What Maryland lawmakers changed about child care, schools and colleges

 In the Baltimore Banner, story by reporters Maya Lora, Kristen Griffith, and Ellie Wolfe. To read the full story go here.

The Maryland Legislative session has just ended and the Baltimore Banner has a recap of bills that passed and those that didn't. Here are some excerpts from the article.

Equity efforts for teachers and school leaders

It could be a little easier for educators of color to enter the teaching profession, thanks to the passage of a bill that alters the path to a teaching license. Educators will no longer have to take a popular licensure test that “has been found to contain racial bias that may affect the test’s scoring, has limited efficacy to assess performance, and poses a financial burden for aspiring educator applicants,” the Maryland State Education Association said via email.

The state’s teachers union also supported a successful bill that requires each county school board member to take anti-bias training. It used to only be a requirement for educators. The extension to board members is intended to make those in charge of school policy decisions “well informed of their role in preventing bias, prejudice, and hate,” the union stated.

Lawmakers attempted to improve the educator workforce with a few other bills, but not all of them made it to the finish line. That includes one that would’ve required all school systems to use a national database to screen job applicants for disciplinary actions reported by school districts across the country. The bill had strong support in the senate but never made it out of committee.

The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact bill also fell short. It could’ve helped Maryland public schools hire teachers with out-of-state credentials more easily. However, the bill had a short life in the house and never got a vote.

No statewide ban on cellphones in schools

Baltimore City Public Schools passed a cellphone ban this week, and Howard County already has one. Despite early evidence that suggests bans can lead to better grades and sharper focus for students, lawmakers did not pass any bills requiring other school districts to at least consider doing the same.

One of the bills introduced this year would have required certain county boards of education to develop and adopt a policy on the use of personal electronic devices during school hours. Though the bill was steadily making its way through the statehouse, it didn’t make it to the governor’s desk.

High School Seniors! Apply for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Page Program. Deadline: October 16th at 5:00PM

High School Seniors! Apply for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly (MGA) Page Program now through October 16 

The Maryland General Assembly Page Program, a paid opportunity open to current high school seniors, allows students to learn about our State legislative process. Each year, 105 pages and 36 alternates are selected from across Maryland to represent their schools and counties in Annapolis. Student pages are assigned to the Maryland State Senate or House of Delegates for two nonconsecutive weeks. 

Duties revolve around the schedule of the chamber to which the page is assigned, and may include keeping bill books up to date, distributing materials on the floor to members, assisting visitors, and delivering messages to members. For more information and to apply, go here.

The Page Program is non-patronage and open to residents of Maryland who attend Maryland public and nonpublic high schools.  Students must be seniors who are at least 16 years old.  Selected Pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks during the thirteen weeks of session.   During the 13 weeks of session, which runs from the second week in January to early April, each page serves one week during the first seven weeks and returns for a second week of service during the last six. The duties of the page revolve around the schedule of the chamber.  Whenever the chamber is in session, pages must be present. Pages will receive a stipend of $55 for each day worked to help defray the cost of lodging and meals.

Each county has a County Page Coordinator who oversees the application and selection process and works with their county high schools to identify and serve interested students.   Application to the program is based on the school and school system the student attends, not where the student lives. All selection processes will be completed by October 27, 2023 this year.  Interested students should contact their school counselor or county coordinator to receive their county’s page application and to determine the deadline for submission.

The supplemental application form, which includes an upload of the MGA Page application, is due by 5:00pm on Monday, October 16th. The hard copy MGA Page application should be received in our office by no later than Monday, October 23rd.

Flyer here.

For further information email:

Tawana R. Offer, Ph.D., Page Coordinator

Tawana.Offer@mlis.state.md.us

Amendment on abortion doesn’t advance in Maryland

Full story here, note this is from March 25, 2022 on AP, by reporter Brian Witte. Because nothing could go wrong here in Maryland, right? We all remember when Texas was solidly Democratic and Ann Richards was the governor. And when Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas. So, as long as Democrats control the general assembly now, nothing will ever change and our abortion rights are safe forever.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A proposal to enshrine the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution failed to advance in the Maryland Senate on Friday, though other measures to expand access to providers moved forward.

