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MARYLAND FAMILY NETWORK


 

Pbulic Policy

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Legislative Scorecard

SESSION 2009
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
STATE OPERATING BUDGET


LEGISLATIVE ISSUE MCC POSITION OUTCOME
1. Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Division of Early Childhood (DECD) Programs
DECD Budget FOF / MCC opposed several reductions contained in the Governor’s proposed funding for DECD, especially in the wake of mid-FY 09 cuts approved by the Board of Public Works (BPW) in October 2008. The legislature approved $149.5 million for FY 10, $6.5 million less than FY 09. The use of federal funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) prevented deeper reductions.
Maryland Child Care Resource Network FOF / MCC opposed the Governor’s proposed reduction to the Network and urged a restoration of funds. Following a supplemental appropriation using ARRA funds, the legislature approved $4,162,579 in FY 10, the same amount appropriated in FY 09, minus $250,000 cut by BPW. However, this amount represents a reduction of $825,196 vis-à-vis the Network contract.
Family Support Centers FOF / MCC opposed the Governor’s proposed reduction to Family Support Centers and urged a restoration of funds. Following a supplemental appropriation using ARRA funds, the legislature approved $5,065,619 in FY 10, the same amount appropriated in FY 09, minus $250,000 cut by BPW.
Judy Centers FOF / MCC supported the Governor’s proposed funding for the Judy Centers. The legislature approved $7,625,000 in FY 10, the same amount appropriated in FY 09.
Early Care and Education Enhancements Grants FOF / MCC supported the proposed funding for Early Care and Education Enhancement Grants. The legislature approved $2,950,000 in FY 10, the same amount appropriated in FY 09.
Head Start

 FOF / MCC supported the Governor’s request to maintain supplemental State funding for Head Start and opposed the DLS recommendation to cut the entire allocation. The legislature approved $1.8 million in State Funds for FY 10, a reduction of $1.2 million from FY 09.
Child Care Subsidy Program FOF / MCC supported the Governor’s proposed funding for the Child Care Subsidy Program. The legislature approved $104.1 million for FY10, a decrease of $1.5 million from the revised FY 09 appropriation. ARRA funds prevented a deeper reduction.
Office of Credentialing FOF / MCC supported the Governor’s proposed funding for the Office of Credentialing. The legislature approved $4.2 million in FY 10, an increase of $2 million over FY 09.
2. Infants and Toddlers Program FOF / MCC supported the Governor’s proposed budget for the Infants and Toddlers Program The legislature approved $10.4 million for FY10, the same amount appropriated in FY 09.
3. School Age Programs FOF / MCC supported the proposed funding of After School programs through the Governor’s Office for Children. The legislature approved $4.2 million for FY 10, a reduction of $700,000 from FY09.


Availability and Quality of Child Care

LEGISLATIVE ISSUE MCC POSITION OUTCOME
HB 685 / SB 414 – Family Law – Maryland Quality Ratings and Improvement System for Child Care Programs FOF / MCC supported this bill, which created a Quality Rating and Improvement System for regulated child care programs in Maryland. Died in W&M; died in EHEA.


Economic Self-Sufficiency and Family Support

LEGISLATIVE ISSUE MCC POSITION OUTCOME
HB 896 - Income Tax – Earned Income Tax Credit – Noncustodial Parent FOF / MCC supported this bill, which permitted noncustodial parents who make child support payments to claim 50% of the State EITC amount that would be available to a custodial parent. Died in W&M.
HB 1061 – Earned Income Credit Information Act FOF / MCC supported this bill, which required the Comptroller to publish information about EITC eligibility and required employers to distribute it to employees. Died on the Senate floor at Sine Die.


Education

LEGISLATIVE ISSUE MCC POSITION OUTCOME
HB 184 / SB 234 - Education - Maryland's Preschool for All Business Plan - Final Report Requirements FOF / MCC supported this bill, which required MSDE to finalize and publish the Preschool For All business plan with input from local school systems and governments. Signed by Governor 5/19/09
HB 306 / SB 257 - Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which adopted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to ease the transition of children of military families into Maryland schools. Signed by Governor 5/19/09.
HB 339 - Education Funding - Maintenance of Effort - Slots Revenue FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required that funding from the slots revenue in the Education Trust Fund not supplant State General Funds for public schools. Unfavorable report, W&M.
HB 342 – Public Education – Education Trust Fund – Use of Funds FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required that funding from the slots revenue in the Education Trust Fund not supplant State General Funds for public schools, community colleges, and public higher ed. institutions. Unfavorable report, W&M.
HB 602 – Smart Start Scholarship Program FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which created a pre-K scholarship program at MSDE for students with family income levels up to 2.5 times the eligibility for Free and Reduced Meals to attend public or private pre-K. Unfavorable report, W&M.
HB 603 – Great Preschools Tax Credit Program FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which created an income tax credit for contributions made by a business or an individual to an eligible nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for pre-K to eligible children attending nonpublic pre-K or child care. Died in W&M.
HB 1549 – Education Funding – Thornton Formula - Evaluation FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required MSDE to evaluate and report on the Thornton funding formula. Died in House Rules Committee.


