| 2011 Committee Appointments | |
Appropriations Committee
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Public Safety & Administration Subcommittee
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Oversight Committee on Personnel
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Oversight Committee on Pensions
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Capital Budget Subcommittee
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Joint Audit Committee
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Joint Committee on Fair Practices
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Latest State News |  | |
FY12 Final Budget Compromise
This year, the House of Delegates focused on addressing the State's structural deficit, ensuring the long-term viability of the retiree benefit system and funding education programs to ensure a strong future for the State's knowledge-based economy. Despite improving revenue projections following the recession, we took a conservative approach to budgeting for next year.
Conservative Spending Plan
- As a result of our work, the State's structural deficit - projected to be $2 billion at the beginning of session - has been reduced by over 42% moving forward.
- Leaves the State with over $730M in cash reserves, including the Rainy Day Fund. Maryland is one of only 4 states in the country that has not dipped into its Rainy Day Fund during the recession.
- Eliminates over $6.5B in long-term retiree healthcare liability over the next 10 years.
Restores Funding to Education
- Restores $58.5M in K-12 education spending, to bring per pupil funding back to FY11 levels. We worked to ensure that the restoration of this funding was fair and equitable - benefitting every county in the State. The State has committed a total of $5.8B to school systems across Maryland next year.
- Provides funding to limit a tuition increase at universities to 3% and establishes a special grant program to cap community college tuition increases at 3%, to increase access to higher education for all Maryland residents.
For further details on the 2011 Budget,
click here.
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Galen Clagett's 
Delegate Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 6
April 2011 |
Greetings!
On Monday April 11, we closed out the legislative business of the State for 2011. Despite tough economic challenges, the General Assembly had a successful session that focused on cutting the State's structural deficit, stimulating job creation in Maryland, and strengthening public safety laws and access to health care. This year, my colleagues and I in the House of Delegates focused on addressing the State's structural deficit, ensuring the long-term viability of the retiree benefit system and funding education programs to ensure a strong future for the State's knowledge-based economy.
This wrap-up issue of my newsletter features the details of the 2011 session as well as the final outcomes of the bills that I sponsored for the people of 3A. As I sit on the Appropriations Committee, I have also included details on the 2011 Budget Compromise.
As this session is brought to a close, I hope that you have found these newsletters to be informative and helpful in keeping you apprised of my activities and those of the General Assembly as a whole. I have greatly appreciated your responses to the issues this year and have, as always, been very mindful of your comments. 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,
  
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 Final Updates on Bills for 2011
HB 261- Authorizes $200,000 for construction and repair of the Weinberg Center - PASSED
HB 269 - Authorizes $200,000 for the acquisition and renovation of the Cultural Arts Center - PASSED
Stormwater Management - Watershed Mgmt Plans - Tech Asst Died in Committee
Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee
Department of the Environment - Stormwater Mgmt Ordinance
Died in Committee
Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee
HB373
Vehicle Laws - Wireless Communication Devices - Enforcement of Prohibitions on Use While Driving
Consolidated with HB 854 into HB 222 - Del. Clagett is Prime Sponsor - PASSED
Assigned to: Environmental Matters Committee
Election Law - Early Voting Centers
Died in Committee
Assigned to: Ways and Means Committee
Task Force to Review State Regulations
Died in Committee Assigned to: Health and Government Operations Committee
Bay Restoration Fund - Fee Exemption
Withdrawn
Assigned to: Environmental Matters
Business Regulation - Cemeteries - Forfeited Rights to Interment
Died in Committee
Assigned to: Health and Govt Ops Committee State Law Enforcement Officers - Collective Bargaining Assigned to: Appropriations, Public Safety
 HB703
Chesapeake Bay Phosphorous Reduction Act of 2011 - Consolidated with HB 573 - Del. Clagett is Prime Sponsor - PASSED
Assigned to: Environmental Matters Frederick County - Municipal Corporations - Building Excise Tax Assigned to: Ways and Means Died in Committee Division of Parole and Probation - Warrant Apprehension Unit - Powers and Pension System - PASSED Assigned to: Appropriations, Public Safety |
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Eye On Annapolis -
2011 Session Wrap-Up
Stimulating Maryland's Economy
- InvestMaryland (HB173)- the General Assembly passed legislation to create a premium tax credit program to fuel venture capital investment in Maryland businesses. While Maryland's job growth was twice the growth rate of the nation, we still need to invest in new and emerging technologies to keep Maryland competitive in the nation's economy. The program offers premium tax credits to institutional investors, like insurance companies, at a discounted rate in exchange for an up-front investment in the program. In January, the Milken Institute again ranked Maryland #2 in the nation for technology and science assets.
 - Capital Budget (HB71) - the State's FY12 capital budget is projected to create and retain 15,000 jobs in the construction industry, an industry that has seen a 25% loss over the past three years, due to the recession.
- Funding tax credits (HB70) - the FY12 budget provides $8M funding for the Biotech Tax Credit, $12.4M for stem cell research programs, which generate high-paying jobs, and $2.4M for CENTR nanotechnology tax credit. The legislature also passed a film tax credit legislation to provide $7.5M tax credits for the next three years to attract film production jobs to Maryland.
- Helping small business (HB70) - Preserves funding for business loan and loan guaranty programs, including MSBDFA, MIDFA and MEDAF. Last year, DBED financing programs created/ retained 10,000 jobs in Maryland.
To learn more about the Session including updates on Education, Public Safety, and Healthcare, please click here. |
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HB 899