The Week Ahead

Last Monday MBTPI took a trip to Salisbury, where Neil presented to the Community Foundation on the effects of sequestration on the Eastern Shore. Also last week, we blogged about the implications of the proposed (and subsequently failed) farm bill legislation on the state. We also wrote about the audit of the District of Columbia's earned sick leave legislation and how it has not harmed business activity in the District.

State unemployment figures for May were released on Friday. Last month, 6.7 percent of working Marylanders were unemployed. This was up two tenths of a percentage point from the previous month. 

Sunday June 30 is the last day of Fiscal Year 2013 for Maryland state and local governments. MBTPI urges everyone to celebrate safely.

For the week of June 24th through June 30th:

• On Monday, June 24th, the Alcoholic Beverages Article Review Committee meets to review special venue licenses at 5pm in the Judiciary Training Room at 2009F Commerce Park Drive in Annapolis.On Friday, June 28th at 10am, BLS will publish its report on the multifactor productivity trends for 2012.
• On Tuesday, June 25th, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission is hosting a public forum with the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for safety net providers, MCOs, and commercial carriers from 10am to noon at the UMBC Tech Center Lobby at 1450 South Rolling Road in Baltimore.
• Also at 10am on Tuesday, the Maryland Venture Fund Authority will have a conference call to update on InvestMaryland investments and to decide on their next steps for investing. The number and conference code can be found here.
• Later on Tuesday, the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission convenes at 1pm in the Commission Room of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency at 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. They will update on agency activities and review proposals for a Prince George's County casino.
• Additionally, Maryland Hunger Solutions will be hosting an open house on Tuesday evening from 4pm-7pm at 2002 Clipper Park Road, Suite 310 in Baltimore. For more information on the event and how to RSVP, please visit their homepage.
• Finally on Tuesday, the State Commission on Criminal Sentencing will review and evaluate state sentencing guidelines and policies at 4:30pm in the Miller West I Senate Office Building on 11 Bladen Street in Annapolis.
• On Wednesday, June 26th, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (MCHRC) will meet at 2pm in room 240 of the House Office Building on 6 Bladen Street in Annapolis, where several Local Health Improvement Coalition applicants will present to the MCHRC board.
• On Thursday, June 27th at 10am, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release its county employment and wage figures for the fourth quarter of 2012. 
• Also on Thursday, the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee meets from 1pm to 3pm in conference room L-3 at 201 W. Preston Street in Baltimore.

The Week Ahead

We've added a new section to our website, called Maryland 101. Here we'll provide answers to common questions about the state's budget, legislative process, and state services. Last week we added a budget glossary and a guide to the budget process.

Tuesday, June 12th

• Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law holds hearings to receive testimony from experts and advocates. 10am to 4pm in room 130 of the House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Community Services Reimbursement Rate Commission holds their regular bimonthly meeting. The commission is concerned with issues regarding community services for individuals with developmental or psychiatric disabilities. 6pm to 8pm in the Conference Room of the Maryland Association Community Services, 8835 Columbia 100 Parkway, Unit P Columbia.
• The Workgroup to Consider Gaming Expansion meets for a presentation by the Department of Legislative Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers on the findings of the study of video lottery terminals and table games in Maryland and additional invited testimony. 10am in room 101, House Office Building, Annapolis. 
• Maryland Nonprofits offers "Budgeting Basics" a training session for nonprofit staff who need to understand and use budgets.  The session will cover basic accounting principles and how to use these to develop an accurate annual budget for a nonprofit organization. This is not a training class in Quickbooks or Maryland's state budget. 1pm to 4pm at our Baltimore office, 1500 Union Ave. 

Wednesday, June 13th

• Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law holds hearings to receive testimony of experts and advocates. 10am to 4pm in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.

Thursday, June 14th

• InvestMaryland holds a public forum. InvestMaryland is a relatively new program that sells tax credits to raise funds to support startup companies in high tech fields. 10am to noon at the Johns Hopkins University to Montgomery County campus, room 121 of the 9605 Building, 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville. Contact Michelle Jackson if you wish to attend.
• The Board of Directors of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan hold their regular meeting. 9am in the 6th floor conference room, 201 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.
• Interagency Committee on School Construction holds their regular meeting. 9am to noon in the 8th Floor conference room # 1, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.

Friday, June 15th

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases May employment figures for states. Maryland's unemployment rate was 6.7% in April, up two tenths of a percentage point since February due mostly to growth in the labor force. The May number will be somewhat affected by the shuttering of Big Huge Games in Timonium, after former Orioles pitcher Curt Schilling's 38 Studios-which owns Big Huge Games-imploded. 
• Friday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Our friends at the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition will be taking part in a rally and seminar in Baltimore County on protecting seniors and other vulnerable adults from financial exploitation.  The rally starts at noon, followed by the seminar at 1:15; both at Towson Library, 320 York Road, Towson.