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Task Force to Study State Employment Assistance for Ex-Felons
HB 364 | This bill would establish a task force to examine and report on current State laws, policies, and practices relating to the employment of ex-felons by the State, and would consider issues relating to the ability of ex-felons to access existing programs that help inmates prepare for employment prospects outside of prison. | The bill failed after being withdrawn by the sponsor.
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Adult Education - Funding Formula
HB 365
| The National Adult Literacy survey reports that nearly 20% of Marylanders function at the lowest literacy level, reading at less than a fourth grade level. Only 4% of the target population in Maryland receives adult education and literacy services each year, while nearly 5,000 adults sit on long waiting lists. The proposed legislation would increase Maryland’s investment in adult education and literacy services. | The bill failed after never being brought up for a vote in the House Ways & Means committee.
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Apprenticeship Training Programs
SB 405
HB 644
| This bill would establish a State Apprenticeship Training Fund in the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. The money in the fund would be used to promote preapprenticeship programs and other workforce development programs in the State's public secondary schools and community colleges that assist students in preparing for and entering apprenticeship training programs.
| HB 644 passed the House with a 95-39 vote and the Senate with a 33-14 vote. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
SB 405 failed after running out of time to pass third reader on the Senate floor.
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Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund
SB 419 | The Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (MAIF) is the insurer of last resort for about 70,000 residents who cannot get insurance elsewhere. By law, MAIF is not allowed to offer installment billing to its policyholders like other insurance companies do. 96% of MAIF’s policyholders cannot pay their premium in full (typically about $1,750) and therefore are forced to turn to premium finance companies, which charge an interest rate of 25-30%. The proposed legislation would enable MAIF to offer installment billing and therefore help policyholders avoid predatory lending practices.
| The bill failed after never being brought up for a vote in the Senate Finance committee.
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Unemployment Insurance - Severance Payments
SB 123
HB 242
| The proposed legislation would alter the determination of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for people who receive severance or dismissal payments when their jobs are abolished. Those who receive severance payments that are at least equal to the amount they would receive in UI benefits would be disqualified from receiving UI. Those who receive severance payments that are less than what they would receive in UI would receive reduced UI benefits. | HB 242 passed the House and Senate unanimously. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
SB 123 failed after receiving an unfavorable committee report from House Economic Matters.
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Welfare to Work - Green Jobs
HB 268
SB 992
| The proposed legislation would require the State to develop and implement a plan for hiring current and former Family Investment Program recipients, and require that the job skills enhancement program include job training for employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.
| HB 268 passed the House with a 109-23 vote and the Senate with a 44-1 vote. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
SB 992 passed the Senate with a 44-0 vote and the House with a 121-14 vote. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley. |
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Green Jobs Workforce Training Program
HB 814
SB 856
| The proposed legislation would establish a Green Jobs Workforce Training Program, administered by the MD Energy Administration, to fund workforce training programs that prepare individuals for employment in the energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sectors.
| HB 814 and SB 856 both failed after after receiving an unfavorable report from the House Economic Matters committee.
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Temporary Cash Assistance - Eligibility
HB 894
SB 1047
| Under current Maryland law, residents are ineligible to receive TANF benefits if they have assets that exceed $2,000. Because of this asset limit, families must deplete any savings (college funds, retirement, etc.) before becoming eligible for termporary state assistance. The proposed legislation would exempt defined contribution retirement accounts and higher education savings accounts against the asset limit cap. It would also index the current asset limit to inflation.
| HB 894 failed after receiving an unfavorable committee report from House Appropriations.
SB 1047 failed after never being brought up for a vote in the Senate Finance committee.
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Expungement - Nonviolent Crimes
HB 636
SB 904
| The proposed legislation would enable individuals who have been convicted of one nonviolent offense to petition for expungement of that offense after a four-year waiting period if they have proof of 18 months of consecutive employment.
| The bills failed after being withdrawn by the sponsors. |
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Task Force on Prisoner Reentry
HB 637
SB 908
| The proposed legislation would establish a 17-member Task Force on Prisoner Reentry. The Task Force will develop a comprehensive strategic reentry plan and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor by 2011.
| HB 637 passed the House and Senate unanimously. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
SB 908 passed the Senate with a 44-0 vote and the House with a 133-4 vote. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley. |
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Healthy Families Healthy Workplaces Act
HB 1296
| The proposed legislation would require employers to grant one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked by an employee. Employees who work for employers that employ fewer than 15 employees would not earn more than 40 hours of leave in a calendar year. Employees who work for employers that employ 15 or more employees would not earn more than 72 hours of paid leave in a calendar year.
| The bill failed after being withdrawn by the sponsor.
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Maryland Family and Medical Leave Act
HB 902
| The proposed legislation would require that Maryland employers who are subject to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 allow employees to use FMLA for the care of a brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, and the son or daughter of the employee's domestic partner. | HB 902 failed after receiving an unfavorable committee report from House Economic Matters. |
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Earned Income Tax Credit - Noncustodial Parent
HB 896
| The proposed legislation would enable noncustodial parents who have paid their child support order in full to claim a portion of the State Earned Income Credit.
| The bill failed after never being brought up for a vote in the House Ways & Means committee.
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Earned Income Credit Information Act
HB 1061
| The proposed legislation would require employers to notify employees who may be eligible for Maryland's Earned Income Tax Credit. | HB 1061 passed the House with a 106-26 vote but failed after running out of time to pass third reader on the Senate floor.
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Income Tax Credit - Child Support - Incarcerated Noncustodial Parent
HB 926
| The proposed legislation would enable custodial parents who are not receiving child support due to the incarceration of the custodial parent to claim an income tax credit against the State. The credit would equal the lesser of $1,000 or the custodial parent's state income tax liability for that taxable year.
| The bill failed after never being brought up for a vote in the House Ways & Means committee.
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Workplace Fraud Act of 2009
HB 819
SB 909
| The proposed legislation would enable the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to penalize employers who knowingly fail to properly classify individuals who perform work for remuneration paid by the employer. The legislation would apply to three industries: construction services, landscaping services, and package delivery services.
| SB 909 passed the Senate with a 34-13 vote and the House with a 105-32 vote. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
HB 819 passed the House with a 101-34 vote but failed after never being brought up for a vote in the Senate Finance committee.
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Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors
HB 1070
SB 912
| The proposed legislation would subject employers to a civil penalty if they fail to properly classify individuals who perform work for remuneration paid by the employer.
| HB 1070 and SB 912 failed after being withdrawn.
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Diminution Credits - Educational Programs and Work Tasks
HB 1129
| The proposed legislation would increase the number of diminution credits that may be earned by inmates who complete educational and work-related programs offered during incarceration. | HB 1129 failed after receiving an unfavorable report from the House Judiciary committee.
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Juvenile Proceedings - Expungement of Police Records
HB 1227
| In certain instances where juvenile records are made public, the proposed legislation would allow for the expungement of such police records as they relate to juvenile proceedings.
| HB 1227 passed the House unanimously and the Senate with a vote of 41-6. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley. |
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Maryland Workforce Corporation
HB 1526 | The proposed legislation would establish the Maryland Workforce Corporation to coordinate with State agencies to establish a plan and framework for workforce development programs, and to provide grants, funding, and other assistance to support workforce development.
| HB 1526 passed the House with a 134-1 vote and the Senate with a 47-0 vote. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley. |
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