Environment and Transportation Committee
  • HGO - Health and Government Operations Committee
  • JUD - Judicial Committee
  • W&M - Ways and Means Committee

Senate:
  • B&T - Budget and Taxation Committee
  • EHEA - Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
  • FIN - Finance Committee
  • JPR - Judicial Proceedings Committee
News, Events, and Action Alerts
The Arc Maryland Welcomes New Team Members to our Public Policy and Advocacy Team
This past month, The Arc Maryland strengthened their team with the addition of Tim Mudric, our Public Policy Intern, and Benjamin Snyder, our Public Policy and Advocacy Assistant. We are excited to have both of these stellar individuals assisting with information, advocacy and shaping public policy this session.
Tim will primarily focus his efforts providing investigative assistance, writing briefs, creating social media content, mobilizing and assisting with grassroots advocacy efforts. Ben will also assist with our advocacy events and advocacy efforts in Annapolis.

Tim is a senior at Loyola University where he is majoring in writing. He most recently completed an internship for The Arc Baltimore where he assisted with their Art in the Round event and social media presence. Tim is really excited about learning more about our state's legislative process, particularly implications for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. When he completes his internship with The Arc Maryland he is interested in continuing his education by pursuing a law degree.
Benjamin graduated from Towson University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Health Science, where he focused his studies on human services. Early on, Benjamin knew he wanted to be a part of changing the conversation about disability, combating discrimination and working towards equal rights for people with disabilities.

In his spare time, Benjamin is a member of a young professional group, “The Haymakers”, whose mission is to support patients, healthcare providers and researchers in their fight to prevent and eradicate brain cancer.
DD Day at the Legislature Event Live Stream
February 12th at 8:45 AM
Registration is full for Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature, but you can still join us online for the day through our event Live Stream!

The Live Stream will immerse viewers into the presentations from advocate leaders and legislators at the Annapolis Graduate Hotel from the comfort of home! If you did not get a ticket to the event, or if you preferred not to attend, you can tune in to the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition Facebook page from 8:45 AM to 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 12th to learn about 2020 legislative priorities for the Coalition.

To participate in the Live Stream, be sure to like the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition Facebook Page for the video to show up on your news feed.