Delegate Susan Krebs, District 5
Please forward this email to your family and friends.
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New Laws in Effect October 1, 2020
- Carroll Hospice Honors Veteran's September 27, 2020
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Upgraded Unemployment Site Launched
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Just In- High School Sports to Resume!
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MD Route 32 Temporary Traffic Alert
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Election 2020 - Are You Registered to Vote?
- AmeriCorps Grant Applications Now Available
- Last call for 2020 Census
- Scam Alert targeting Marylanders
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Resources - COVID-19 & More
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Message from Delegate Susan Krebs |
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Greetings!
As our lives are starting to get back to a “new normal” and our citizens are taking common sense precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19, we seem to be on a positive path forward as we anticipate the first vaccines to protect ourselves and our loved ones. I am optimistic that, as one nation under God, we will persevere and come out of this better than ever.
Unfortunately, given that this is a Presidential election year, most news reports and opinions have a political bias and emotions are running strong. I am confident that Carroll County voters take their votes very seriously and will do their homework on the issues of importance to them and vote accordingly.
As we watch the daily news cycle, it is often difficult to obtain the facts to get accurate information on almost any topic that is presented. At the state level, we attempt to give you the facts of what is occurring at the state level- whether I like it or not.
Below is a short list of legislation that was passed during the shortened 2020 Legislative Session that becomes effective on October 1st. Some of these initiatives I voted FOR and some I voted AGAINST as I have reported in previous newsletters. Given that we had a sudden abbreviated session this year, a lot of legislation that we were working on did not have time to get passed – often that is a good thing.
There is a lot of other information in this newsletter, please feel free to share it with others.
And please, make sure to take the opportunity afforded to us and VOTE. I strongly suggest that you consider voting early if you do not wish to stand in line. Due to the limited number of polling places this year on Election Day, I am anticipating long lines.
For the first time, you may vote at ANY of the polling places in Carroll County on Election Day- the locations are listed below in this newsletter.
Stay safe and healthy,
Susan
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New Laws Effective October 1, 2020 |
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A few highlights:
Vehicle Laws - Overtaking and Passing Bicycles
Authorizes drivers to drive the left side of the roadway in a no-passing zone to adjust to overtake and pass a bicycle traveling in the same direction while yielding the right-of-way to the bicycle and oncoming traffic. HB230
Hate Crime Symbols
If any person places or inscribes a symbol, including an actual or depicted noose or swastika with the intent to intimidate any person or group of persons, it will be considered a hate crime. HB 5
Prohibitions on Wage History Inquires
Employers are now required to provide a job applicant with the wage range for the position the applicant is applying for. Employers may not ask nor require applicants to provide wage history, nor can they seek it our indirectly from another employer. HB123
Business Relocations and Layoffs
The current Economic Stabilization Act now includes a mandatory 60-day advance written notice of covered reductions in operations (for employers with 50 or more employees).
The Use of Artificial Intelligence Facial Recognition
Prohibits employers from using artificial intelligence facial recognition technology to prepare a facial template of an applicant without first obtaining the applicant's written consent and waiver. HB1202
Cottage Food Product Label
Requires the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), to provide the cottage food business a unique identification number that may used on the label of a cottage food product. This identification number can be included on its label instead of the name and address of the cottage food business. HB1017
Identification Badges - Hospital and Nursing Facility Workers and Health Care Practitioners
Specifying that each hospital or nursing facility in the State ensure that all of its health care service providers whether in the hospital, outside or in a separate nursing facility wear personal identification tag indicating in readable text the first name, nickname, last name, or full name of the individual HB364
Dental Hygienists - Authority to Prescribe and Administer Medication
Authorizes a dental hygienist, who meets specific requirements to prescript or administer certain medications under the general supervision of a licensed dentist. HB749
Sexual Solicitation of a Minor – Solicitation Through Parent, Guardian, or Custodian – Prohibition and Penalties
Prohibits a person from knowingly soliciting the consent of a parent, guardian or custodian of a minor to engage in activities with the minor that would be unlawful for the person to engage in under the prohibitions with intent to commit, rape, sexual offense, prostitution, receive earnings of a prostitute, abduction of a minor under age 16 for the commission of a sexual crime, soliciting prostitution or maintaining a house of prostitution. HB246
Nonprofit Organizations and Volunteer Drivers
This bill exempts specified nonprofit organizations from the requirement to obtain a motor carrier permit under certain circumstances and makes a related change to exclude specified transportation services provided by nonprofits from the definition of “transportation network services.” HB 120
Public Institutions of Higher Education - Outbreak Response Plan (Olivia's Law) In Fall 2018, more than 40 students at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus were sickened with adenovirus, with 15 students treated at hospitals. One student passed away, with adenovirus listed as one of the causes of death. This bill requires each “public institution of higher education” to submit a specified outbreak response plan to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) by August 1 each year beginning in 2021. If there is an outbreak of a contagious disease at a public institution of higher education, the institution must implement the outbreak response plan. HB 187
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Carroll Hospice Honors Veterans |
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Unemployment Beacon 2.0 Relaunch |
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Are You Receiving Your Extra $300 Payment?
