Senator Addie Eckardt, District 37 Weekly Wrap-Up March 15, 2019

This Week In Annapolis   This week, the Senate went into multiple sessions per day, coming in early and staying late to try to get as many good bills through the Senate and over to the House by Monday, the cross-over date. In order for a bill to become law, it has to pass through both the Senate and the House of Delegates as well as be approved by and signed by the Governor.    On Saturday, March 9th, I presented seven organizations to the Senate Capital Budget and House Appropriations Committees as contenders to receive capital bond funds for their projects. Thank you to the following organizations for your work in District 37 and for coming to Annapolis to present: Academy Art Museum Inc. for the Academy Art Museum HVAC Systems American Legion Blake-Blackston Post #77 for the American Legion Post #77 “Building to Serve” Delmarva Community Services, Inc. for the Chesapeake Grove Senior Housing and Intergenerational Center Dorchester Center for the Arts, Inc. for the finishing of the second floor of Dorchester Center for the Arts Friends of Salisbury Elks Lodge 817, Inc. for Accessibility is a Priority – Salisbury Elk’s Lodge 817 The Good Shepard Association for the Maces Lane Community Center Richardson Maritime Museum, Inc. for the Richardson Maritime Museum – Consolidation

On March 11, 2019 and then throughout the week, legislators debated SB 371 – State Board of Dental Examiners – Ownership, Management, or Operation of a Dental Practice on the Senate floor. This bill had overwhelming support from Eastern Shore dentists and would protect patients by requiring that a dental practice be owned, managed, or operated only by a licensed dentist. Licensed dentists are already supervised and regulated so this legislation would guarantee that individuals are receiving safe and adequate care.   On March 13th, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee heard SB 906 – Income Tax – Itemized Deductions. This bill would allow an individual to itemize deductions for State income tax purposes without regard to whether or not the individual itemizes for federal income tax papers. This legislation offers a solution on a real problem for many Maryland taxpayers who previously claimed itemized deductions on their Maryland tax returns.   Also, on the 13th, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee heard SB 650 – Income Tax – Credit for Long-Term Care Premiums. I am a co-sponsor on this bill that would alter the existing one-time long-term care insurance premiums income tax credit by allowing the credit to be claimed for every year a policy is in force. Passage of income tax credits for long-term care insurance would benefit both policyholders and caregivers as well as improve overall financing of long-term care in Maryland.   On March 14th, the House of Delegates passed the FY 2020 budget; it will now be moving to the Senate for review and any further alterations. There is a question if the suggested funding mandates are reasonable. The Senate has some reservations about the overall fiscal sustainability of the House’s budget and will be working to resolve any discrepancies.   SB 447 – Health Occupations – Requirements for the Practice of Optometry – Miscellaneous Revisions was heard on the Senate floor and passed second reader on March 15th. I co-sponsored this bill that alters various provisions relating to the practice of optometry. This legislation will be voted on once again in the Senate and then, upon passage, will be moving to the House of Delegates.

My Bills This Week   I had four bills pass the Senate body this week: SB 509 – Property Tax – In Rem Foreclosure – Vacant and Abandoned Property, SB 634 – Electric Cooperatives – Powers – Conducting or Communications Facilities, SB 920 – Talbot County – Alcoholic Beverages – Election Days, and SB 943 – Talbot County – Alcoholic Beverages – Substitute Member for Board of License Commissioners. These bills will now be crossing over to the House of Delegates to be heard by and voted on by their respective committees and the full body.   On March 12th, I presented three local Dorchester County bills to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. These bills, SB 888 – Dorchester County – Sunday Hunting – Deer Firearms Season, SB 889 – Dorchester County – Sunday Hunting – Deer Muzzle Season, and SB 890 – Dorchester County – Sunday Hunting – Deer Muzzle Loader Season. All three pieces of legislation came as request from the County and constituents to expand upon Sunday hunting.   I presented SB 507 – Income Tax – Angel Investor Tax Credit Program to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 13th. This legislation would create an income tax credit for investors that make qualified investments in Maryland innovation businesses, with an additional credit for those who invest in our State’s rural areas. The Eastern Shore lacks the kind of angel investment that occurs in other areas of the State but there are many qualified individuals that would invest in local startups if provided the motivation and the mechanism to do so.   Also on the 13th, I presented SB 635 – Mental Health – Involuntary Admissions – Procedures to the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation would allow psychiatric nurse practitioners to perform the initial intake of involuntary patients as well as allow them to testify at the involuntary admission hearings. Due to the acute psychiatrist shortage throughout Maryland and particularly on the Eastern Shore, by allowing psychiatric nurse practitioners to perform these duties, treatment could be expedited.

Coming Up Next Week   On March 19th, I’ll be presenting Senate Bill 944 – Behavioral Health Programs – Medical Directors – Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners to the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation would allow for psychiatric nurse practitioners to serve as the medical director of an outpatient mental health center under specified circumstances. Specifically on the Eastern Shore, it is difficult to recruit and retain psychiatrists to fill this position; this legislation would allow psychiatric nurse practitioners to serve as this role if the center is located in a federally designated health professional shortage area or if the director abandons the facility without adequate time to hire a new psychiatrist to fill this position.