Senator Bailey is continuing to work with the Hogan Administration to help the residents of District 29 during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. Today, the Senator met with Secretary Tiffany Robinson from the Department of Labor and members of the Governor’s staff to discuss constituents’ unemployment benefits and to assure that swift action is taken on behalf of those individuals who have had their identities stolen for fraudulent unemployment claims. The Senator was appreciative of the Secretary’s efforts on behalf of our constituents.
Also today, the Senate unanimously passed the Governor’s RELIEF Act. This bill will provide needed funds to individuals, businesses, and community organizations to help during these difficult economic times. As part of this effort, Senator Bailey worked with his colleagues on the Budget and Taxation Committee to successfully ensure that local volunteer rescue squads will have access to funds that have been set aside in the bill for volunteer fire departments. Senator Bailey was proud to support this legislation, which will help our residents and small businesses in recovering from the economic losses resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic and the measures that have been taken to prevent the spread of the virus. This bill still must pass the House of Delegates and be signed by the Governor before it can become law.
This week, the Senate’s Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee gave a favorable report to two of Senator Bailey’s bills. Senate Bill 104 – Public and Nonpublic Schools – Electric Retractable Room Partitions – Operation Requirements and Senate Bill 249 – Higher Education – Senatorial Scholarships – Program Accreditation will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
On Tuesday, Senator Bailey presented two bills to help support the Second Amendment rights of Marylanders. Senate Bill 15 would require the State Police to notify handgun permit holders before the expiration of their permits. Senate Bill 221 works to address safety training courses for a Handgun Qualification License.
On Thursday, Senator Bailey was proud to present three more bills to the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Two bills were aimed at increasing penalties for sexual crimes committed against minors. The first bill, Senate Bill 268 – Criminal Law – Crime of Violence – Definition, would alter Maryland’s definition of “crime of violence” to include sexual abuse of a minor under specified circumstances where the offender is an adult and the victim is a minor younger than age 16, as opposed to the age of 13 that is given in current law. The second bill, Senate Bill 333 – Criminal Procedure – Sexual Offenders – Lifetime Supervision, would make sexual abuse of a minor, regardless of the minor’s age a crime that require lifetime supervision. Senator Bailey also introduced Senate Bill 99 – Hate Crimes – Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders, which would add law enforcement officers and first responders to the protected classes under State hate crime statutes pertaining to harassment and destruction of property and damage to an associated building.
Next week, Senator Bailey will be presenting two more bills to the Senate’s Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, Senate Bill 203 – Aquaculture Lease Applications – Notices, Protests, Meetings, and Conflict Resolution and Senate Bill 318 – Natural Resources – Fishing and Hunting Rights. If you are interested in submitting testimony on these bills, it must be submitted through the Maryland General Assembly website on Monday between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.