The Arc Maryland's Weekly Legislative Update
Week of Session: April 4 to 8, 2022
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We are heading to the finish line! The end of Session, also known as Sine Die, is coming up on Monday, April 11th at midnight.
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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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SB0559 - Estates and Trusts - Supported Decision Making
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Position: Support
Current Status:
In House, Waiting for Committee Vote; Hearing was on 3/23 in JUD
While this legislation advanced through the Senate Chamber on a unanimous vote, when it crossed over to the House JUD, it has stalled. Despite having no known opposition, and having tremendous advocate support, the bill has not advanced. If it is not voted out of JUD ASAP, we will run out of time, and the bill will not pass this session.
Action Alert:
Please call or email members of House JUD today to let them know what Supported Decision Making means to you! Ask them to bring the bill for a vote in the committee!
Contacting Members of the House Judiciary Committee
You can show your support for Supported Decision Making in Maryland by contacting members of the House JUD about SB0559. Their contact information is below. Thank you for your advocacy!
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Chairperson:
Delegate Luke Clippinger
Phone 410-841-3303 or
301-858-3303
Vice-Chairperson:
Delegate David Moon
Phone 410-841-3474 or
301-858-3474
Delegate Curt Anderson
Phone 410-323-4324
Delegate Lauren Arikan
Phone 410-841-3334 or 301-858-3334
Delegate Sandy Bartlett
Phone 410-841-3370 or 301-858-3370
Delegate Jon S Cardin
Phone 410-841-3054 or 301-858-3054
Delegate Frank Conaway
Phone 410-841-3189
Delegate Daniel Cox
Phone 410-841-3288 or 301-858-3288
Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield
Phone 410-841-3485 or 301-858-3485
Delegate Debra Davis
Phone 410-841-3337 or 301-858-3337
Delegate Wanika Fisher
Phone 410-841-3340 or 301-858-3340
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Delegate Robin Grammer Jr.
Phone 410-841-3298 or 301-858-3298
Delegate Faye Martin Howell
Phone 410-841-3692 or 301-858-3692
Delegate Rachel Jones
Phone 410-841-3103 or 301-858-3103
Delegate Lesley Lopez
Phone 410-841-3021 or 301-858-3021
Delegate Susan McComas
Phone 410-841-3272 or 301-858-3272
Delegate Rachel Munoz
Phone: 410-841-3510 or 301-858-3501
Delegate Emily Shetty
Phone 410-841-3181 or 301-858-3181
Delegate Haven Shoemaker
Phone 410-841-3359 or 410-841-3359
Delegate Brenda Thiam
Phone 410-841-3125 or 301-858-3125
Delegate Karen Toles
Phone 301-858-3524 or 410-841-3524
Delegate Nicole Williams
Phone 410-841-3058 or 301-858-3058
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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:
In Senate, Waiting for Committee Vote; 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.
Action Alert:
Please call or email Senate EHEA Committee Chair, Paul Pinsky and ask him to move HB0660 to a vote in his committee ASAP!
Chairperson:
Senator Paul Pinsky
Phone 410-841-3155 or 301-858-3155
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SB0299/HB0136 - Education - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh's Act)
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Position: Support
Current Status:
Both Bills Have Passed Both Chambers in Slightly Different Postures.
Brynleigh's Act requires school personnel to be trained in seizure recognition and response and consistency in Seizure Action Plan development for students with seizure conditions. Both bills are now under review in their original chambers and may go to a conference committee to work out the differences between the bills.
Action Alert:
Please contact Senate and House Leadership to ensure they know how important this legislation is to you. Communicate your hopes and wishes that the Senate and House Chambers work out the small differences in the bills expeditiously so the bill can finally be considered passed and sent to the Governor!
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Senate President:
Senator Bill Ferguson
Phone 410-841-3600 | 301-858-3600
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House Speaker:
Delegate Adrienne Jones
Phone 410-655-3090
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The Governor's FY23 Budget
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After so many years of your advocacy, we have seen incredible movement to improve conditions in the Developmental Disabilities Administration under the Department of Health.
The budget for Developmental Disabilities Community Services includes funding to provide an 8% increase for community services rates in FY23, thanks in major part to a growing partnership between the advocates, our legislative champions, and the administration!
The Governor submitted several Supplemental Budgets, two of which had a direct, positive impact for DD Community Services, Medicaid funded Dental Services, Childcare, and MSDE (Autism Waiver) funding. Some of the details are as follows:
Two weeks ago, Governor Hogan released Supplemental Budget #3, which contained 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.
Included in Supplemental Budget #5 is funding for the following:
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HB0006/SB0150 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Dental Coverage for Adults
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Providing $82 million in funding to further expand Medicaid dental coverage (Item 6)
- $32.9M from the State General Fund
- $49.4M from Federal Funds
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SB0636/HB1403 - Maryland Department of Health - Waiver Programs - Waitlist Reduction (End the Wait Act)
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Labeled as Autism Waiver Funding, but may be expanded to other waivers (Item 14)
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SB0506/HB0725 - Children - Therapeutic Child Care Program – Funding
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$3.7 million in funds (Item 8)
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$3.2 million in funds for Child Care Assistance Grants (Item 9)
- Funding for child care stabilization and expansion grants.
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$2 million in funds for the Child Care Scholarship program (Item 10)
- Funding for Special Education Teacher Salaries
- $4 million in funding to support Non-Public Special Education School Teacher Salaries in Supplemental Budget #5.
The Legislature has met to revise the state budget bill to include many of the items in the supplemental requests and we are pleased with what we believe will be the final product!
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HB1255/SB0705 - Education - Physical Restraint and Seclusion - Limitations, Reporting, and Training
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Position: Support
Current Status:
HB1255 - Passed Enrolled and sent to the Governor for signing!
SB0705 - Passed in Both Chambers
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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SB0636/HB1403 - Maryland Department of Health - Waiver Programs - Waitlist and Registry Reduction (End the Wait Act)
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Position: Support
Current Status:
SB0636 - Returned Passed
HB1403 - Crossed Over; In Senate First Reading SRU
This legislation will 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.
Please sign the thank you card here for our Senate and House Sponsors of this important legislation that will impact families and people with disabilities who have been waiting for years on waiting lists and registries. This is historic legislation!!
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ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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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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