2009 Legislative Wrap Up
Family
Law – Protective Orders – Surrender of Firearms
Family Law – Temporary Protective Orders – Surrender of Firearms
Bill
Number: SB 267/ HB 296 and SB
268/ HB 302
SB 267/HB
296 would make it mandatory, rather than discretionary, for a final protective
order to order the respondent to surrender to law enforcement authorities any
firearm in the respondent’s possession, and to refrain from possession of any
firearm, for the duration of the protective order.
SB 268/HB
302 would authorize a judge entering a temporary protective order to order a
respondent to surrender to law enforcement authorities any firearm in the
person’s possession.
Synopsis:
Committee(s): Senate
Judicial Proceedings and House Judiciary
Lead
Sponsor(s):
The Speaker (By Request - Administration) and The President (By Request -
Administration) Lead Group(s):
Maryland
Network Against Domestic
Violence
Cynthia
Lifson, 410-531-1619; Michaele Cohen, 301-352-4574
Outcome: Passed
House and Senate; expected to be signed by the Governor.
Family
Law—Child Custody Determinations
Bill
Number: HB 717 and SB
740
Synopsis:
This bill provides clear guidelines and standards for courts to use when making
child custody determinations by codifying existing case law.
Committee(s):
House Judiciary and
Senate Judicial Proceedings
Lead
Sponsor(s):
Delegate
Kathleen Dumais
, 410-841-3052; Senator Jamie Raskin,
410-841-3634
Lead
Group(s):
MSBA Family and
Juvenile Law Section Council
Dorothy
Fait, 301-251-0100; Cindy Callahan, 301-340-9090
Outcome: No votes taken in House Judiciary Committee and Senate Judicial
Proceedings Committee.
Criminal
Law - Third Degree Sexual Offense - Person in Position of Authority
Bill
Number: HB 1090 and SB
681
Synopsis:
A bill to prohibit persons in authority from sexually exploiting the adolescents
and children they work with at all times, including when the child is not
technically in their care.
Committee(s):
House Judiciary and
Senate Judicial Proceedings
Lead
Sponsors: Delegate
Cheryl Glenn, 410-841-3257; Delegate Kris Valderrama, 301-858-3210;
Senator
C. Anthony Muse, 301-858-3092
Lead
Group(s):
Maryland
Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Lisae
C. Jordan, Legislative Council, 443-995-5544
Outcome: Received unfavorable reports in the House Judiciary
Committee and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Health
Care Affordability Act of 2009
Bill
Number: HB 951 and SB
813
Synopsis:
This bill will make quality health care affordable for all Marylanders.
Committee(s): House Health and Government Operations Senate
Finance
Lead
Sponsor(s):
Delegate James Hubbard, 410-841-3493; Senator Verna Jones, 410-841-3613
Lead
Group(s):
Maryland
Citizens’ Health Initiative
Vincent
DeMarco, 410-235-9000, demarco@mdintiative.org
Outcome: No votes taken in House Health and Government Operations Committee and
Senate Finance and Budget and Taxation Committees.
Unemployment
Insurance for Part-Time Workers
Bill
Number: SB 270 and HB
310
Synopsis:
This bill makes part-time workers who are only available to work part-time
eligible for unemployment insurance benefits when they lose their job through no
fault of their own.
Committee(s):
Senate Finance and
House Economic Matters
Lead
Sponsor(s): The
President (By Request - Administration) and Senator Delores Kelley, (410)
841-3606
The
Speaker (By Request - Administration) and Delegate Brian Feldman, (410) 841-3186
Lead
Group(s): Job
Opportunities Task Force
Melissa
Broome, Senior Policy Advocate, (410) 234-8046, melissa@jotf.org
Jason
Perkins-Cohen, Executive Director, (410) 234-8045, jason@jotf.org
Outcome: Passed House and Senate; signed by the Governor on April
14, 2009.
Other
Legislation Supported by MLAW
Health
Insurance – Mandated benefits – Hospitalization and Home Visits Following a
Mastectomy
Bill
Number: HB
41and SB 173
Synopsis:
This bill requires insurers and health plans to provide in-patient
hospitalization for a minimum length of time and/or a home visit following a
mastectomy performed for the treatment of breast cancer.
Committee(s):
House Health and
Government Relations and Senate Finance
Lead
Sponsor(s):
Delegate Shirley Nation-Pulliam, (410) 841-3350 and Senator Delores Kelley,
(410) 841-3606
Outcome: Passed House and Senate;
expected to be signed by the Governor.
Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009
Bill
Number: HB
288 and SB 368
Synopsis:
This bill relates to an unlawful employment practice with respect to
discrimination in compensation and authorizes the recovery of back pay for up to
two years preceding the filing of a complaint, where the unlawful employment
practice is similar or related to a practice that occurred outside the filing
period.
Committee(s): House Health and Government Relations and Senate
Judicial Proceedings
Lead
Sponsor(s):
Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, (410) 841-3297 and Senator Jamie Raskin, (410)
841-3634
Outcome: Passed House and Senate; signed by the Governor on April 14, 2009.
Maryland
Legislative Agenda for Women