Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the effects so far of sequestration on the state and its budget. Also last week, the League of American Cyclists named Maryland the 11th most bike friendly state, and Entrepreneur called Maryland the best state to start a business. 

This week's activity involves many meetings on health finance.

For the week of June 3rd through June 9th:

• On Monday, June 3rd, the task force to study the laws and policies relating to representation of indigent criminal defendants by the Office of the Public Defender will provide updates on the subcommittee's progress at 1pm in Room 100 of the House Office Building in Annapolis.
• On Tuesday, June 4^th, the State Advisory Council on Hereditary and Congenital Disorders meets from 6pm to 8pm in Room L-1 of the O’Connor Building in Baltimore.

• On Wednesday, June 5th, the Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority meets at 9am in the Lower Level Conference Room at One Call Center on 7223 Parkway Drive in Hannover.

• Later on Wednesday, the Health Services Cost Review Committee has its monthly meeting at 1pm in Room 100 at 4160 Patterson Avenue in Baltimore.

• On Thursday, June 6th, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee’s joint briefing with the Senate Finance Committee to discuss recent proceedings of the Health Services Cost Review Commission begins at 9am at 3 West in the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis.

• Also on Thursday, the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council meets at 10am to discuss and vote on grant applications for fiscal year 2014 in Room 259 at the Loyola College Graduate Center on 8890 McGaw Road in Columbia.

• Also at 10am on Thursday, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene host a forum for regional safety net providers, MCOs, and commercial carriers in the Militia Room of the Waldorf Jaycees Community Center at 3090 Crain Highway in Waldorf.

• Later on Thursday, the Legislative Policy Committee will hold a briefing by the Maryland Joint Prison Task Force and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services regarding public safety and the Baltimore City Detention Center at 1pm in the Joint Hearing Room of the Legislative Services Building at 90 State Circle in Annapolis.
• On Friday, June 7th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its national employment figures for May.

The Week Ahead (Sine Die Edition)

Today is Sine Die, the last day of the 2013 legislative session. It's been a busy session, between passing the budget, raising the gas tax, enacting gun control, and repealing the death penalty, among other issues--but with less drama than last year. Look for our in-depth review of the session on our blog later this week.

Last week we blogged about the legislature missing the budget target date, the supplemental budget introduced by Governor O'Malley, national employment trends in March, and the budget conference committee report.

For the week of April 8th to April 14th:

• Monday being the last day of the 2013 session, the legislature is scheduled to rush through its remaining workload, including bills on: speed cameras, medical marijuana, pit bulls, and driving while using a mobile device.
• The Commission on State Debt, which advises the Board of Public Works on the property tax rate, also meets Monday, April 8th at 2pm in the Treasury Building, Annapolis. 
• The Advisory Council for Alternative Response meets on Tuesday, April 9th at 1pm in the Department of Human Resources, 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore. 
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases metropolitan level employment figures for February on Wednesday, April 10th. 
• The Health Services Cost Review Commission holds their monthly meeting at 1pm on Wednesday, April 10th at 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore. 
• The Census Bureau releases the 2012 edition of their Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections on Thursday, April 11th.
• The Maryland Health Insurance Plan Board of Directors holds its monthly meeting at 9am on Thursday, April 11th at 201 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.