After legislation received preliminary approval in the Senate to expand abortion access in the state, Senate President Bill Ferguson said those measures would be “the only time we take up this issue this session.”

“I know there are lots of other possible ideas out there. I think this is the issue that we will take on for this session,” Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, told his colleagues at the end of the Senate’s Friday session.

District 15 Open Seat - Deadline to Apply: November 29th, 5pm

Want to have some say in the governing of MCPS and the county? Tired of the secrecy and governing by in-the-bubble folks?  Sen. Kathleen Dumais has left an open seat. If you are a Democrat living in District 15, please apply!

Notice of Vacancy for State Delegate for District 15

For Immediate Release November 8, 2021  NOTICE OF VACANCY FOR STATE DELEGATE FOR DISTRICT 15 Candidates Must Apply by 5 pm, Monday, November 29, 2021. The Montgomery County  Democratic Central Committee will meet at 7:30 pm,  Tuesday, November 30, 2021, via Zoom Meeting to interview candidates to fill the vacancy in the Maryland House of Delegates created by the resignation of Kathleen Dumais as a Delegate from Legislative District 15. Delegate Dumais has been appointed as a Judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.   Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume, which must be received by email to office@mcdcc.org no later than 5 pm, Monday, November 29, 2021. Candidates should also provide their current home address or legal residence. An applicant must be a registered Democratic voter in the State of Maryland, a resident of Legislative District 15, and have attained the age of 21 years. Candidates who meet the above qualifications will be notified of their specific interview times, and may make a brief opening statement at the Nov. 30 meeting.   The Central Committee will vote publicly to fill the vacancy immediately after concluding the interviews. The Nov. 30 meeting will be open to the public and will be livestreamed on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee Facebook page. Any person wishing to attend via Zoom Meeting must register in advance at bit.ly/mcdcc1130. Registrants will receive an auto-reply email with the Zoom Meeting link.  Please email any questions to office@mcdcc.org.  Secretary Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee 12320 Parklawn Drive Rockville, MD 20852 (301) 946-1000 By authority: Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee; Mimi Hassanein, Treasurer.

Board of Education Residence Districts - Redistricting Plan Public Hearing, Tuesday Nov 23rd, 7pm

This is a reminder that the Montgomery County Delegation will hold its Montgomery County Board of Education Redistricting Plan Bill Hearing on Tuesday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. The link to the bill is here. The bill in pdf is here. This is Bill MC 19-22, Montgomery County - Board of Education Residence Districts - Redistricting Plan.

Please click here to sign up to testify at this bill hearing. Further information about the Board of Education Redistricting Plan as well as a link to the different redistricting plan options can be found on the Calendar page of the website.

Please click here to view the Redistricting Plan bill draft. Any individual or group wishing to testify at Montgomery County Delegation public hearings should be aware of the following protocol: The Board of Education Redistricting Plan Bill Hearing will be held virtually. 

If you wish to testify please sign up by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 22, the day before the hearing; to sign up please click the above link - or you may e-mail: RStryer@house.state.md.us. 

Those registering later than that may be taken on a "virtual walk-in" basis the day of the hearing at the discretion of the Chair. 

Written testimony is not required, but if you choose to have it distributed, please email it by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 22 to RStryer@house.state.md.us to allow time for proper distribution to the Delegation Members. Written testimony will be made publicly available, and the bill number should be clearly indicated in the upper right-hand corner. Individuals will have two minutes in which to speak; representatives of organizations will have three minutes; elected officials will have five minutes. Organizations will be limited to one representative speaking for three minutes. There is no ceding of time. 

