The Week Ahead

Today's Week Ahead is abbreviated as we're taking part in Maryland Nonprofits' Annual Conference today. Last week, MBTPI blogged about film credits and we hosted a guest blog about school breakfast from Maryland Hunger Solutions. MBTPI also testified on several bills that would cut the corporate tax rate, and on transportation financing (all testimony).

For the week of February 25th to March 1st:

• Budget hearings continue. Highlights include the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Department of Human Resources. More information can be found on the budget hearing calendar.
• Hearings on other bills also continue. This week is going to be a busy one in Annapolis, with hearings on paid sick leave, the minimum wage, and gun control. More information can be found on the committee calendar and floor agendas (click on a date to get more detailed information).
• Homelessness and Reentry Lobby Day is Thursday, February 28th.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the state-level 2012 employment averages on Friday, March 1st.
• And last, but definitely not least, unless Congress acts by the end of the week, sequestration cuts go into effect Friday, March 1st. The White House released state-by-state summaries of sequestration's impact yesterday. The Washington Post created an interactive page; they also provide a scan of the White House report so you can read all about the effect of sequestration on Maryland.

The Week Ahead (Late Night Edition)

MBTPI staff are in New Orleans for much of this week at the annual Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) conference. This week's edition of the Week Ahead is very late because our travel was significantly delayed due to this mornings fog (and because the wifi at the airport didn't work). But we'll be back in Baltimore in time to cohost our conference call on the fiscal cliff (see Thursday, below).

Tuesday, December 11th

• Legislative Policy Committee holds their last meeting of the interim. 4pm in the Appropriations Committee Room (121), House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Capital Budget Subcommittee and the Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee (both of the House Appropriations Committee) go on a site visit to the Maryland State Archives and warehouses. 10am to 1pm, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds briefings in preparation for the upcoming session. 10am to 5pm in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Senate Finance Committee discusses energy issues and the Division of Labor and Industry and related laws and functions. 1pm in 3 East, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Advisory Council for Alternative Response meets. 1pm in room 1044, Department of Human Resources, 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore.
• State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy continues to review and evaluate Maryland's sentencing guidelines and policies. 5-6:15pm in room 100, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Community Health Resources Commission meets to discuss Health Enterprise Zone applicants. 2pm in room 230, House Office Building, Annapolis.

Wednesday, December 12th

• House Health and Government Operations Committee receives an update on Maryland's Health Benefit Exchange and state benchmark plan; an update by CareFirst; a briefing on Excelsior College's nursing program; and an update from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on generic drug reimbursement. 1pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis, MD
• Special Joint Committee on Pensions meets. 2pm in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Task Force on the Establishment of a Statewide Spay/Neuter Fund  meets. 1pm in room 250, House Office Building, Annapolis.

Thursday, December 13th

• Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds is briefed on small business financing opportunities in Maryland and state banks. 1pm in the William Amoss Hearing Room, 4th Floor, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Spending Affordability Committee meets. 4pm in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• House Emergency Medical Services System Work Group receives an update by the Maryland State Police Aviation Command and a Department of Legislative Services presentation on the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund. 1:30pm in room 318, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Task Force to Study Maryland Insurance of Last-Resort Programs continues discussion comparing the four insurers of last resort programs. 1pm in room 231, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Advisory Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness holds a board meeting. 10am to noon at Frito Lay, 800 Hickory Drive, Aberdeen.
• Council for the Procurement of Health, Educational and Social Services meets. 2pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• MBTPI and Maryland Nonprofits host an informational conference call on the federal fiscal cliff at noon. Call 1-866-740-1260 and use passcode 7636737. 

Friday, December 14th

• Board of Social Work Examiners meets. 11am in room 109, Metro Building, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the spending affordability briefing and Maryland's structural deficit for fiscal year 2014, and about the lower unemployment rate for the state in September. Neil Bergsman was quoted in an op-ed on Maryland's debt by Gazette.net

October 22nd, 2012

• Alcoholic Beverages Article Review Committee meets to continue its review of material dealing with the conditions for issuing licenses. 5pm in the Judiciary Training Room 3, 2009F Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis.

