Legislative Hotline
2007 SESSION OF THE
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Volume
14, Number 2������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� January 24, 2007
CABINET SECRETARY APPOINTMENTS
GOVERNOR
O’MALLEY’S INAUGURATION
BILLS
INTRODUCED
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
�State Budget
Governor
Martin O’Malley released his proposed FY 2008 budget to the press
yesterday, one day ahead of its introduction deadline.� The budget contains good news for Johns
Hopkins in that the Sellinger Program was fully
funded.� The total increase to about $58
million translates to an almost 18% increase over last year.
The
capital budget was also announced.� As
promised during the campaign, Governor O’Malley set aside $400 million
for K-12 school construction (out of a total state capital budget of about $810
million).� This has squeezed some
projects into out-years but Johns Hopkins projects were kept intact.� The state had committed $12.5 million for
this year for the New Clinical Buildings and this amount is in the budget.� In addition, MICUA has $8 million for this
year, $2 million of which is set aside for Gilman Hall (the first of two years
for a projected total of $4 million in state funds).�
Finally,
although not a Johns Hopkins project, EBDI has $5 million in state funds in the
budget for this year.
The state
will face a severe budget problem next year as excess cash will have been spent
this year to balance this year’s budget and the large boost in K-12
operating money will have been fully funded.�
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Governor
O’Malley’s FY 2008 proposed budget increases stem cell funding to
$25 million (from the current $15 million).
The
Commission on Stem Cell research established last year has received 85
applications in response to two RFAs.� Those grant requests total about $81 million
and all will be competing for the $15 million in the FY 2007 state budget.� Forty-four proposals are from researchers new
to working with stem cells; the maximum for each of those grants is
$100,000.� Forty-one are from
well-established stem cell researchers who could be awarded grants up to
$500,000 each.� Proposals included
studies of embryonic, adult, cancer, and cord blood stem cells; no information
was available on a breakdown on the numbers in each category.� There was no official announcement at the
Commission on a breakdown of the proposals by institution or by investigator, although Commission staff stated that no
single investigator submitted more than one proposal for which he or she is the
PI.� There was also no breakdown on the
number of proposals by disease category, but staff reported that the expected
diseases (diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injury, MS, liver and
lung disease) were all represented.� We
have been told that over forty applications are from Johns Hopkins researchers.
One
current issue of discussion at the Commission is about whether or not the Johns
Hopkins and
In the meantime, progress
has been made finding stem cell researchers from out of state to serve on the
peer review panel.� At this point 24 have
agreed to participate; TEDCO (the quasi-state agency that oversees the program)
is attempting to identify at least another 9 individuals.
Cabinet
Secretary Appointments
Governor O'Malley has continued to appoint
Secretaries to various state agencies in a methodical manner.� This week he announced the appointment of Dr.
James E. Lyons, past president of
Governor
O’Malley’s Inauguration
On January 17, Martin O’Malley, was sworn in as the state’s
61st governor.� His inauguration address
was brief, focusing on key themes which will likely lay the groundwork for his
first term in
Among the key themes were homeland security,
making the
He promised to work with officials in Virginia and Washington to
form a “powerhouse regional economy capable of competing and winning on
the world stage.”� He said he will
strive to make
O’Malley promised to focus state resources on K-12 education
and the state’s higher education system in addition to developing initiatives
to address the spiraling costs of health care.�
Specific details of his speech will be highlighted through his 2007
public policy agenda.
BILLS INTRODUCED
Budget - Capital
HB0021/SB0011 Creation of a State Debt - Johns Hopkins Bayview
Medical Center
This bill authorizes the creation of a State Debt for
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Inc. (JHBMC) not to exceed $560,000 for
the planning and construction of operating rooms and associated support
facilities. It requires JHBMC to first provide and expend matching funds. Any
amount of the loan exceeding the due matching fund shall be cancelled with no
further effect by the Boards of Public Works.
