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

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

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.