October 23rd, 2012

• Education and Economic Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee is on a site visit. 10am at The Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville. 
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Strategic Planning Made Simple. This is a half-day training; for more information or to register see the events page.

October 24th, 2012

• Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee is on site visits to several public schools. 9am to 4:30pm, Baltimore City Public Schools, Professional Development Center, 2500 E. Northern Parkway, Baltimore. 
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Starting a Nonprofit: Planning and Preparation. This is a lunchtime webinar; for more information or to register see the events page. 

October 25th, 2012

• Task Force to Study Court Decision Regarding Pit Bulls holds a work session. 1pm in 2 East, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee meets. 1-3pm in the lobby level conference room L-3, 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore.

October 26th, 2012

• Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area is on a site visit to Annapolis area living shoreline sites. More information about the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays is available here. 9:30am to 1pm.

The Week Ahead

MBTPI's analysis of Question 7 (the gambling referendum) continues to attract attention, mostly recently in the Afro-American last Monday. Later in the week Neil Bergsman blogged about his experiences with the Food Stamp Challenge (you can also read his final thoughts about the challenge from earlier this morning). Feeding yourself for $30 a week isn't easy; yet another reason why protecting and expanding social services is so important.

Neil Bergsman is co-presenting a full-day training program on the Maryland legislative and budget process with Henry Bogdan of Maryland Nonprofits. Please see the entry for Thursday for more information and how to register. 

Tuesday, October 16th

• Joint Audit Committee holds hearings on data security and other audit issues.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Task Force to Study the Laws and Policies Relating to Representation of Indigent Criminal Defendants by the Office of the Public Defender receives presentations on the DeWolfe vs. Richmond decision, the District Court Commissioner System, pretrial release, and the bail review system. 1pm in room 100, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Task Force on the Establishment of a Statewide Spay/Neuter Fund meets to discuss potential funding mechanisms and program structures. 1pm in room 250, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Food Access and Nutrition Network presents the 2nd Annual Fighting Hunger in Maryland Conference: A Call to Action (registration required). The conference will bring together agency leaders, nonprofits, schools and other entities invested in reducing hunger and poverty in Maryland. Topics include: SNAP, child nutrition and WIC policy; changing paradigms in emergency food distribution; local food, local hunger; food security and nutrition strategies for seniors; and community nutrition outreach strategies. 8am to 4pm, University of Maryland, SMC Campus Center, 621 West Lombard Street, Baltimore.
• Witnesses to Hunger Exhibit opening reception follows the Fighting Hunger in Maryland conference.

Wednesday, October 17th

• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families discusses nutrition issues including childhood obesity, eating disorders, and breast milk banks for premature babies. 10am in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Federal Relations meets to discuss federal health care reform and its impact on Maryland. 10am in the William H Amoss Hearing Room (4th Floor), Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Legislative Data Systems meets. 10am in room 218, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Board of Public Works meets. 10am in the Governor's Reception Room (2nd floor), State House, Annapolis. 
• House Appropriations Committee and House Environmental Matters Committee are jointly briefed on the allocation of mortgage settlement funds. The national Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight recently published an activity report (go to page 53 for the Maryland appendix). Readers may also be interested in the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition's (MCRC) analysis of the report. 11am in room 120, House of Delegates Building, Annapolis.
• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is briefed by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services on the new youth detention center report. The Committee is also briefed on the allocation of mortgage settlement funds and toll collection issues. 1pm in room 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.  
• Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government is briefed on the Open Meetings Act. 1pm in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• House Ways and Means Committee, House Appropriations Committee, Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, and the Spending Affordability Committee are jointly briefed by the Department of Legislative Services. 4pm in rooms East 1 and 2, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• General Provisions Article Review Committee meets to review drafts of Title 2 "Official Oaths" and Title 3 "Open Meetings Act." 5pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Internal Controls for Nonprofit Finances. This is a Maryland Nonprofits training. For more information or to register, go to their events page. 

