The Week Ahead

Last week MBTPI released our Regular Person's Guide to the Governor's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget. We also hosted a guest blog from Clinton MacSherry, Director of Public Policy for the Maryland Family Network, about the underfunded Child Care Subsidies Program.

Policy highlights for the week of February 18th through February 22nd include:

Budget Hearings

• On Monday: the Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee discusses the Department of the Environment, the Maryland Environmental Service, and the Maryland Aviation Administration at 1pm in room Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building (SOB). Later the House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee discusses the Maryland Energy Administration, Public Service Commission, and the Office of People's Counsel at 3pm in room 120, House Office Building (HOB).

• On Tuesday: the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee discusses payments to Civil Divisions of the State, the Department of Information Technology, and the Executive Department at 1pm in room 3 West, SOB. The Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee will then discuss the Maryland Energy Administration and Department of Housing and Community Development at 3pm in the same room.

• On Wednesday: the House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee discusses the Maryland Higher Education Commission, aid to education, and workforce development at 1pm in room 145, HOB. The House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee discusses Medical Care programs at 1pm in room 150, HOB. The House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee discusses the Executive Department, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of General Services, Maryland Tax Court, and the Worker's Compensation Commission at 1pm in room 120, HOB. The House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee discusses the Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Transit Administration, and WMATA at 1pm in room 142, HOB. Finally, the House Capital Budget Subcommittee discusses the Maryland Energy Administration and the Department of Housing and Community Development at 4pm in room 120, HOB.

• On Thursday: the House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee discusses the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Towson University, St Mary"s College of Maryland, and Salisbury University at 1pm in room 145, HOB. The House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee discusses the Health Systems and Infrastructure Administration, the Prevention and Health Promotion Administration, and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights at 1pm in room 150, HOB. The House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee discusses the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), the Maryland Parole Commission, and the State Treasurer at 1pm in room 120, HOB. In the Senate the Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee takes up aid to education, workforce development, and the Maryland African American Museum Corporation at 1pm in room 3 West, SOB. The Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee discusses Medical Care programs at 1pm in room Amoss, SOB. Finally, the Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee discusses the Office of the Public Defender and the Department of Natural Resources at 1pm in room Schweinhaut, SOB.

• On Friday: the House Appropriations Committee discusses the State Reserve Fund, payments to Civil Divisions of the State, and the Department of Budget and Management at 1pm in room 120, HOB. In the Senate, the Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee discusses the Maryland Higher Education Commission, TEDCO (the Maryland Technology Development Corp), and the State Treasurer at 1pm in room 3 West, SOB. The Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee discusses the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Aging, and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights at 1pm in room Amoss, SOB. Finally, the Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee discusses DPSCS operations and the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention at 1pm in room Schweinhaut, SOB.

Other hearings

• On Monday: the Task Force to Study Maryland Insurance of Last-Resort Programs meets to discuss Senate Bill (SB) 749, which would make operational changes to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, at 3:30pm in room 231, HOB.

• On Wednesday: Senate Budget and Taxation hears SB 411, which would gradually lower the corporate tax rate, at 1pm. MBTPI will submit testimony calling for several amendments to this bill, and offer our support for the bill if it is so amended. We will post our testimony, including suggested amendments, on our website Wednesday. You will be able to find it under Advocacy>2013 Session. At 2pm the same committee will hear testimony on SB 830, a transportation financing act. MBTPI will also submit testimony calling for several amendments to this bill, and offer our support for the bill if it is so amended.

• Also on Wednesday: the Board of Public Works meets at 10am on the second floor of the State House.

• On Thursday: the Work Group to Review Disclosure Requirements of the Public Ethics Law discusses financial disclosures at 8:45am in room 250, HOB.

• Also on Thursday: the Maryland Health Care Commission meets at 1pm in conference room 100 at their offices, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.