The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
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For the Week of January 13 - 19, 2020
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The Maryland Legislative Session kicked off last Wednesday, January 8. We are ushering in the return of The Arc Maryland's weekly legislative e-newsletter,
The Annapolis Insider. 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!
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Calendar Day at the Legislature!
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Last Thursday, we ushered in the start of a new session with our Annual Legislative Calendar Day event in Annapolis! We were so pleased that so many members of the Arc came out to make it another successful advocacy day this year. Advocates networked, attended a policy briefing and then distributed our 2020 Legislative Calendars and met with their elected representatives. You can check out photos of the event on our
Facebook page.
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During Calendar Day, advocates and legislators also took part in our "Day at the Movies" themed event to watch
The Heart For It: our video series highlighting the impact of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and their critical role in our system of supports in Maryland. View the video series on our YouTube channel or click to play each 3-minute segment now, featuring individuals with disabilities, their families and the DSPs who support them all! Click
HERE for a fact sheet and the DSP workforce crisis in Maryland.
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The Annapolis Insider Bill Tracker
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Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature
February 12th at 8 a.m. in Annapolis
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One of the biggest days of the year for disability advocates across Maryland is coming up on February 12th: Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature!
Join hundreds of fellow advocates, families, policy makers, and colleagues at the Graduate Annapolis Hotel to make your voice heard. Learn about 2020 priorities and meet with your representatives to create a better tomorrow with and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and other supporters in Maryland!
You can read more about "DD Day" and register by clicking the button here. This event is $25 to attend with breakfast and advocacy materials provided. If you are interested, please do not delay your registration. We are already more than half-full for the day and registration has only been open for 2 weeks. This event WILL sell out. Thanks and we hope to see you soon!
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Asian American Needs Survey on Developmental Disabilities
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The University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work is conducting a survey to better understand the needs of Asian American parents of children with developmental disabilities in Maryland as they navigate community and clinical services. The study is led by Dr. Sarah Dababnah and Dr. Irang Kim, who both have years of experience working with culturally diverse families of individuals with special needs in clinical and community settings.
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The project targets any parent who identifies as Asian or Asian American and has a child under age 18 with a developmental disability. They need help from parents to complete a series of questionnaires, which will be available in English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. Researchers expect the survey will take 45-60 minutes to complete. Parents can complete the questionnaires online or on paper.
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Recap of Bills of the Previous Week
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SB0040
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Sales and Use Tax – Diapers – Exemption
Status: Hearing 1/9/20 at 2:00 PM, Senate B&T, Room 3 West, Miller
Position:
Support with sponsor amendment to clarify tax exemption for adult absorbent undergarments
The bill creates an exemption to the Maryland sales and use tax law to include children's diapers as a non-taxable item. Current Maryland law exempts disposable medical equipment and supplies from tax and this includes adult incontinence products. While many places do not tax incontinence products, some families have reported that they have had to pay tax to purchase absorbent diapers and pads. The language proposed by bill sponsor, Lam, includes a clarification that adult incontinence products are tax exempt. The Arc Maryland provided written testimony in support of this clarifying language.
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SB0044
:
Public Buildings - Changing Facilities for Adult Diapers
Status: Hearing on Thursday, 1/16/20 at 3:00 PM, Senate JPR, Room 2 East, Miller
Position:
Support
This bill requires, except under certain circumstances, that a diaper–changing facility suitable for changing the diaper of an adult be installed in certain public restrooms in certain public buildings and requires the maintenance of a list containing locations of adult changing stations.
ACTION ALERT
: We need family members and people with physical disabilities to testify on the impact this law (and the availability of adult changing stations) would have on their ability to access full community life. Please call (443-851-9351) or
email Ande Kolp
ASAP if you are interested and she will help you prepare and sign-up to testify!
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Senate:
FIN, 1:00 PM, Room 3 East, Miller
SB0106
: Health Care Facilities - Certificate of Need - Exception for State-Owned Facilities- The Arc Maryland is monitoring/gathering additional information.
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Senate:
FIN, 1:00 PM, Room 3 East, Miller
SB0042
: Health Services Cost Review Commission – Duties and Reports – Revisions
The Arc Maryland is monitoring this but has not determined whether or not we will be taking a position
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Senate:
JPR, 3:00 PM, Room 2 East, Miller
SB0044
: Public Buildings - Changing Facilities for Adult Diapers. The Arc Maryland Supports.
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Senate:
EHEA, 1:30 PM, Room 2 West, Miller
SB0083
: State Government – Delivery of Notices and Communications by Electronic Means – The Arc Maryland is gathering more information- see bill tracker for details.
SB0103
: Health Occupations - Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment of Patients - Disciplinary Actions (The Patient's Access to Integrative Healthcare Act of 2020). The Arc Maryland is requesting background information prior to determining position.
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Senate:
EHEA, 1:00 PM, Room 2 West, Miller
SB0065
: Counties - Construction of Sidewalks and Crosswalks - Safe Alternative Routes to Public Schools
The Arc Maryland is requesting the addition of "accessible" to sidewalk requirement.
SB0078
: Public Schools – Student Discipline Regulations – Remedial Measures
Oppose.
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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
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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