Legislative Priorities
Maryland Legislative Priorities
1. Preserving Vital Programs and Services
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Budget reductions have already jeopardized health, safety, education and other programs important to children, seniors, vulnerable adults and the quality of life in our communities . The next budget threatens more cuts to all of these priorities. In the wealthiest state in the nation, this should be unacceptable.
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Nonprofits and the public must join other advocates and call on Maryland’s elected leaders to adopt a balanced approach in resolving our fiscal crisis that includes reasonable revenue measures while protecting services.
2. Assuring Access to Quality Health Care
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Maryland now faces the challenge of implementing health reform, adequately funding current commitments and services and dealing with a chronically "structurally unbalanced‟ budget.
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Many people served by nonprofits lack access to adequate health care and the cost of care is an increasing burden on nonprofit employers trying to provide adequate coverage for their workers.
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In implementing reforms, Maryland must consider both the quality and affordability of care and the challenges faced by small and nonprofit providers.
3. Reforming State Procurement Processes
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This year a national study found that nonprofits across the country face similar issues in government contracting. Complicated and time-consuming processes, as well as underfunding, were reported by substantial numbers of service providers in Maryland and in most other states.
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We urge all nonprofits to work with the revised and newly-appointed State Task Force to identify and correct practices that cost both state and provider agencies time and money – resources that should be going to serve people in need of health and other human services.
4. Fair Access to Housing
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Working with a broad coalition we are supporting efforts to ban discrimination in housing based on the renter’s or purchaser’s source of income. In Maryland today, in many cases people receiving benefits as veterans, for disabilities, or simply government or private rental assistance are denied equal housing opportunities.
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The legislation to be introduced will be titled the “MARYLAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MADE EQUAL ACT” -- (The Maryland HOME Act of 2011).