Thursday, October 18th

• Maryland Health Care Commission meets. 1pm in conference room 100, Maryland Health Care Commission, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.
• MBTPI and Maryland Nonprofits present Navigating the Maryland Legislative and Budget Process. Learn about the internal workings and relationships within the executive and legislative branches; the formal steps in the legislative and budgeting process; what determines whether bills pass or fail; how the state budget is developed, reviewed, modified, and approved; and how you can build legislative relationships and communicate your message effectively. This session covers the ins and outs of the Maryland state legislative and budgetary process. This is a full-day Maryland Nonprofits training. For more information or to register, go to their events page. 

Friday, October 19th

• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases state-level employment figures for September. Maryland's unemployment rate rose in August to 7.1 percent, despite job growth. 
• Friday is also the deadline to register for the 33rd Annual Welfare Advocates Conference. This year the conference is October 30th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Timonium. MBTPI will be presenting in the afternoon on How to be a Non-Profit Voice for Change in Annapolis, so make sure to sign up in advance.

The Week Ahead

Last week Neil Bergsman blogged about this week's Food Stamp Challenge, which he is participating in, while I blogged about the falling national unemployment rate. Neil also broke down Question 7 (the expanded gambling referendum) for Fox 5 DC. And last but not least, Greg Cantori officially joined the team as CEO of our parent organization Maryland Nonprofits last Monday.

Tuesday, October 9th

• Advisory Council for Alternative Response meets. The Council is developing alternatives to traditional responses to cases of suspected child abuse or neglect. 1pm in room 1044, Department of Human Resources, 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore.

Wednesday, October 10th

• House Health and Government Operations Committee goes on a site visit to the University of Maryland, College Park's School of Public Health. Members will be briefed on the Center for Healthy Families, minority health disparities, the Center for Health Information, and the Institute for a Healthiest Maryland. 9:30am to 1:30pm at University House, University of Maryland, College Park.  
• Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) meets. 10am in room 100, 4160 Patterson Ave, Baltimore.
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Now What? Sustaining Your New Nonprofit. This is a Maryland Nonprofits training. For more information or to register, go to their events page.

Thursday, October, 12th

• Maryland Economic Development Commission holds an infrastructure roundtable. 10am to noon at the Verizon office, 13100 Columbia Place, Silver Spring, MD.
• Board of Directors of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP) meets. Topics will include findings from an audit of MHIP; the Missing Federal Application Report; updates on procurements, the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program, and federal enrollment; and a discussion about MHIP/Exchange messaging. Participants may attend in person or by conference call. Dial in 888-769-8761 Passcode: 7592829. 9am in suite 630, 1 Calvert Plaza, 201 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the new revenue estimates for Maryland, the annual briefing of the Joint Committee on Welfare Reform, new data from the Census Bureau, and the August state-level employment figures. Also last week, Governing Magazine highlighted our brief on expanded gambling.

Monday, September 24th

• Exchange Financing and Sustainability Advisory Committees of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board meet. 2-4pm at the Maryland Health Care Commission, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.
• Board of Directors of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan meet about messaging and a memorandum of understanding between MHIP and the Exchange. 3pm in suite 630, 1 Calvert Plaza, 201 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.

Tuesday, September 25th

• Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee does a site visit to Thurgood Marshall International Airport, from 11am to 2pm.
• Public Health and Long Term Care Subcommittee of the House Health and Government Operations Committee meets to discuss HB 1090. 1pm in room 241, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board meets. 9am to 1pm, University of Maryland BioPark, 801 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.

Wednesday, September 26th

• Maryland Nonprofits offers Forming a Nonprofit: The Paperwork. This is a training program; for more information check out Maryland Nonprofits' events page. 

Thursday, September 27th

• Video Lottery Facility Location Commission meets to receive an update on legal proceedings and to consider an extension request from CBAC Gaming and the City of Baltimore. This meeting will be held via teleconference. Interested parties may attend the meeting from Room 111 of the Legislative Services Building. A portion of the meeting may be held in closed session. 11am in room 111, Legislative Services Building, 90 State Circle, Annapolis.
• Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law meets. 1pm in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council meets. 3-5pm in the Joint Hearing Room, Department of Legislative Services, 90 State Circle, Annapolis.
• Governor's Commission on Small Business holds a town hall meeting. 10am to 1pm in the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, 44219 Airport Road, California, MD. 
• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases county-level employment data.
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Build Capacity with Dynamic Volunteer Engagement. This is a training program; for more information check out Maryland Nonprofits' events page. 

