2009 Session Update
The 2009 Maryland General Assembly session began Wednesday, January 14 and ended Monday, April 13. Check the chart below to learn where the Conference stood on major pieces of legislation and what the outcomes were. For more end of session information, please see this wrap up.
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Last update: Tuesday, April 14
Area |
Legislation |
Summary |
Conference Position |
Status |
Catholic Schools |
SB 715/HB 1259 - BOAST Maryland Tax Credit |
Increases incentives for business investment in scholarships for Catholic school students.
|
SUPPORT
|
No committee votes. |
Catholic Schools |
Textbook/technology program (budget item) |
Program funds nonreligious textbooks and computer hardware and software for more than 93,000 students at more than 350 nonpublic schools. |
SUPPORT
|
$4.4 million approved for FY 2010 funding - $2 million more than originally proposed. |
Child Protection |
SB 238/HB 556 - "Civil Statute of Limitations" |
Makes it easier for trial lawyers to sue the Church and inhibits early reporting of abuse.
|
OPPOSE |
Senate bill voted down by committee; House bill withdrawn |
Family Life |
HB 45 - "Crimes - Tattooing, Branding, Body Piercing - Parental Consent" |
Requires that parents give consent before a minor may receive a tattoo, branding, or body piercing. |
SUPPORT |
Passed by House 136-0; no Senate committee vote. |
Family Life |
HB 474/SB 566 - "Human Relations -Sexual Orientation and Gender Identify - Antidiscrimination" |
Adds gender identify to the state's anti-discrimination code; fails to recognize differences between men and women |
OPPOSE |
No committee votes. |
Marriage |
SB 565/HB 1055 - "Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act" |
Redefines marriage in the state; allows same-sex couples to marry
|
OPPOSE |
No committee votes. |
Marriage |
SB 647/HB 913 - Constitutional amendment on marriage |
Offers an amendment to Maryland's constitution that would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Would need to be approved by voters. |
SUPPORT |
Rejected by House committee; no Senate committee vote |
Marriage |
SB 785/HB 1215 - Domestic partner inheritance tax |
Grants marriage-equivalency status to unmarried couples in regards to the inheritance tax. |
OPPOSE |
Passed by Senate 27-18; passed by House 94-38. |
Area |
Legislation |
Summary |
Conference Position |
Status |
Death Penalty |
SB 279/HB 316 - "Death Penalty Repeal" |
Repeals capital punishment in the state. (Learn more) |
SUPPORT
|
Repeal bill amended to tighten evidence requirements in capital cases; approved by House 87-52 and Senate 34-13; awaiting governor's signature |
End of Life |
HB 30/SB 546 - "Terminal Condition Counseling" |
Requires doctors who deliver a terminal diagnosis to refer patients to "terminal condition counseling," not excluding "counseling" that does not uphold the dignity of human life. |
OPPOSE |
Amended to create a summer study of issue, approved by House 133-0, no Senate committee vote. |
Pregnancy Support |
SB 195 - "Ultrasound Options" |
Requires that Anne Arundel Co. abortion clinics offer women considering abortion the option of viewing a sonogram. |
SUPPORT |
Rejected by committee |
Stem Cell Research |
Stem Cell Research Fund - budget item |
Provides $18.4 million - an increase - in funding for both embryonic and adult stem cell research. |
Direct all funding to ethical, adult research that works |
Legislature approves cutting $3 million to bring FY 2010 allocation to $15.4 million. |
Area |
Legislation |
Summary |
Conference Position |
Status |
Adult Education |
HB 365 - "Labor and Employment - Adult Education and Literacy Grants - Funding Formula" |
Increases funding for adult education programs. |
SUPPORT |
No committee vote. |
Housing/ Energy |
Protect families from having their utilities shut off in extreme temperatures. |
SUPPORT |
Passed by House 131-6 and Senate 46-0; awaiting governor's signature. |
|
Immigration |
HB 387 - "Vehicle Laws- Lawful Presence in the United States" |
Bill that seeks to comply with REAL ID - House version would require lawful presence prospectively but grandfather in current licensed drivers; Senate version would require a blanket lawful presence with no accommodation for current license holders who may not be able to prove lawful status |
SUPPORT - House compromise that would require lawful presence after June 1 while grandfathering in undocumented immigrants who currently have licenses. |
Resolution accommodates in a very limited way undocumented immigrants who currently hold licenses, by allowing them to continue to renew until 2015, at which point their licenses will be rescinded. Passed House 76-60 and Senate 29-16, awaiting governor's signature. |
Labor |
HB 310/SB 270 - "Unemployment Insurance - Eligibility - Part-Time Work" |
Allows employees who are working part-time and who pay unemployment insurance to receive unemployment benefits. |
SUPPORT |
Approved by Senate 38-9 and House 94-43; signed into law by governor on April 14 |
Poverty |
SB 50 - "Commission on Gambling Addiction" |
Establish commission to study gambling addiction, propose solutions, and improve programs for treatment. |
SUPPORT |
Passed by Senate 45-0, no House committee vote. |
Poverty |
SB 151- "Hate Crimes Against the Homeless" |
Expands the state’s hate crimes statute to include the homeless. |
SUPPORT |
Passed by Senate 34-2 and House 102-33; awaiting governor's signature |