Health and Safety

LEGISLATIVE ISSUE MCC POSITION OUTCOME
HB 712 / SB 356 – Family Day Care Homes and Child Care Centers – Emergency Preparedness Plans FOF / MCC supported this bill, which required all regulated child care programs to develop and implement emergency preparedness plans. Signed by Governor 5/07/09.
HB 966 / SB 288 – Vehicle Laws – Prohibition Against Smoking in Vehicles Containing Young Children FOF / MCC supported this bill, which prohibited drivers and passengers from smoking in vehicles with passengers under the age of 8 years old. Unfavorable report, ENV; Unfavorable report, JPR.
HB 15 – Child Care Articles Containing Bisphenol-A – Prohibition FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which prohibited the manufacture, sale or distribution of bottles or cups containing the suspected carcinogen Bisphenol-A for use by children under age 3. Unfavorable report, FIN.
HB 503 / SB 963 – Health – Maryland Commission on Autism FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which established a MD Commission on Autism to make recommendations regarding services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Signed by Governor 5/07/09.
HB 1295 – Kids First Coverage Incentive Act FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which prohibited a taxpayer from taking a State income tax exemption for a dependent child unless the child had health insurance coverage. Withdrawn.
HB 1384 - Family Law - Criminal History Records Checks - Employees of Facilities and Other Individuals Who Care for or Supervise Children FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required staff at private recreation programs to have criminal background checks (CBCs) but deleted the requirement for employers to have CBCs before a facility could open. Withdrawn.
SB 100 - Public Schools and Child Care Centers – Artificial Color Additives – Prohibition FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which prohibited public schools and child care centers from purchasing, selling, using or serving foods with artificial color additives currently approved by the FDA. Unfavorable report, EHEA.
SB 189 – Vehicle Laws – School Buses and Former School Buses – Seat Belts FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which provided that a vehicle formerly registered as a Type I school vehicle cannot be required to have seat belts if it is subsequently owned by a child care facility. Died in ENV.
SB 577 – Maryland Covers All Children Act of 2009 FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required all MD residents age 18 and younger to have health insurance coverage by 1/1/2010; limited the tax deduction for uninsured children; and allowed parents to purchase insurance for their children through MCHIP. Died in FIN.
SJ 3 – Federal Legislation to Ban Color Additives FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which urged Congress to ban color additives for food. Unfavorable report, FIN.


State Government

LEGISLATIVE ISSUE MCC POSITION OUTCOME
HB 244 / SB 413 – Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families – Repeal of Sunset FOF / MCC supported this bill, which repealed the sunset on the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. Signed by Governor 4/14/09.
HB 122 - Calvert County - Education - Certificated School Personnel - Collective Bargaining Representation Fees FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which added Calvert County to the jurisdictions whose certificated teachers pay representation fees to the union. Signed by Governor 5/07/09.
HB 298 / SB 264 - State Employees - Collective Bargaining - Negotiations - "The Fair Share Act" FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which gave the union representing state employees the right to collect representation fees from non-members. HB 298 died in APP; SB 264 signed by Governor 5/07/09.
HB 383 / SB 393 - Managing for Results - Evidence-Based Practices FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required DHMH, DHR, DJS and MSDE to provide information about the utilization of evidence-based practices that prevent the need for more expensive services. Died in APP; died in B&T.
HB 1073 / SB 563 – State Budget – Modifications – Reporting FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which required the Governor’s budget books to include a separate section that lists, for 11 specified agencies, each programmatic reduction totaling at least $50,000 or 5% compared with the prior year’s allocation. Died in APP; died in B&T.
SB 560 - Calvert County - Education - Certificated School Personnel - Collective Bargaining Representation Fees FOF / MCC monitored this bill, which added Calvert County to the jurisdictions whose certificated teachers pay representation fees to the union. Signed by Governor 5/07/09.

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