We are well aware that many of you have struggled with unemployment issues. While the new BEACON 2.0 system was going to address many of these issues, it is still far from perfect. We will do everything in our power to help you navigate the system, and get some resolution. Please contact our office and we will do our best to assist you during this unsettling time.
To receive updates and additional information about unemployment insurance programs in Maryland, please visit MDunemployment.com.
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CHILD CARE CAPACITIES
Our parents need quality day care to return to work. The District 5 delegation continues to advocate for our Child Care Centers for an increase in capacities after the Governor moved to Stage Three of the Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery.
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
The District 5 delegation advocated a return to high school sports. While youth sports have resumed, and Maryland's COVID rates remain low, we sent a letter to the MPSSAA to develop a plan to safely resume high school fall sports. This is especially important to junior and senior athletes who could be in line for college scholarships. Just announced, high school sports will resume!
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Program Open Space Approved Grant for Wakefield Valley Park: $81,128 to construct a new picnic shelter with ADA-compliant access and parking.
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TRAFFIC ALERT!
The paving is one of the final steps in a $5.8 million project to enhance safety and reduce congestion for tens of thousands of businesses, including the National Guard Freedom Readiness Center currently under construction.
The enhancements that will improve congestion, include a second travel lane on northbound MD 32, and a new two-way left turn lane through the project limits, a span of nearly one mile. As part of the work, crews also extended a large structural culvert to a Piney Branch tributary.
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AmeriCorps State Grant Application |
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“AmeriCorps grants create important opportunities for organizations to collaborate with service-minded Marylanders by providing living allowances and access to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to individuals who dedicate their time as AmeriCorps members,” said Nicki Fiocco, Director of the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism.
- To receive an AmeriCorps State grant, organizations must raise a minimum of 24% of the grant in matching funds.
Qualifying organizations for the grant include:
- Nonprofits,
- Faith-based organizations,
- State or Local government agencies, and
- Institutions of higher education.
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Organizations interested in applying for an AmeriCorps State grant must submit a Concept Paper by 5 p.m. on October 12, 2020. Concept Papers will be reviewed and applicants of accepted proposals will be invited to complete a full grant application.
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The Maryland Public Service Commission concluded hearings to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on customers, and took steps necessary to protect utility customers. In an emergency action, the PSC has prohibited residential utility service terminations through November 15, 2020.
Please read the press release providing additional information, as well as information helpful for utility customers in need of assistance to pay their utility bills.
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Census data is tied to the distribution of federal funding for key programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), school construction, emergency preparedness, and transportation projects. Census data also informs reapportionment and redistricting, and ensures that Maryland receives appropriate representation in Congress.
Carroll County has the highest self-response rate so far!
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“While we’ve exceeded many key goals, there’s still work to be done. I ask each and every Marylander to help ensure that your household, your neighbors, and your friends have completed the 2020 Census by September 30.”
-Governor Larry Hogan
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Phony Mortgage Company Representatives are Targeting Marylanders
The Office of the Attorney General has recently been notified of scams involving individuals impersonating mortgage companies. Some of these scammers are calling existing customers of a mortgage company, claiming to be representatives of that company, and offering the customer a loan modification. The scammer may ask for your full name, address, date of birth, and even your social security number. They may tell you that you have to give them this information immediately in order to qualify for the loan modification.
In another scam, individuals posing as mortgage company employees may call and tell you that you need to make a payment, and they may ask for a debit card number, money order, or gift card (this is a major red flag—no legitimate company will ask you to buy gift cards to make payments).
Other scammers may tell you to stop payment on your existing mortgage to make “trial” payments to them instead. They generally provide very “official” looking paperwork for you to sign.
Do not fall for any of these tactics—they are trying to steal your personal information or money, or both. Under no circumstances should you ever stop payment on your mortgage. If you fail to pay your mortgage to the company that legitimately holds your loan, you could default on your loan and possibly even lose your home.
If you have divulged personal or financial information to someone who called you, and now suspect they may have been trying to scam you, call or email our Identity Theft Unit at 410-576-6491 or idtheft@oag.state.md.us to learn how to protect your identity and financial information.
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Enroll in health coverage. From now until Dec. 15, you can sign up for health insurance using Maryland Health Connection, our state’s health insurance marketplace. To enroll, visit MarylandHealthConnection.gov, download the free “Enroll MHC” mobile app, or call 855-642-8572.
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You may now text to 9-1-1 anywhere in Maryland in case of emergency!
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