A week out from crossover day has MD lawmakers contemplating juvenile reform, state budget
MARYLAND – As of Monday lawmakers have exactly one week to get bills sorted out before Crossover day on March 18th.
Any bills at that date that have not been sent over from the House to the Senate or Vice Versa will not move forward, making for a week filled with debates on issues of the state budget, juvenile crime, and the Maryland Blueprint for Education reform.
On the budget, Senator Mary Beth Carozza tells us the House and Senate are very far apart in scope, with the House moving forward HB1515 which seeks to close the state’s entire budget deficit in one fiscal note, by expanding a 5 percent state sales tax to virtually all service-sector businesses in the state.
“The Senate president and the chairman of the Senate Budget Taxation Committee have said they’re holding off on new taxes and fee increases, the big fee increases for this year, the House, meanwhile, is introducing legislation that would increase fees and taxes on virtually every aspect of a Marylander’s life,” Senator Carozza said adding “you will see intense meetings and negotiation, so, you know, right now the Senate is scheduled to move forward on the budget first this week.”
Also on the table, are two versions of the juvenile justice reform bills that Senator Carozza says are far closer together in terms of scope, and fiscal notes between the House and Senate.
Both bills would create programs to intervene and hold 10-11 and 12-year-olds who commit crimes accountable with so-called diversionary programs through the counties.
Senator Carozza says she will make sure that the local counties, especially Dorchester County receive funding to help run those programs, rather than an unfunded mandate.
“You have a chair that’s saying he does not think we’re that far apart, that does indicate that we will be able to move forward. But it’s as we all know, we need to look at the exact language and how it will impact the juveniles in our community,” Senator Carozza said.
This week would also be the final stretch, to push any deadlines with Maryland’s Blueprint Education Reform, including a 60k starting salary for teachers and universal pre-k.
Senator Carozza says they are working to make sure eastern shore districts, can achieve those goals without crippling their budgets.
“The Blueprint Education Bill, which I believe we could work from and hopefully amend so that we can provide some transparency and flexibility for at the local level for our public school systems,” Carozza said.
