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Legislative Session Update

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

Education and Family Life

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.
(Learn more)

SUPPORT
(Take action!)

(Testimony)

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
(Take action!)

(Testimony)

$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.
(Learn more)

OPPOSE

(Take action!)

Senate bill voted down by committee; House bill withdrawn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

(Testimony)

(Take action!)

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
(Learn more)

OPPOSE

(Testimony)

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

(Testimony)

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

(Take action!)

Passed by Senate 27-18; passed by House 94-38.

Respect for Life

Area

Legislation

Summary

Conference Position

Status

Death Penalty

SB 279/HB 316 - "Death Penalty Repeal"

Repeals capital punishment in the state. (Learn more)

SUPPORT
(Take action!)

(Testimony)

(Abp. O'Brien's testimony)

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

(Testimony)

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

(Take action!)

(Testimony)

Legislature approves cutting $3 million to bring FY 2010 allocation to $15.4 million.

Social Concerns

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

SB 1057/HB 453

Protect families from having their utilities shut off in extreme temperatures.

SUPPORT

(Take action!)

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

(Testimony)

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

(Testimony)

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

(Testimony)

Passed by Senate 34-2 and House 102-33; awaiting governor's signature

The Maryland Catholic Conference
10 Francis Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
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410.269.1790 (fax)
info@mdcathcon.org
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