The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
Week of Session: January 15 to 21, 2023
Stay up to date on legislation through our Bill Tracker! View position statements, access bill text, and check hearing times and dates.
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. Thank you Dr. King. We strive to live in to the promise and honor your legacy.
Martin Luther King Jr standing at a podium. He shared that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS-OFF
On the second day of Maryland's Legislative Session, close to 100 advocates and members from local chapters of The Arc in Maryland joined together for Legislative Calendar Day in Annapolis! Thank you to our Governmental Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Dorothy Plantz and Anthony Zanfordino for guiding us through a prep day before the event, and many thanks to our partners and member organizations of The Arc in Maryland who helped make the day a success. Together, we will move the dial ever forward in our mission to create a world where children and adults with IDD have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities!
Senate and House Operating Protocols
Both the House and the Senate will be open to visitors and will hold hearings with both in-person and virtual testimony opportunities. Please click the links below to review subtle differences in procedures between the House and Senate, including limits on numbers for virtual testimony in the Senate, and differing timelines for signing up to testify between the House and Senate.
TOP BILLS OF THIS WEEK AND NEXT
Please note that these bills include only those of significant interest to us that have been pre-filed. There will be additional bills filed by legislators and reviewed by The Arc Maryland Governmental Affairs Team for inclusion in future bill priority listings.
HB0120 - Harford County - Due Process Proceedings for Children With Disabilities - Burden of Proof
Link to Bill Text: HB0120

Position: Support

Current Status: In House, Hearing 1/24 at 1 PM, W&M

Testimony Due on Friday, 1/20 by 3 PM

This is a local bill that will require the Harford County Board of Education to bear the burden of proof in due process proceedings that initiate from a due process complaint regarding the provision of special education services or a program for a child with disabilities in Harford County, except under certain circumstances. If you are from Harford County, or from Howard County where the bill was recently advanced, please consider submitting testimony or signing up to support this action.
SB0121 - More Opportunities for Career-Focused Students Act of 2023
Link to Bill Text: SB0121

Position: Evaluating for support

Current Status: In Senate, Hearing 1/24 at 1 PM, EEE

Testimony Due on Monday, 1/23 by 3 PM

This bill would require certain county boards of education to consider the pursuit of certain certificates, certifications, or apprenticeships as the equivalent of pursuing post secondary education and provide a method for certain individuals to authorize the release of certain student information to certain apprenticeship sponsors and employers. Further it would require each public high school to inform students of certain employment and skills training opportunities in a certain manner; etc.
SB0003 - 9-8-8 Trust Fund- Funding
Link to Bill Text: SB0003

Position: Support

Current Status: In Senate, Hearing 1/19 at 1 PM B&T

Testimony Due on Wednesday, 1/18 by 3 PM

This bill would require the Governor to include in the annual budget bill for fiscal year 2025 an appropriation of $12,000,000 to the 9-8-8 Trust Fund. We have been working with other advocates over the summer on strategy to get the 9-8-8 program funded. Without necessary funding, this important system will not have the capacity to support people with mental health needs in the way in which it was intended.
HB0095 - Election Judges- Training and Signs- Accommodations for Voters in Need of Assistance
Link to Bill Text: HB0095

Position: Evaluating for support

Current Status: In House, Hearing 1/24 at 1 PM, W&M

Testimony Due on Friday, 1/20 by 3 PM

This bill would require that training materials used by the program of instruction for election judges include oral and written instruction in the various methods an election judge may use to assist or accommodate elderly and disabled voters in voting; and establishing requirements for the development and placement of signage that states the specific methods election judges may use to assist or accommodate elderly and disabled voters in voting at a specific polling place.

We appreciate the intention of this bill. We will be talking to the Delegate's staff to understand how they believe these changes would address issues people faced at the polls during the last election, and why they believe this is the best solution to address barriers to voting access.
EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature
February 22nd, 8 AM to 11 AM
Are you ready for the largest gathering of disability rights advocates in Maryland? Save the date for Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature! This year, we will gather on February 22 at The Graduate Hotel in Annapolis!

We are holding DD Day in person this year, with streaming online for those who wish to attend virtually. Capacity for in-person attendance is limited. Please register now if you would like to attend.
FY23 DDA Budget Hearings
February 22 (House) and February 23 (Senate)
Mark your calendars for February 22nd and February 23rd, when the Developmental Disabilities Administration Budget will be heard by Maryland's House and Senate budget subcommittees at 1 PM on both days. We will provide more information once it is available. The Governor's draft budget is due January 20th to the Maryland General Assembly.
Please Note: 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
EEE - Education,Energy, and the Environment
EXN - Executive Nominations
FIN - Finance
JPR - Judicial Proceedings
SRU - Rules
JOIN THE ARC
Interested in joining one of the most dynamic and effective grassroots networks in Maryland? Contact your local chapter of The Arc and ask about joining their Governmental Affairs/Public Policy Committee. Visit our website here to locate your nearest chapter and learn more. Achieve with us!