General Assembly 2012 Session
JOTF tracks workforce development legislation in the Maryland State Senate and Maryland House of Delegates. We also provide written and verbal testimony on a variety of local, state, and national legislative and budget issues.
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Priority
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Summary
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Status
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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JOTF Testimony
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Criminal Record Shielding - Nonviolent Convictions
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Jobs are the key to our economic recovery, and the ability to secure a job is crucial to the successful reentry of those returning to society from prison. Research shows that recidivism risks are highest in the first 3-5 years following incarceration. Given that recidivism declines steadily over time, the proposed legislation would make nonviolent felony convictions eligible for shielding after a 5-year waiting period, and nonviolent misdemeanors after a 3-year period. Law enforcement will continue to have access to the shielded records. This legislation is supported by the Task Force on Prisoner Reentry.
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Awaiting bill introduction
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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Ban the Box
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The State of Maryland should encourage all qualified applicants, including those with a prior criminal conviction history, to apply for State employment. The proposed legislation would remove the question from state job applications that asks applicants to check a box if they have ever been convicted a crime. Removing the question from the application simply allows applicants to get a foot in the door and prove their qualifications rather than be automatically dismissed because of a box they checked at the beginning of the process.
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Awaiting bill introduction
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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Driver's Licensing for Adults
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Maryland is the only state in the nation that requires drivers of all ages to complete the same driver's education and practice requirements. Most significantly, all new drivers must complete 60 hours of supervised practice, in addition to 36 hours of driver's education, before being eligible for a license. These requirements have created a barrier to mobility and employment for low-income adults. The proposed legislation would eliminate the 60-hour rule and reduce the time for holding a provisional license from 9 months to 45 days for new drivers over the age of 25.
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Awaiting bill introduction |
JOTF Fact Sheet
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Child Support - Incarcerated Obligors
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Current policy allows for inmates to apply for a suspension of their child support order upon incarceration, however, most obligors are unaware of this option and consequently accrue large sums of arrears during their sentence. The proposed legislation would establish the suspension of child support orders upon incarceration for obligors sentenced to 12 or more consecutive months of imprisonment.
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Awaiting bill introduction
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JOTF Fact Sheet |
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Adult Education - Diminution Credit Bonus
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Behind-the-fence adult education programs are currently at capacity. Maryland's mandatory education law requires inmates serving 18+ month sentences who do not have a diploma to attend classes, but many never complete the program. In order to encourage inmates to work more efficiently, the proposed legislation would establish a 60 day diminution credit bonus to be awarded to those who earn their GED or achieve a degree.
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Awaiting bill introduction
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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0.5% Transportation Training Fund
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States are permitted to use up to 0.5% of their federal transportation dollars for workforce training. Maryland should take advantage of this opportunity and codify the linkage of workforce and economic development. Providing training and linking graduates to jobs on major infrastructure projects would strengthen Maryland's commitment to a healthy workforce by creating pathways to employment for disadvantaged, underemployed Marylanders.
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Awaiting bill introduction |
JOTF Synopsis |
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For more information on Maryland House and Senate bills, visit the Maryland General Assembly web site.