The Week Ahead (Earth Day Edition)

Happy Earth Day!

Last week Neil Bergsman appeared in a Public News Service story on the continuing push for paid sick leave. We also blogged about the new 90 Day Report for the 2013 session, and Maryland's 6.6 percent unemployment rate.

For the week of April 22nd through April 28th:

• On Monday, April 22nd, the Task Force to Study the Laws and Policies relating to Representation of Indigent Criminal Defendants by the Office of the Public Defender meets to discuss subcommittee progress at 1pm in room 100 of the House Office Building, Annapolis.
• On Tuesday, April 23rd, MBTPI will co-host our annual Legislative Wrap-Up. For more information and to register for this free event, click here.
• On Thursday, April 25th, the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee meets from 1-3pm in a conference room at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) office at 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore. 
• The Medicaid Advisory Committee meeting will be immediately followed by a public hearing on the HealthChoice (Medicaid delivery program) waiver renewal for 2013, from 1-3pm in the same room on Preston St.
• On Friday, April 26th, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission holds a conference call to discuss and approve the Local Health Improvement Coalitions.

The Week Ahead

The General Assembly returns to Annapolis today in a special session to pass budget and revenue legislation eliminating the need for the doomsday budget. On Wednesday the governor outlined what state leaders expect to accomplish over the next three days, but regardless it is going to be a stressful week.

Monday, May 14th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will hold hearings on the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA), the State and Local Revenue and Financing Act, and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (a federal tax credit program to help local jurisdictions borrow for education spending, excluding new construction). MBTPI has prepared testimony in support of the revenue bill in both chambers. 11am in 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis. 
• House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the BRFA. Testimony is due by 11am today. 1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the State and Local Revenue and Financing Act. Testimony is due by noon today. 2pm in room 130, House Office Building.
• We expect the Senate will have its second reading of the BRFA and revenue bills late Monday.

Tuesday, May 15th

• We expect the Senate to vote on the BRFA and revenue bills Tuesday morning.
• We expect the House to begin its consideration of the BRFA and revenue bills late Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 16th

• If all goes according to plan, the legislature will wrap up the special session sometime on Wednesday.
• MBTPI co-hosts our annual Legislative Wrap-Up with Maryland Nonprofits, the Maryland CASH Campaign, Advocates for Children and Youth, Job Opportunities Task Force, and the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition. This free event will focus on what came out of the 2012 regular session, what is happening with the special session, and our budget briefing.  Lea Gilmore from the Moving Maryland Forward Network will speak, as will representatives from each of the sponsoring organizations. Leading legislators will stop by as available. Lunch is included. You must register for this free event, and the deadline to register is today (Monday) at 4 pm. 10am to 2pm, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• To register, download a registration form. Complete your information at the top of the form, write "Legislative Wrap-Up" for 'course name', and May 16 for 'course date', and ignore all payment related fields. Fax the completed form to Maryland Nonprofits at 410-235-2190.
• If you are a Maryland Nonprofits member you can register online.  Scroll down to "Legislative Wrap-Up" and click on Register . 

Friday, May 18th

• Friday is Bike to Work Day.  In an effort to encourage more bicycling, communities across the country sponsor events, pit stops, and support teams for the day.  If you live in the Baltimore region you can find out more here.  If in the DC region, look here. 
• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases state employment figures for April 2012.  Maryland's unemployment rate ticked up slightly in March, to 6.6 percent.  The rate rose because the labor force grew faster than employment (MD added more than 2,000 jobs in March). 

The Week Ahead

Governor O'Malley officially called the legislature back into special session on Friday.  Legislators will revisit the budget starting May 14th, and state leaders hope to pass a revenue package that averts the doomsday budget by the end of that week.

Now that the special session is official, please urge your representatives in the General Assembly to continue investing in education, health care, transportation, and safe communities - the building blocks of Maryland’s economy.  Our state’s well-being depends on it. 

Tuesday, May 8th

• Health Care Reform Coordinating Committee meets in full.  10am in the Joint Hearing Room, Department of Legislative Services, Annapolis.
• The Oversight Committee for Quality Care in Nursing Homes meets.  2pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis.

Thursday, May 10th

• The Board of Directors for the Maryland Health Insurance Plan meets to review the Certificate of Coverage, get an update on federal activity, and review requests for letters of interest.  1pm at 201 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore. 

Friday, May 11th

• The Board of Social Work Examiners holds a public hearing to discuss and vote on proposed regulations.  A portion of the meeting may be held in closed session.  11am in room 109 of the Metro Building, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore. 

And don't forget that our annual Legislative Wrap-Up is May 16th.  Register now to reserve your spot. MBTPI cosponsors this free event every year to summarize budget and legislative decisions.  If you are a Maryland Nonprofits member you can register online (scroll down to Legislative Wrap-Up).  Otherwise, download and fax the registration form.