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Volume 4, Issue 3 Contents
Latest State News - Education
Featured Bills for 2011
Maryland Health Exchange Legislation
2011 Committee Appointments

Appropriations Committee

-Member-

 

Public Safety & Administration Subcommittee

-Chair-

 

Oversight Committee on Personnel

-Member-

 

Oversight Committee on Pensions

-Member-

 

Capital Budget Subcommittee

-Member-

 

Joint Audit Committee

-Member-

 

Joint Committee on Fair Practices

-Member-

 

 

Latest State News

State Education
 Formulas 

  

The Maryland Constitution requires the State to provide "a thorough and efficient system of free public schools." State support accounts for approximately 45% of public school funding; local support accounts for approximately 48%; and federal support equals approximately 6%).

 

A lawsuit during the 1990s led to passage of the Bridge to Excellence Act in 2002 (also known as "Thornton"), which created the new funding distribution system that was phased in from FY03 through FY08. State funding for K-12 education has increased over 80% since 2002.


State public school funding has three funding prongs: foundation formula for general education needs; supplemental aid for students with special needs; and the GCEI formula to account for disparities in resource costs. Sixty seven percent of State support is general education funding and 28% of State support is targeted aid.

 

Foundation Program
The foundation program is the main driver of State supported education funding, and is determined by growth in full-time equivalent enrollment (the total number of K-12 students enrolled, as of September 30th),  and wealth (the sum of 40% of real property assessable base, 50% of personal property assessable base, and all net taxable income). 


GCEI
The Geographic Cost of Education Index

is designed to compensate for regional differences in resource costs, like energy and cost of living. Thirteen counties currently receive GCEI funding cross the State at varying levels, totaling $127 million.


Supplemental Aid
Supplemental aid accounts for additional funding for at-risk students, primarily special education students, limited English proficiency and free and reduced lunch (a determination of poverty) populations
 
Federal Funding
Every county in the State receives some federal funding, based on formulas targeted to provide support for disadvantage and disabled students. Funding for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title I programs for poorer students flows directly to local school boards.  In addition, the federal Race to the Top grant provides $250M in education funding over four years, beginning next fiscal year ...

 

 

*For more information on this issue, please go to our Issues Page and scroll  to "State Education Formulas".

 

 

 

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Galen Clagett's State House Dome

Delegate Newsletter

 

   Volume 4, Issue 3 
     February 2011

Greetings!

Hard to believe that today, Friday, February 25, marks the 45th day of this 2011 Session. We are officially at the halfway point - where the going gets a bit tougher and the days a bit longer. We currently have all of my bills in for this Session and you can find details on them in the space below.

This issue of my newsletter also provides the latest information on Maryland's Health Exchange Legislation as well as some information on the complexities of funding our Educational system.  
  
On Appropriations, we continue to look for opportunities to trim the budget and scale back spending in a prudent and responsible manner for the State of Maryland.
  
I thank you for your continued interest in my activities in Annapolis. As you read through these newsletters, I hope you will contact me with your thoughts, questions, and opinions via email or by calling (301) 663-4596. I thank you again for giving me the opportunity to represent and serve our Frederick neighborhoods.
 

Best of regards,

Delegate Galen R. Clagett, 3A
Frederick County, Maryland

Delegate Clagett's Web Site
Maryland State Assembly Web Site

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Gavel and booksLatest Updates on Bills for 2011
Our last issue provided synopses on Delegate Clagett's first seven sponsored bills. In this issue, we cover his remaining four sponsored bills of 2011 as well as hearing updates on the first seven. You can access real time updates on these bills by clicking on them which will take you to their individual page on the General Assembly web site.
  
State Law Enforcement Officers - Collective Bargaining
Assigned to: Appropriations, Public Safety
Establishes collective bargaining rights for specified law enforcement officers represented by the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance; specifying which police employees are eligible to participate in the collective bargaining process; establishing that the Act applies only to the negotiation of a specified memorandum of understanding; requiring specified individuals or entities to designate one or more representatives to participate as a party in collective bargaining; etc.
  
