ANNAPOLIS - The Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review receives copies of all regulations of each state agency, reviewing regulations with regard to the legislative procedural due process. As a member of this committee, I have heard from the Board of Education on its decision to order a statewide mask mandate in our public school system and establish “off-ramps” for districts to be able to lift the mandate.

On Feb. 25, we approved the State Board of Education’s decision to remove the mask mandate, bringing control back to our local school boards. During the hearing, I ensured that the order would be removed completely and there would be no additional off-ramps, with full control returning to local county authorities. I have not supported the statewide mask mandate, and believe that the decisions should be in the decision of local school boards who know their community’s needs rather than trying to fit all of the diverse State of Maryland into one blanket mandate.

Legislative Update

I want to shine a spotlight on a few pieces of legislation related to education that I have co-sponsored and will soon have their hearings.

SB 786 Education - Public Schools - Curriculum Publication (Curriculum Transparency and Publication Act) will ensure each public school posts the curriculum used for each course taught in the school on the school’s publicly accessible website.

SJ 007 Support of Parents’ Rights to Bring Grievances to County Boards of Education will support parents’ rights to peacefully assemble, speak freely and petition the government, including boards of education, on any topic.

There has also been movement on other pieces of legislation that I introduced or have signed onto as a cosponsor.

SB 18 Local Government Tort Claims Act - Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. would include Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc., a nonprofit corporation serving as the economic development authority of the City of Cambridge, in the Local Government Tort Claims Act. This bill passed through the Senate on Thursday and will now be reviewed by the House.

SB 448 Education - Regional Resource Centers and Libraries - Funding increases the per capita funding amount that must be provided to each regional resource center and to each county public library system. This bill passed through the Senate on Thursday and will now be reviewed by the House.

Constituent meetings

Last week, our office met with the following organizations to discuss legislation that will impact the Eastern Shore and Maryland: Donate Life Maryland, Maryland Nurses Association, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition, Maryland Coalition of Families, MICUA, Maryland Psychological Association, Stevenson University, Maryland Community Action Partnership, the Humane Soceity of the US, the Maryland Medicare Advantage Coalition, and more.

Debt referrals

At its monthly livestreamed public meeting, the Maryland Transportation Authority Board approved a Customer Assistance Plan that includes a civil penalty waiver grace period that waives all civil penalties for customers who pay their unpaid tolls by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30, 2022. Effective Feb. 24, the MDTA has begun a civil penalty waiver grace period for tolls paid in full and has ceased referring toll bills to the Central Collection Unit (CCU) and MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) temporarily. The grace period will end at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, and the MDTA will resume referrals of unpaid toll bills and civil penalties to CCU and MDOT MVA on Dec. 1.

The Customer Assistance Plan provides the following measures:

• Immediately discontinue referrals of toll bills to CCU and MDOT MVA.
• Establish a civil penalty waiver grace period that waives all civil penalties for all customers who pay all their unpaid tolls by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30.
• Work with MDTA’s toll vendor to increase the number of customer service agents to reduce call and web chat wait times.
• Work with MDTA’s toll vendor to explore a payment plan opportunity.

Because the MDTA Board action is effective as of Thursday, Feb. 24, the civil penalty waiver grace period is NOT retroactive, and customers should note the following key dates:

• Payments made/postmarked before Feb. 24: Civil penalties that are already paid will not be reimbursed.
• Payments made/postmarked Feb. 24 – Nov. 30: For every unpaid toll transaction paid in full, the corresponding civil penalty will be waived. Additionally, no toll debt will be referred to CCU or MDOT MVA.
• Feb. 24 – Mid-March: Civil penalties will be waived for each paid toll, but civil penalties remain on accounts until the software changes are in place to reflect the waiver.
• Mid-March: The system functionality for the waiver grace period will be completed, allowing customers to confirm online that their penalties are being waived following full toll payment.
• Nov. 30, at 11:59 p.m.: Civil penalty waiver grace period ends.
• Dec. 1: All unpaid tolls AND civil penalties are due based on the printed due dates, and toll debt referrals to CCU and MDOT MVA resume.

This plan does not impact the posting of backlogged tolls. The MDTA will continue posting COVID-backlogged tolls into Summer 2022. For customers who choose not to pay their Video Tolls before the due date on the notice, mailings of citations/civil penalties will continue during the grace period and will remain in effect if unpaid tolls are not paid by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30 (within the grace period).

$14.5M to Project Restore

Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Project Restore offers rental and operational grants to help offset startup costs and incentivize commercial investment in vacant spaces.

Recipients in-district include:

Caroline County - A&M Venture LLC, Aaron’s Place Inc., Denton Restaurant Group, The Paperwork Pros LLC

Dorchester County - Beat the Rush Delivery LLC, Blue Skies Trading Company, Flowers N Things, Maryland Blue

Talbot County - Eastern Shore Senior Marketing, LLC, Rise Up Coffee Roasters, LLC

Wicomico County - Heights to Heights Learning Center, LLC, Main Street Kids, LLC, Medicann Elite, LLC

$50M to Rural Economic Development

Gov. Larry Hogan announced that $50 million in grant funds will be made available to boost economic development activity, stimulate private sector investment, and grow jobs in the state’s rural regions. Five rural regional councils, representing the Upper, Mid and Lower Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland, and Western Maryland, will submit proposals to the Maryland Department of Commerce outlining how they plan to use up to $10 million available through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund.

Eligible uses for the fund include:

• Infrastructure, such as utilities and transportation and broadband,
• Industry sector development, such as manufacturing, cybersecurity, and life sciences,
• Workforce development, including job training programs, and
• Projects that stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation.

COVID-19 home test kits

Everyone enrolled in Maryland Medicaid can now get up to four free over the counter COVID-19 home test kits every 30 days. Not all test kits are covered. Test kits that you buy or pay for on your own are not covered. See your pharmacist to get your covered test kits.

Eastern Shore Delegation Meetings

Meetings of the Eastern Shore Delegation occur each Friday, beginning at 9 a.m. Legislators discuss a variety of issues and legislation pertinent to the Eastern Shore. These meetings can be viewed on the General Assembly website under the “Meetings” tab.

2022-2023 Senatorial Scholarship Application

Our office’s Senatorial Scholarship is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Please reach out to our office at adelaide.eckardt@senate.state.md.us to receive the scholarship application packet.

If you have previously applied to the scholarship, it will automatically renew for a total of four years after applying.