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Black Maryland lawmakers highlighted a bundle of measures on Thursday that they’re prioritizing to enhance well being, entry to housing, minority enterprise alternatives, training and criminal justice reforms.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, famous that the caucus consists of 66 of the Maryland General Assembly’s 188 legislators, the biggest caucus of its type within the nation.
“Our agenda seeks to address health disparities and maternal health and cancer that plague our communities and lead to high mortality rates,” Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat, mentioned at a information convention. “We will seek to increase access to housing and create a more stable environment for renters and Marylanders.”
HALEY ENDORSED BY EX-MARYLAND GOV. HOGAN, WHO WON’T RUN ON THIRD-PARTY TICKET
Here’s a have a look at among the measures which might be being prioritized by the caucus:
HEALTH
The caucus is supporting a measure to enhance the well being of pregnant ladies by streamlining medical kinds after they’re discharged from hospitals and connecting sufferers with community-based providers.
Black lawmakers are also including their help to a invoice to develop the authority of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set higher cost limits on pharmaceuticals statewide. The caucus additionally desires to do extra to boost public consciousness concerning the availability of most cancers screening.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, speaks at a information convention in Annapolis, MD., Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
HOUSING
The caucus is backing a invoice to present native governments the authority to require simply trigger to disclaim the renewal of leases and set up clear standards for evictions to guard tenants. Another invoice would prohibit housing suppliers from discriminating towards potential tenants who’ve criminal data by barring landlords from reviewing criminal historical past three years after launch.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
The caucus is looking for to develop criminal file expungement legal guidelines. One measure would allow courts to resolve whether or not an individual’s file could possibly be expunged, even when a criminal offense falls outdoors of present statutory allowances. Supporters say that whereas the state has made progress on expungement rights, there are nonetheless numerous misdemeanors — like driving with out a license or with out insurance coverage — that may’t be expunged.
The caucus additionally helps a invoice to create an ombudsman’s workplace for the correctional system that would offer a voice for the incarcerated and their households about circumstances in correctional amenities.
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EDUCATION
A measure with caucus help would be certain that Maryland just isn’t approving duplicate applications which might be already being supplied by the state’s 4 traditionally Black faculties and universities.
The caucus additionally expressed opposition to a proposal in Gov. Wes Moore’s finances proposal that might create a copayment of as much as 7% of households’ revenue to take part in a baby care scholarship program. Del. Stephanie Smith, a Baltimore Democrat, mentioned the potential copays “could actually make the value of the scholarship program less potent.” The governor’s workplace mentioned Moore is proud to have put ahead the biggest funding ever in this system, and that the governor seems ahead to persevering with conversations with lawmakers, native leaders and advocates.
MINORITY BUSINESS
The caucus highlighted a invoice to extend transparency within the awarding of state contracts. One measure would create an interactive public dashboard for the state’s Board of Public Works, which approves most state contracts. Another measure would improve prime contracting alternatives for minority companies.
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