Please note that the speaking order is at the discretion of the Chair. This bill hearing will be live-streamed on the Delegation's YouTube page. Further specifics will be provided to those testifying. 

Rebecca Stryer 

Montgomery County Delegation Administrator 

Maryland House of Delegates 

Lowe House Office Building 

6 Bladen Street, Room 219 

Annapolis, MD 21401 

 301-957-6332 

 RStryer@house.state.md.us 

 www.montgomerycountydelegation.com

11/15 Montgomery County Joint House and Senate Priorities Hearing - Appeal for Testimony

This is a reminder that the Montgomery County Delegation will be holding its Joint House and Senate Priorities Hearing next Monday, November 15^th at 7:00 p.m. This hearing is an opportunity for the public to discuss any issue of importance for the 2022 Legislative Session and bring it to the attention of the legislators. Please click here to sign up to testify at the Priorities Hearing.

Any individual or group wishing to testify at Montgomery County Delegation public hearings should be aware of the following protocol:

The Priorities Hearing will be held virtually this year. If you wish to testify please sign up by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14^th, the day before the hearing; to sign up please click the above link - or you may e-mail: RStryer@house.state.md.us. Those registering later than that may be taken on a "virtual walk-in" basis the day of the hearing at the discretion of the Chair.

Written testimony is not required, but if you choose to have it distributed, please email it by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14^th to RStryer@house.state.md.us to allow time for proper distribution to the Delegation Members. Written testimony will be made publicly available.

Individuals will have two minutes in which to speak; representatives of organizations will have three minutes; elected officials will have five minutes. Organizations will be limited to one representative speaking for three minutes. There is no ceding of time. Please note that the speaking order is at the discretion of the Chair.

The Priorities Hearing will be live-streamed on the Delegation's YouTube page. Further specifics will be provided to those testifying closer to the hearing date.

Rebecca Stryer

Montgomery County Delegation Administrator

Maryland House of Delegates

Lowe House Office Building

6 Bladen Street, Room 219

Annapolis, MD  21401

301-957-6332

RStryer@house.state.md.us

www.montgomerycountydelegation.com

Positive results for COVID on rapid tests at State House complex; multiple Maryland senators miss floor session

Positive results from “several” rapid coronavirus tests at the State House complex kept a number of senators off the chamber floor Tuesday and in a precautionary quarantine as lawmakers awaited the results of more accurate tests. Senate President Bill Ferguson announced the positive results to the Senate chamber and said public health officials have begun extensive contact tracing of anyone potentially exposed to the virus.

Six of the Senate’s 47 members missed the chamber’s 11 a.m. floor session, although it wasn’t clear how many of those received positive results, how many were quarantining as a precaution because they were a close contact of a potential case or whether any missed the session for other reasons.

However, Sen. Shelly Hettleman and Sen. Susan Lee both told The Baltimore Sun that they were asked to quarantine as a precaution because they’d potentially been in contact with someone who tested positive Tuesday on a rapid test...

https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-senate-covid-tests-20210223-x3nnrnmzczak3pisadykd5eiky-story.html?_lrsc=6ac162aa-3720-44ce-a227-decbdfcbac8c

After ‘child marriage’ ban fails in Md., Del. and NJ pass legislation

Maryland may have failed again to pass legislation eliminating so-called “child marriage,” but nearby Delaware did last month and New Jersey may soon follow if Gov. Phil Murphy signs it into law.

Delaware became the first state to require an individual to be 18 to get married when Gov. John Carney signed the bill in May.

New Jersey’s legislature passed a similar bill this week. Former Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill last year because it didn’t “comport with the sensibilities and, in some cases, the religious customs, of the people of this state.”

