The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about Maryland's showing in the Census Bureau's State and Local Government Finance Summary for 2011.

Also last week, the Maryland Insurance Commissioner released the premium rates for the individual health care plans to be sold through the state's insurance exchange in October. The premiums are much lower than originally estimated and are among the lowest of the states who so far have released cost information for their exchange options.

For the week of July 29th through August 4th:

• On Monday, July 29th, the Alcoholic Beverages Article Review Committee meets to continue the review of special venue licenses at 5pm  in the Judiciary Training Room at 2009F Commerce Park Drive in Annapolis.
• On Tuesday, July 30th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will publish the monthly Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment figures for June 2013.
• Also on Tuesday, the Council for the Procurement of Health, Education, and Social Services meets at 1:30 pm in room 241 of the House Office Building at 6 Bladen Street in Annapolis. The meeting subject is state procurement.
• Later on Tuesday, the Maryland Health Care Commission Center for Information Services and Analysis will be holding its third meeting of the Performance Practitioner Measurement Work Group from 3pm to 5pm at the Maryland Health Care Commission building at 4160 Patterson Avenue in Baltimore.
• On Wednesday, July 31, the Capital Debt Affordability Committee gathers at 1:30pm in the Assembly Room (114-116) at the Goldstein Treasury Building on 80 Calvert Street in Annapolis to conduct a legislative review and to examine the size and condition of tax-supported debt.
• Later on Wednesday, the Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits meets from 2pm-4pm in the Maryland Insurance Administration Hearing Room on the 24th floor of St. Paul Plaza at 200 St. Paul Place in Baltimore. 
• On Friday, August 2, BLS will issue its Employment Situation report for July.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the release of national data about poverty, and previewed this week's release of the American Community Survey. And in case you missed it, Neil Bergsman appeared in the Examiner last Saturday discussing our new brief on Question 7, expanded gambling.

Tuesday, September 18th

• Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services receives briefings on mental health parity, federal healthcare reform, the Mental Health Collaborative between the Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and integrated care. 1pm in the Joint Hearing Room, Department of Legislative Services, 90 State Circle, Annapolis.
• Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law meets. 3pm in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Community Services Reimbursement Rate meets to approve the 2012 Annual report and other business. 6-8pm in the conference room of the Maryland Association of Community Services, 8835 Columbia 100 Parkway, Unit P, Columbia.
• Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council meets to discuss reducing hospital readmissions. 1-3pm in conference room L-1 of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore.

Wednesday, September 19th

• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families meets to welcome the new Superintendent of Schools and receive an update on charter schools. 10am in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing meets to discuss Medicaid long-term care issues. 1pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Welfare Reform receives an update on the state's Family Investment Program and other welfare-related topics. 10am in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Board of Public Works meets. 10am in the Governor's Reception Room on the second floor of the State House.
• Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits meets. 9-11am in the Maryland Insurance Administration hearing room, 24th Floor, St. Paul Plaza, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.

Thursday, September 20th

• Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee visits farms in Frederick County. 8:15am to 5:30 pm starting at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis.
• Maryland Health Care Commission meets. 1pm in conference room 100, Maryland Health Care Commission, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.
• Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee meets. 1-3pm in the Department of Health to and Mental Hygiene Lobby Level Conference Room (L-3), 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore. 
• Census Bureau releases 2011 single-year estimates from the American Community Survey. This is the main source of detailed demographic data for Maryland.The Census Bureau will release 3 and 5 year estimates later in the year, which will allow us to study smaller geographies and populations.

Friday, September 21st 

• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases state-level employment figures for August. Maryland's unemployment rate rose slightly in July, to 7 percent. 

The Week Ahead (Labor Day Edition)

Last week Neil Bergsman spoke to the Maryland Gazette about the state's work force and the woeful state of MD information technology compared to the private sector. You can find links to this and all our media appearances on our press page. On Wednesday I blogged about unemployment in Maryland's metro areas; while Thursday saw Neil's post about the FY 2012 closeout report, in which revenues exceeded estimates by $230 million.

Also last week our parent organization, Maryland Nonprofits, announced the appointment of Greg Cantori as President and CEO. You can read the full press release here.

Tuesday, September 4rd

• State Advisory Council on Hereditary and Congenital Disorders meets to discuss newborn screening. 6-8pm in room 300 of 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore.
• Workgroup on Lead Liability Protection for Rental Property meets for the third time. Meeting information and meeting notes are available here. 10am to noon at the Maryland Insurance Administration, in the hearing room on the 24th floor of 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.

Wednesday, September 5th

• Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits meets for the third time. 9-11am at the Maryland Insurance Administration, in the hearing room on the 24th floor of 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.
• Health Services Cost Review Commission holds their monthly meeting. 10am in room 100 of 4160 Patterson Ave, Baltimore.
• Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority meets. 9am in the lower level conference room at the One Call Center, 7223 Parkway Drive, Hanover.

Friday, September 7th

• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases national employment figures for August. In July the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly, to 8.3 percent.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about Maryland bucking the trend of public disinvestment, and the inability of the legislature to compromise on expanded gambling (so far). 

Monday, June 25th

• State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy holds a meeting to review and evaluate Maryland's sentencing guidelines and policies. 5:30pm in Training Rooms 1 & 2 of the Judiciary Education and Conference Center, 2009D Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis. 
• Joint Committee on Exchange Financing of the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council will hold its first meeting. The exchanges are a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so no doubt the impending Supreme Court decision (see Thursday, below), will be on everyone's minds. 1-3pm in the Joint Hearing Room, Department of Legislative Services, Annapolis.

Tuesday, June 26th

• The Task Force to Study the Court Decision Regarding Pit Bulls will hold a work session. 10am in room 2 East, Senate Building, Annapolis. 

Wednesday, June 27th

• The Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits will hold its first meeting. 9am in the Hearing Room on the 24th Floor of St. Paul Plaza, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.

Thursday, June 28th

• Maryland's Medicaid Advisory Committee meets. 1-3pm at the offices of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Lobby Level Conference Room L-3, 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore.
• Maryland's Venture Fund Authority holds a board meeting. 10am to noon at the offices of the Department of Business and Economic Development in a conference room on the 17th floor of the World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore. 
• Maryland Nonprofits is offering Program Design: From A to Z. For more information or to register for this training go to their events page.
• The U.S. Supreme Court will release its ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. If they rule against the ACA they may do so in whole or in part, and the consequences for Marylanders and others with inadequate access to health care may be significant. Look for a related post on this blog later on Thursday.

Saturday, June 30th

• The Fair Development Coalition is cosponsoring an event to celebrate the passage of HB 457, which mandates that .5% of federal transportation funding go toward job training programs.  U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings will speak, and a number of other state and local political figures have been invited. Inquires about the event can be directed to Maureen Daly at 443-286-4731 or maureen.daly4@gmail.com, or David Casey at 443-857-0831 or bridgemaryland@aol.com. St. Bernardine Church Hall, 614 Mt. Holly St at Edmondson Ave. in West Baltimore.