Friday, September 28th

• Maryland Advisory Committee on Manufacturing Competitiveness holds a board meeting. 10am to noon in the 17th floor conference room, World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore.

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

There are only a couple of events this week, but a number of national economic data releases.

Tuesday, August 21nd

• Workgroup on Lead Liability Protection for Rental Property meets. 10am to noon Maryland Insurance Administration in the Maryland Insurance Administration Hearing Room on the 24th Floor of 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.
• Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits meets. 2-4pm in the Maryland Insurance Administration Hearing Room on the 24th Floor of 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases data about the summer youth labor force.

Wednesday, August 22nd

• Board of Public Works meets. 10am in the Governor's Reception Room on the second floor of the state house in Annapolis.

Thursday, August 23th

• Maryland Nonprofits offers Streamlining Your Marketing Through Content Strategy. This is a training program in the Silver Spring office. For more information and to register, check out their events page. 
• BLS releases monthly data about mass layoffs.
• Census Bureau releases national and regional data about new home sales. The data - the number of new single-family houses sold and for sale, median and average prices, the number of houses sold and for sale by stage of construction, and other statistics - are from the Survey of Construction (SOC), which is partially funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Friday, August 24th

• BLS releases data about worker displacement. 
• Census also releases the Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders. The Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders survey provides monthly statistical data on economic conditions in the domestic manufacturing sector. The survey measures current industrial activity and provides an indication of future business trends.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the 1.2 million Marylanders who are set to gain critical health care protections next year, thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the governor's announcement of a second special session to focus on gaming, beginning August 9th.

Tuesday, July 31st

• Video Lottery Facility Location Commission meets. The Commission is the state body responsible for awarding the five licenses to operate video lottery operations. The primary topic at the second special session will be whether or not to add a sixth license. The Commission will discuss various legal proceedings, an update on gambling implementation, an overview of the background investigation of a Baltimore City license applicant, and consideration of the Baltimore City license proposal. A portion of the meeting will be held in closed session.  1pm in the Joint Hearing Room of the Legislative Services Building, Annapolis.
• Governor's Commission on Small Business holds a board meeting. 10am to noon in the 17th Floor Conference Room at the World Trade Center, 401 East Pratt Street, Baltimore.
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Researching and Writing Foundation Grant Proposals 101. This is a Maryland Nonprofits training; for more information or to register go to their events page.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

• Board of Public Works holds its regular meeting. 10am in the Governor's Reception Room on the second floor of the State House.
• Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority meets. 9am in the lower level conference room at the One Call Center, 7223 Parkway Drive, Hanover. 
• Maryland Nonprofits offers a webinar on starting a nonprofit. This is a Maryland Nonprofits training; for more information or to register go to their events page.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases metropolitan employment data for June.

Friday, August 3rd

• BLS releases national employment figures for July. The unemployment rate in June stalled at 8.2 percent.

New Certified Public Manager program

Over lunch I attended an open house for a new partnership between Maryland Nonprofits and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore, the Maryland Certified Public Manager(CPM) program.

Starting in October, the CPM program is a leadership development program for public managers and supervisors. The program will offer "participants the opportunity to learn and practice the critical leadership skills and competencies necessary to effectively meet the complex demands and challenges in the 21st century public management environment."

The program is designed for people who are preparing to move into supervisory or management positions, those who want to update their skills, as well as managers and supervisors who have professional or technical training in another field but do not have formal management training. 

If you or your organization/agency are interested, applications are being accepted now through 5pm, August 2nd. The next informational session about the program will be held on July 26th from 9-11am at our offices at 1500 Union Ave. in Baltimore.

Metropolitan Employment

In other news, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released May data on metro area labor markets today.  The trends look better for Maryland than they have in the last few months, as all four metros experienced lower unemployment rates compared to May 2011 (BLS does not provide seasonally adjusted figures at the metro level, so comparing April to May is meaningless). Even Salisbury, which has seen higher rates on an annual basis until last month when it was stable, fell to 8.5 percent unemployment, compared to 8.9 percent 12 months prior.