General Assembly 2011 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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Outcome
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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JOTF Testimony
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Job Applicant Fairness Act - Credit Checks
SB 132
HB 87
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60% of employers use credit history checks as a tool in their pre-employment screening, even if the information has no relation to the job. In these trying economic times, many Marylanders are experiencing financial hardship, which negatively impacts their credit. The proposed legislation would limit employers' use of credit checks in hiring.
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Governor O'Malley signed the Job Applicant Fairness Act into law on April 12, 2011.
SB 132 passed the Senate with a 34-12 vote. HB 87 passed the House with a 92-46 vote.
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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Testimony
Coalition List |
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Ban the Box
SB 448
HB 920
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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. |
This legislation failed after receiving an unfavorable report from the Senate FInance Committee.
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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Testimony
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Parole Fees
SB 362
HB 749
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Persons on parole in Maryland are billed $40 per month for their supervision. The fee is largely uncollectible since most parolees are in dire financial situations. The imposition of the fee is out of line with Maryland's committment toward policies that protect the public by promoting successful reentry of parolees. The proposed legislation would ensure that parolees be adequately informed of and have access to the fee exemption process.
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The legislation is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
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JOTF Fact Sheet
Brennan Center for Justice Report: Maryland's Parole Supervision Fee: A Barrier to Reentry
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Testimony |
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0.5% Transportation Training Fund
SB 796
HB 1139
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State are permitted to use up to 0.5% of their federal transportation dollars for workforce training. Maryland should take advantage of this opportunity to link 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. |
Despite nearly unanimous support in the House, this legislation failed after the Senate refused to take action.
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JOTF Synopsis
JOTF Fact Sheet
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Testimony |
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Driver's Licensing for Adults
SB 361
HB 1185
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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 18.
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Despite passing the Senate unanimously, this legislation failed after the House Environmental Matters Committee voted to refer it to interim study.
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JOTF Fact Sheet
JOTF Report: The 60-Hour Practice Driving Law: Unintended Consequences for Maryland's Economy
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Testimony |
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Unemployemnt Insurance - Extended Benefits
SB 882
HB 1228
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The Extended Benefits program (EB) would provide 13 weeks of additional benefits to the long-term unemployed. The federal government is funding the EB program through 2011, but in order to activate it, each state must adopt a high-unemployment indicator to trigger the program "on." By adopting this trigger, up to 70,000 Marylanders would become eligible for $283 million in benefits. |
SB 882 passed the Senate with amendments with a 39-8 vote.
HB 1228 passed the House with amendments with a 96-42 vote.
This legislation is expected to be signed into law by Governor O'Malley.
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JOTF Fact Sheet
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Testimony |
For more information on Maryland House and Senate bills, visit the Maryland General Assembly web site.