This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/paid-sick-leave-bill-advances-in-maryland-house/2016/03/30/06437e52-f671-11e5-a3ce-f06b5ba21f33_story.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Paid sick leave bill advances in Maryland House Md. House committee approves repeal of some mandatory minimums
(35 minutes later)
A committee in the Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday approved legislation that would require employers to provide paid sick leave for their workers, breathing life into a measure that has advanced slowly despite a concerted push from progressive lawmakers and advocates. A Maryland House committee on Wednesday made significant changes to a criminal justice bill that is making its way through the General Assembly, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and increasing penalties for leaders of gangs and organized crime.
The bill is expected to come up for a floor vote in the House this week. Its prospects for full passage appear questionable, with the Senate yet to take up the proposal and only 12 calendar days remaining in the 2016 legislative session. It is also unclear whether Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who has emphasized making Maryland more friendly to employers, would veto the bill. The House Judiciary Committee voted 17-3 to make those changes and others to the bill, which isis aimed at reducing the state’s prison population and costs and alleviating sentencing disparities that have disproportionately affected African American men.
The bill passed by the House committee is vastly different from the one the Senate approved last week. Along with the changes in the sentencing guidelines, the bill lowers the age at which older inmates qualify for parole from 65 to 60; eliminates jail time for driving on suspended license, and makes it more difficult for judges to use their discretion in handing out sentences to people who violate probation.
[Sweeping criminal justice bill under fire in Md. legislature]
If approved by the House Health and Government Operations Committee and the full chamber, the differences between the House bill and the version passed by the Senate will be addressed in a conference committee.
The Senate version of the bill dropped several recommendations of the Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council, a panel of officials and experts that spent last year studying ways to cut prison costs and emphasize drug treatment over prison for non-violent offenders. Analysts said those changes would dramatically reduce the cost savings that would result from the bill, and advocates complained that the legislation had been gutted.
On Wednesday, Del. Erek Barron (D-Prince George’s), who served on the council, joined with Del. Brett Wilson (R-Washington) to push the House amendments that repealed some mandatory minimums and stiffened punishment for gang leaders.
“I think we did it right over here in the House,” Barron said. “It’s fair to say that the changes that we made – folks wouldn’t consider that gutting the bill.”
Also on Wednesday, the House Economic Matters Committee approved legislation that would require employers to provide paid sick leave for their workers, breathing life into a measure that has advanced slowly despite a concerted push from progressive lawmakers and advocates.
“We are thrilled to see earned sick days headed to the House floor,” said Melissa Broom, deputy director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, a driving force behind the proposal. “This is a critical piece of legislation that has been a long time coming.”“We are thrilled to see earned sick days headed to the House floor,” said Melissa Broom, deputy director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, a driving force behind the proposal. “This is a critical piece of legislation that has been a long time coming.”
The full House will likely vote on the bill this week. Its prospects for full passage appear questionable, with the Senate yet to take up the proposal and only 12 calendar days remaining in the 2016 legislative session. It is also unclear whether Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who has emphasized making Maryland more friendly to employers, would veto the bill.
[Faith leaders add voices to Md. sick-leave movement][Faith leaders add voices to Md. sick-leave movement]
Thirteen Democrats on the Economic Matters Committee voted for the paid-sick-leave measure, while eight Republicans and two Democrats opposed it. Opponents on the committee expressed concern that the measure would create a burden on businesses and negatively impact the state’s economic climate. Thirteen Democrats on the Economic Matters Committee voted for the measure, while eight Republicans and two Democrats opposed it. Opponents on the committee expressed concern that the bill would negatively impact the state’s economic climate.
“The operative statement this bill makes to all businesses or would-be businesses in the state of Maryland is, ‘Move out of the state,’” said Del. Mark N. Fisher (R-Calvert).“The operative statement this bill makes to all businesses or would-be businesses in the state of Maryland is, ‘Move out of the state,’” said Del. Mark N. Fisher (R-Calvert).
Advocates say the working poor suffer most when they don’t have paid sick leave, making tough choices about whether to work through illnesses or stay home without earning the wages they need to support themselves and their families. They also contend that the benefit helps businesses attract and retain quality employees. Advocates contend that the benefit helps businesses attract and retain quality employees.
The committee added amendments to the original bill that would exempt companies from the sick-leave requirement if they have fewer than 15 employees. It also added language to exempt agricultural workers, among other changes. The committee added amendments that would exempt companies if they have fewer than 15 employees. It also added language to exempt agricultural workers, among other changes.
Also on Wednesday, the full House approved Hogan’s capital budget and bills that would extend a ban on sales of powdered alcohol; give state employees a raise; and require Maryland to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, replacing an existing mandate that requires a 25 percent reduction by 2020. Also Wednesday, the full House approved bills that would extend a ban on sales of powdered alcohol; give state employees a raise; and require Maryland to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, replacing an existing mandate that requires a 25 percent reduction by 2020.
The House approved Hogan’s $1 billion capital budget and sent the legislation to a conference committee, which quickly resolved minor differences between the House and Senate versions. The measure will move back to both chambers for final approval.
In the Senate, lawmakers advanced several bills that Hogan opposes and that Democratic lawmakers are planning to send to his desk before the end of the week.In the Senate, lawmakers advanced several bills that Hogan opposes and that Democratic lawmakers are planning to send to his desk before the end of the week.
[Democrats plan preemptive strikes on possible vetoes]
The chamber gave preliminary approval to a measure that requires the state to rate transportation plans before deciding which project receives funding. It also advanced a bill that would limit the governor’s input on who is appointed to the Anne Arundel County school board. Both bills are expected to receive a final vote in the Senate on Thursday.The chamber gave preliminary approval to a measure that requires the state to rate transportation plans before deciding which project receives funding. It also advanced a bill that would limit the governor’s input on who is appointed to the Anne Arundel County school board. Both bills are expected to receive a final vote in the Senate on Thursday.
The action on the transportation scoring bill came after a long debate, with five members of Hogan’s staff watching from the gallery. Majority Leader Catherine Pugh (D-Baltimore City) introduced a motion to limit debate, which will apply on Thursday when the bill comes up for final passage. The action on the transportation scoring bill came after a long debate, with five members of Hogan’s staff watching from the gallery.
Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said the transportation bill would “radically change how the state funds transportation projects – moving away from the governor’s balanced approach in favor of something that concentrates funding on a small number of jurisdictions.”Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said the transportation bill would “radically change how the state funds transportation projects – moving away from the governor’s balanced approach in favor of something that concentrates funding on a small number of jurisdictions.”
He added that the decision to limit debate was evidence that the Senate’s Democratic leadership is trying to “ram it through the chamber without a proper hearing or any meaningful consideration.” Lawmakers are planning to send bills that could draw vetoes to Hogan’s desk at least six business days before the session ends on April 11, so the legislature can try to override any vetoes before adjourning.
Lawmakers are planning to send bills that could draw vetoes to Hogan’s desk at least six business days before the session ends on April 11, so lawmakers can try to override any vetoes before adjourning.
The Senate also gave initial approval to a bill that creates a task force to study domestic violence and another measure that lays out the procedure for closures of community hospitals.