Chesapeake Bay Phosphorous Reduction Act of 2011Phosphorous
Assigned to: Environmental Matters
Scheduled for Hearing on Mar 9
Prohibits low phosphorous fertilizers from being used on established turf; prohibits specialty fertilizers from being labeled for specified uses on or after April 1, 2012; provides an exception; requiring the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the University of Maryland, to adopt regulations on or after April 1, 2012, that require signs to be posted where specialty fertilizer is sold or distributed; requires the sign to contain specified information; etc.
  
Frederick County - Municipal Corporations - Building Excise Tax
Assigned to: Ways and Means
Scheduled for Hearing on Mar 8
Authorizes a municipal corporation in Frederick County to retain the revenue from a building excise tax imposed by Frederick County in the municipal corporation; requiring the county to remit the building excise tax for a building located in a municipal corporation to the municipal corporation; etc.
  
Division of Parole and Probation - Warrant Apprehension Unit - Powers and Pension System
Handcuffs2Assigned Assigned to: Appropriations, Public Safety
Scheduled for Hearing on Mar 15
Establishes the Warrant Apprehension Unit within the Division of Parole and Probation; provides that specified employees of the Warrant Apprehension Unit also have specified additional powers; includes specified employees of the Warrant Apprehension Unit in the defined term "police officer" in connection with provisions of law relating to the authority to make arrests; provides for the membership of certain employees of the Warrant Apprehension Unit in the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System; etc.
  
HB 370 

Stormwater Management - Watershed Management Plans - Technical Assistance - Scheduled for Hearing on Feb 23

Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee

 stormwater mgmt
HB 371 

Department of the Environment - Stormwater Management Ordinance - Cost Study

Scheduled for Hearing on Feb 23 

Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee

 
HB 373

Vehicle Laws - Wireless Communication Devices - Enforcement of Prohibitions on Use While Driving

No Hearing Scheduled

Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee

 
                          HB 436 
Early VotingElection Law - Early Voting Centers
Heard Feb 15
Assigned to: Ways and Means Committee
  
  
Task Force to Review State Regulations
Scheduled for Hearing on Feb 23
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations Committee
  
  
Bay Restoration Fund - Fee Exemption
Scheduled for Hearing on Mar 2
Assigned to: Environmental Matters
  
Business Regulation - Cemeteries - Forfeited Rights to Interment
Scheduled for Hearing on Mar 2
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations Committee
  
  
For more information on these sponsored bills and details on the bills that Delegate Clagett is co-sponsoring, please go to his General Assembly bill page.
Eye On Annapolis - Maryland Health Exchange Legislation

 
Last week, the Health & Government Operations Committee heard testimony on legislation to comply with the federal Affordable Care Act ("ACA"), passed by Congress last year. As a part of the federal legislation, each State must establish an insurance exchange to implement federal health care reform. Three bills will be considered this year, aimed at improving health care access, quality and lowering costs:  Baby Healthcare

 

Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Act of 2011(HB 166):

This bill establishes a structure and framework to develop the insurance exchange required by the ACA. The exchange will provide individuals and small businesses one-stop shopping for affordable insurance options; help an estimated 180,000 low-income Marylanders access federal subsidies for coverage; support small business access to affordable coverage; and allow private insurers to offer competitive plans in a fair and transparent marketplace where consumers will be able to compare rates, benefits, and quality to find plans that best suit their needs.

 

Health Insurance Reforms (HB 170):

This bill aligns Maryland law with the consumer protections in the ACA, including the provisions that bar exclusions from insurance based on pre-existing conditions and lifetime limits on benefits, requirements that insurance companies cover certain preventive services like mammograms and flu shots, and the provision that allows young adults to stay on their parents' policies until age 26. Currently, Maryland law allows children to remain on their parents' policy up to age 25.

 

Health Quality and Cost Council (HB 165):

This legislation will establish the Council in law and expand the state's successful effort to bring public agencies and the private sector together to improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care in Maryland ...*

 

*For more information on this issue, please go to our Issues Page and scroll to "Maryland Health Education Legislation".