Every Monday in the Insider, check out updates on key legislation affecting the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and professional supports, learn about upcoming advocacy events, and receive notices about Federal, State, and other initiatives of importance to The Arc Maryland!

You can stay up to date on all legislation The Arc Maryland is keeping tabs on through our Bill Tracker! Use the Bill Tracker to view position statements, access bill text, and check hearing times and dates.

While the Maryland Department of Health indicates that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are in Phase 1B of the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, there are still people with IDD having trouble accessing the vaccine.

The State has given counties leeway to determine how to allocate and distribute doses, creating what has become a complicated maze of different procedures and forms for residents to complete. Some local health department websites bear little resemblance to the state prioritization plan. Others appear to follow guidance to vaccine oldest Marylanders first, but then "leap-frog" other priority groups ahead of individuals with IDD.

As of 2/22, the following counties (and Baltimore City) do not prioritize people with IDD in phase 1B on their health department websites: Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll, Calvert, Caroline, Garrett, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worchester. Additionally, Dorchester and Kent County leave prioritization unclear.

Taking Action: If you live in any of the counties listed above, please contact your county health department and advocate that they make the change to their policies and registration forms to ensure that people with IDD have access to vaccines alongside other groups of people who are in their prioritization group!

Click the button below to find contact information for your county's Health Department. Additionally, you can click the other button to review the "report card" based on information available on each county health department's website relating to people with IDD.

Hearings for the Developmental Disabilities Administration's (DDA) FY22 Budget are coming up next Friday, March 5th at 1:30 PM. The House hearing is in the Health and Social Services Subcommittee (Part of APP) while the Senate hearing is in the Health and Human Services Subcommittee (Part of B&T).

The FY22 DDA Budget contains key funding for DD Services, including the 4% rate increase that advocates worked tirelessly to secure during the 2019 and 2020 sessions. Help ensure that legislators know the impact the FY22 budget has on Marylanders with IDD and their supports by submitting written and/or oral testimony!

If you are interested in submitting testimony for one of the budget hearings, you can do so on the MGA website here. You will have to sign up two business days prior, on 3/3 between 10 AM and 3 PM. Click below to learn how to create an account and sign up for testimony. Please contact Ande Kolp for questions or help to submit testimony.

Last week, the Department of Health announced the soft launch of a COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center for call-based support at the phone number 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829). The line was set up to aid some of Maryland's populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 without internet access to share information on the vaccine and help them find vaccine providers near their homes. The phone line will be open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM.

HB1166: Education – Physical Restraint and Seclusion – Requirements, Reporting, and Training

Status: In House, Hearing 2/24 in W&M at 1:30 PM.

Testimony is due Today, 2/22 between 10 AM and 3 PM on the MGA website. Contact akolp@thearcmd.org if you need assistance to submit testimony or sign up.

Position: Support

SB0890: Early Childhood Education - Child Care Provider Support Grant Program (The Child Care Provider Support Act)

Status: In Senate, Hearing 2/25 in EHEA at 11:00 AM.

Testimony is due tomorrow, 2/23 between 10 AM and 3 PM on the MGA website. Contact akolp@thearcmd.org if you need assistance to submit testimony or sign up.

Position: Support with Amendments

SB0610: Lodging Establishments – Accessible Rooms for Individuals With Disabilities – Deadlines

Status: In Senate, Hearing 2/25 in FIN at 1:00 PM.

Testimony is due tomorrow, 2/23 between 10 AM and 3 PM on the MGA website. Contact akolp@thearcmd.org if you need assistance to submit testimony or sign up.

Position: Oppose

HB0765: Workers’ Compensation – Occupational Disease Presumptions – Novel Coronavirus (Essential Workers’ Compensation Act)

Status: In House, Hearing 3/2 in EMC at 1:30 PM.

Testimony is due 2/26 between 10 AM and 3 PM on the MGA website. Contact akolp@thearcmd.org if you need assistance to submit testimony or sign up.

Position: Oppose

HB0908: Unemployment Insurance - Employer Contributions - Payment Plans

HB1002: Unemployment Insurance - Revisions and Required Study

HB0836: COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, and Vaccination Act of 2021

HB1263: Maryland Department of Health – COVID–19 Vaccination Plan

HB1313: Emergency Medical Services - Paramedics - Vaccination Administration

HB0238: Criminal Procedure - Automatic Expungement

SB0218: Income Tax - Child Tax Credit and Expansion of the Earned Income Credit

HB1000: Estates and Trusts - Guardian of Property of Minor or Disabled Person - Prohibition on Distribution or Disbursement

HB0998: County Boards of Education - In-Person Instruction and Related Services - Requirement

HB1166: Education – Physical Restraint and Seclusion – Requirements, Reporting, and Training

SB0546: School Buildings - Drinking Water Outlets - Elevated Level of Lead (Safe School Drinking Water Act)

SB0741: COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, and Vaccination Act of 2021

SB0890: Early Childhood Education - Child Care Provider Support Grant Program (The Child Care Provider Support Act)

SB0610: Lodging Establishments – Accessible Rooms for Individuals With Disabilities – Deadlines

SB0707: Office of Health Care Quality – Influenza Virus Immunization Education and Information – Assisted Living Facilities

HB0765: Workers’ Compensation – Occupational Disease Presumptions – Novel Coronavirus (Essential Workers’ Compensation Act)

HB1199: Workers’ Compensation – Occupational Disease Presumptions – COVID–19

HB1326: Maryland Healthy Working Families Act – Revisions and Public Health Emergency Leave

HB1258: Health Enterprise Zones - Established (Restoring the Promise Act of 2021)

HB0917: Corrections – Restrictive Housing – Prohibition

SB0725: Workers' Compensation - Occupational Disease Presumptions - COVID-19

SB0811: Unemployment Insurance – Computation of Earned Rate of Contribution – Applicable Table of Rates

SB0814: Unemployment Insurance - Earned Rating Record - Waiver of Benefit Charges Due to COVID-19

SB0816: Unemployment Insurance - Employer Contributions - Payment Plans

HB0589: Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2021

HB1056: Nonpublic Schools – Adequate Health Services – Eligibility for Reimbursement

HB1106: Civil Actions – Immunity From Liability – COVID–19 Exposure

HB1089: Primary and Secondary Education – Expansion of Mental Health Services and Prohibition of School Resource Officers (Police–Free Schools Act)

HB1181: County Boards of Education - Accessibility Standards - Digital Tools (Nonvisual Access Accountability Act for Grades K-12 Education)

HB1296: Public School Students - Daily Physical Activity (Student Health and Fitness Act)

SB0493: Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2021

SB0827: Nonpublic Schools – Adequate Health Services – Eligibility for Reimbursement

SB0796: Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities and Maryland Health Care Commission – Reporting Requirements

HB1033: Office of Health Care Quality – Influenza Virus Immunization Education and Information – Assisted Living Facilities

HB1281: Adult Protective Services - Vulnerable Adults Registry - Investigations and Records of Abuse and Neglect and Workgroup Study