Effective
Date:� June 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Heather
Barthel
Environmental Health
HB0044/SB0015
�Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007
This bill requires the Maryland Department of the
Environment (MDE), in conjunction with the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA),
to establish by regulation a low emissions vehicle (LEV) program applicable to
vehicles of the 2011 model year and each model year thereafter. MDE and MVA
must jointly adopt regulations by December 31, 2007.
Effective
Date:� June 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Heather Barthel
General Business
HB0038 �Income Tax - Credit for Providing Adult Literacy
Programs
This bill creates an adult literacy services state tax
credit program for any business or nonprofit organization that provides adult
literacy services to its employees. The bill establishes an application and
certification procedure and creates a reserve fund to which the Governor can
appropriate funds in FY 2009, 2010, and 2011. The amount of credits that the
State Superintendent of Schools can award in each of these fiscal years cannot
exceed the lesser of $2 million or the amount of money in the fund.
Effective
Date:� July 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Heather
Barthel
General Health Care
HB0030 �Oral Health Safety Net Program
This bill establishes
an Oral Health Safety Net Program in the Office of Oral Health (OOH) in the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.�
The Program's purpose is to provide start-up funding to expand oral
health capacity for underserved low-income and disabled individuals, including
individuals enrolled in� the Medical
Assistance Program and the Children's Health Program.� The OOH will solicit proposals from local
health departments, FQHCs, and entities providing dental services within state
facilities for the purpose of issuing grants to support collaborative and
innovative ways to increase dental provider capacity for the underserved.�
Subject to
the state budget, OOH will award grants, placing priority on those that outline
how potential grantee will maximize funding.�
Also subject to the state budget, OOH shall contract with a licensed
dentist to provide expertise in dental public health issues and provide for
appropriate continuing education courses for providers that offer oral health
treatment to underserved populations.�
The legislation recommends that the FY 2009, 2010 and 2011 state budgets
each include $2 million for this purpose.
The OOH
shall evaluate the program annually and report its findings to the Governor and
General Assembly.� This bill will sunset
in 4 years.
Effective
Date:� October 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Sheila
Higdon
Sb0054 �Health - General - Vaccine for Prevention of Cervical
Cancer
This bill requires that, by September 2008, female
students enrolled in grade 6 shall be administered a cervical cancer
vaccine.� The Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene is charged with developing regulations to implement of the
provisions of this legislation.
Effective
Date:� June 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Sheila
Higdon
Health Care Facilities
HB0008 �Maryland Health Care Commission - Atlantic C-PORT II
Trial: Non-Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Study
Requiring the Maryland
Health Care Commission to provide a waiver from Certificate Of Need
requirements for on-site cardiac surgery for hospitals involved in a study
called Atlantic C-Port II Trial: Non-primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Study.
Also
requires the Maryland Health Care Commission to report to the Governor, the
Senate Finance Committee, and the House Government Operations Committee on the
findings of the study on or before January 1, 2010.
3 year
sunset
Effective
Date:� June 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Heather
Barthel
Medicaid
Sb0010 �Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Medicaid
Managed Care Pilot Program - Sunset Extension
This bill extends the termination date of the proposed
Medicaid managed care "Community Choice Program" for which the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has submitted a waiver.� The termination date would change from May
31, 2008 to May 31, 2011.
Effective
Date:� October 1, 2007
For more
information, please contact:� Sheila
Higdon
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STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact Government Relations if you have concerns or would like
additional information. Your input assists us greatly in evaluating and
formulating the position of Johns Hopkins on all legislation.
Legislative Session Office
410-269-0057
fax 410-269-1574
State
Jessica Best���������������� [email protected]
Heather Barthel ����������� [email protected]
Mickey Geisler� ����������� [email protected]
Matthew
Greenwood���� [email protected]
Sheila Higdon��� ����������
[email protected]
Tom Lewis������� ��
��������[email protected]
Bret Schreiber�� ����������
[email protected]
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