Advocates have pushed for Maryland, which has a minimum marriage age of 18 with exceptions requiring pregnancy or parental permission for 16- and 17-year-olds and both for 15-year-olds, to eliminate those exceptions. Bills have gained traction in the General Assembly in recent years but have not passed...

https://thedailyrecord.com/2018/06/08/child-marriage-maryland-new-jersey/

Md. Senate Executive Nominations Committee will stop streaming voting #NoTransparency #SecretSociety #DemocracyFail

...Such discussions and debates and votes have been streamed on an irregular basis over the last couple of years.

Sen. William C. “Bill” Ferguson IV, D-Baltimore and chair of the Senate Executive Nominations Committee, called the streaming of the discussion and vote “a mistake” and said he plans to make sure live streaming is cut off after the last nominee is interviewed....

...Voting sessions in other committees are also typically not streamed live even though that is where the majority of legislation is hammered out before being sent on for votes before the full House and Senate. Senate rules, however, do allow for those sessions to be streamed live at the discretion of the committee chairs...

http://thedailyrecord.com/2018/02/05/md-senate-executive-nominations-committee-will-stop-streaming-voting/

Sexual misconduct in Annapolis? Women say it’s a hidden — but real — problem

...Instead, many women informally trade experiences and warnings with friends and trusted colleagues.

“There is this vague sense that you could go to legislative ethics or to the presiding officers or to (House Administrator) Barbara Oakes,” the former staffer said. “But if you are in the minority party, you aren’t getting in the speaker’s office.”

“Instead, everybody just warns everybody else,” she said. “Female staffers who are hired by more experienced female staffers get told ‘don’t go to that office alone.’ Everyone just warns everyone instead of dealing with the individual.”

#MeToo Maryland

Lawmakers and lobbyists in Maryland say they expect the issue of sexual harassment and misconduct borne of the #MeToo social media movement to be part of the 90-day legislative session that begins Jan. 10...

...In that story, Havard detailed her experiences as an intern covering the 2013 session, During that time, she said she was subject to harassment by three lawmakers  — a Republican and two Democrats...

http://thedailyrecord.com/2017/12/24/sexual-misconduct-in-annapolis-women-say-its-a-hidden-but-real-problem/

Breaking the Silence on Sexual Abuse of Students in Maryland Public Schools

pic.twitter.com/0i8ZrNjYxZ

— jennifer alvaro (@jennifermalvaro) July 19, 2017

Gov. Larry Hogan wants live video of legislative sessions

Gov. Larry Hogan wants live video of legislative sessions so badly he said he’s willing to work with lawmakers to address what he said might be their concerns over the use of salty language.

The governor called on the General Assembly to pass his bill that would require both the House and the Senate to provide live-streamed video of all floor sessions and archive those proceedings. Currently, the legislature only provides live audio streams of sessions, though bill hearings in committees are video and audio.

http://thedailyrecord.com/2017/02/22/hogan-offers-seven-second-delay-warning-label-amendments/

A to-do list for the legislature: Live-streaming floor sessions

Despite plenty of sniping back and forth between Gov. Larry Hogan and the General Assembly, this year's legislative session has gone pretty smoothly. The legislature passed Mr. Hogan's budget quickly and with little debate, and Mr. Hogan decided to allow into law the vast majority of the bills the legislature sent his way early enough to set up a potential veto fight. Still, there are a number of important pieces of legislation whose fates are left to be decided before the General Assembly adjourns Monday night. Here are a few that ought to be top priorities...

...
Live-streaming floor sessions
We can't quite fathom how it is that legislation sponsored by Del. Kathy Szeliga, the minority whip, and Del. David Moon, a Montgomery County Democrat, to require the House and Senate to live-stream floor debates hasn't even gotten a committee vote. Both chambers now live-stream (and archive) every committee hearing, and the kind of grandstanding critics of this measure say they fear has not come to pass. We suspect that the cost estimate for this measure is higher than necessary — $1.2 million for start-up costs in the first year and about $400,000 a year after that — but it would be worth it even at that price. People shouldn't have to drive to Annapolis to find out what their elected representatives are saying as they decide whether to pass or reject legislation.