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Session Update
2008 General Assembly Session Update

Every year, the Maryland Catholic Conference works on about 75 bills introduced during the Maryland General Assembly's regular legislative session, which begins in January and ends in April. Below is an update of some of the most pressing issues the Conference was involved with during this year's session, which ended Monday, April 7.

Last updated: Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Education and Family Life

Area

Legislation

Summary

Conference Position

Status

Child Protection

Notification of Student "Reportable Offenses" (HB 75/SB 238)

Allows law enforcement to notify nonpublic school superintendents or principals if a student has been arrested for a sexual or violent crime.

SUPPORT

Passed House and Senate; awaiting signature by the governor

Education

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
(Testimony)

Funding increased by $1 million, to $4.6 million in FY 2009.

Education

Quality Teacher Incentive Tax Credit (SB 388)

Allows nonpublic school teachers to access $1,500 state income tax credit for maintaining or advancing their state certification.

SUPPORT

Died in committee

Education

BOAST Maryland Tax Credit (SB 373/HB 812)

Grants state income tax credits of 75% to businesses that donate to scholarship organizations for nonpublic school students or innovative educational organizations for public school students.

SUPPORT
(Testimony)

Passed Senate by 30-17; not brought to a vote in House Ways and Means Committee

Marriage

Maryland's Marriage Protection Act (SB 169/HB 1345)

A constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It would need voter approval in statewide referendum.

SUPPORT
(Testimony)

(Learn more)

Died in committee

Marriage

Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (SB 290/HB 351)

Legalizes same-sex marriage in Maryland.

OPPOSE

(Testimony)

(Learn more)

Died in committee

Marriage

Domestic Partnerships/Medical Decision Making (SB 566/HB 733)

Grants unmarried couples status equivalent to that of married couples in the health statute.

OPPOSE

Passed Senate and House; awaiting governor's signature

Marriage

Civil Unions/Domestic Partnerships (HB 570, HB 1112, HB 1174)

Authorize same-sex couples (or in some cases, any two individuals) to enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships and grant those relationships legal status that is equivalent to marriage.

OPPOSE

Died in committee

Marriage

Domestic Partnerships for all couples (SB 689)

Abolishes all civil marriage in Maryland and creates domestic partnerships for all couples, whether heterosexual or homosexual.

OPPOSE

Died in committee

Marriage

Domestic Partnerships for recordation and transfer taxes (SB 597/HB 746) and the inheritance tax (SB 523/HB 668)

Creates definition of domestic partner in law and gives domestic partnerships marriage-equivalency status in various parts of tax law.

OPPOSE

SB 597 passed House and Senate; SB 523 died in committee

Respect for Life

Area

Legislation

Summary

Conference Position

Status

Bioethics

Maryland Revised Anatomical Gift Act (SB 766/HB 906)

Improves process of and encourages support for organ donation; creates registry of organ donors

SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS

Passed House and Senate; awaiting governor's signature

*The amendments that were made are acceptable to the Conference

Death Penalty

Death Penalty Repeal (SB 645/HB 1328)

Repeals capital punishment in Maryland.

SUPPORT
(Testimony)

Died in committee

Death Penalty

Commission to Study the Death Penalty (HB 1111/SB 614)

Establishes commission to study the death penalty in Maryland and make recommendations as to its continued use

SUPPORT

Passed House and Senate; awaiting governor's signature

Pregnancy Support

Limited Service Pregnancy Centers - Disclaimers (SB 690/HB 1146)

Forces pregnancy centers that do not provide or refer for abortions or contraception to tell potential clients that the center is "not required to provide factually accurate information."

OPPOSE
(Testimony 1)
(Testimony 2)

Died in committee

Pregnancy Support

Teenage Protection Pilot Program (SB 23/HB 541)

Requires that abortion clinics in Anne Arundel County give teenagers considering abortion the option of viewing the ultrasound of their baby in the womb.

SUPPORT

Died in committee

Stem Cell Research

Funding for Stem Cell Research (budget item)

Provides state funding for stem cell research - including research that destroys human embryos

OPPOSE

Funding cut from $23 million to $19 million

Social Concerns

Area

Legislation

Summary

Conference Position

Status

Employment

Flexible Leave Act (SB 344/HB 40)

Allows workers to use earned sick leave for the illness of an immediate family member.

SUPPORT

(Testimony)

Passed House and Senate; awaiting governor's signature

Health Care

Kids First Act (HB 1391)

Improves the State’s outreach to families whose children are eligible for Medicaid or the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP).

SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS

Passed House and Senate; awaiting governor's signature

*Amendments are acceptable to the Conference.

Housing

Source of Income Discrimination (HB 1261)

Prohibits landlords from discrimination against potential tenants based on a lawful source of income (Section 8 vouchers or disability assistance, for example)

SUPPORT

(Testimony)

Died in committee

Housing

Rental Allowance Program (SB 125)

Boost's funding for the state's Rental Allowance Program by creating a designated funding source for it.

SUPPORT

(Testimony)

Passed Senate; died in House committee

Immigration

In-State Tuition (SB 591/HB 1236)

Allows students to receive in-state tuition if they: Attended high school in Maryland for at least two years; they or their parents have had income-tax withheld; sign an affidavit promising to apply for permanent residency status.

SUPPORT

(Testimony)

Died in committee

Immigration

Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland (HB 1602)

Establishes commission to study both documented and undocumented immigrants and Maryland, including their impact on the economy, public schools, health care and public safety.

SUPPORT

(Testimony)

Passed House and Senate; awaiting governor's signature

Poverty

Hate Crimes Against the Homeless (SB 111/HB 528)

Expands the definition of hate crime to include attacks on homeless individuals.

SUPPORT

(Testimony)

Passed Senate; died in House committee

The Maryland Catholic Conference
10 Francis Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
410.269.1155 / 301.261.1979
410.269.1790 (fax)
info@mdcathcon.org
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