New Maryland Laws Go Into Effect on July 1

On July 1, a number of new laws go into effect in Maryland that will have a profound impact on the state. Jmore selected four new laws in particular and recently discussed them with political and health care leaders in the Jewish community.

Planned Parenthood

The Maryland General Assembly was the first legislative body in the nation to pass legislation this year to backfill prospective decreased Planned Parenthood funding by the federal government. If there are federal cutbacks, the new law will help fund preventive care to the nine Planned Parenthood centers in Maryland serving approximately 25,000 patients annually.

Specifically, the new law directs $2 million from the state’s Medicaid budget and $700,000 from Maryland’s general fund to family planning services. The Democrat-controlled legislature had enough votes to override a veto from Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, so the bill became law without his signature.

Del. Dan K. Morhaim (Photo by Steve Ruark)

Del. Dan K. Morhaim (D-11th)

“Planned Parenthood of Maryland provides preventive and reproductive health services to women, men and teens. Many of their patients have no other health care available. Should the federal government delete funding for important public health programs like this, the law establishes a Family Planning Program in the Department of Health that would ensure continuity of services. This approach supports families and communities, and is cost-effective.”

 

 

Del. Shelly L. Hettleman

Delegate Shelly L. Hettleman (D-11th)

“I’m a proud co-sponsor of this bill that makes Maryland the first state in the nation to protect funding for Planned Parenthood in the increasingly likely event that federal funds are cut. This new law ensures that Maryland women will continue to have access to essential health care services like cancer screenings and mammograms that Planned Parenthood provides. This law continues Maryland’s tradition of being in the forefront of protecting women’s health.”

 

Pollinator Protection

Last year, Maryland approved a law to use the designation “pollinator habitat” on state agency lands. Named the Pollinator Protection Act, the passage of the law made Maryland’s legislature the first in the country to restrict consumer use of neonics, a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine that is harmful to bees.

The new law, however, allows exceptions for public health emergencies. The law also gives state agencies the ability to designate which of their lands are and are not protected.

Del. Dana M. Stein

Del. Dana M. Stein (D-11th)

“Maryland has been a trailblazer in efforts to protect bees and other pollinators, which are essential in food production. This bill builds on 2016 legislation that requires state agencies to have pollinator habitat areas by prohibiting pesticides known to harm bees from being used on these areas.”

 

 

Taxpayer Protection

A new law provides safeguards to protect Maryland taxpayers from tax fraud and identity theft. With this law, the state comptroller’s office has greater ability to stop tax fraud, protect taxpayer information and hold accountable fraudulent filers and tax preparers.

As of July 1, the Field Enforcement Division of the Comptroller’s Office has added responsibilities to investigate potential tax fraud. The new law enables this agency to seek injunctions against tax preparers who are suspected of fraudulent and criminal practices.

Del. Hettleman

“The possibility for fraud increases as we make online filing easier for both tax filers and administrators. The Taxpayer Protection Act is a consumer-protecting law that will enable the comptroller to go after bad actors who try to scam and steal from tax filers, as well as those who fraudulently file and prepare returns.”

Opioid Education

Maryland’s public schools will be required to offer specific education programs about opioid addiction. Named the Start Talking Maryland Act, the law mandates the state’s public schools to teach the dangers of heroin and opioids in drug education as early as third grade and continuing into college.The STMA also requires public schools to have naloxone on hand and staff that are trained to use it. Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses.

Dr. Eric Weintraub
Dr. Eric Weintraub (Photo courtesy of University of Maryland Medical Center)

Dr. Eric Weintraub, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a board certified addiction psychiatrist at the University of Maryland Medical Center

“This new law is a great idea. We need to focus on prevention as well as treatment. Getting information to kids early is important. Some children learn about heroin and opioid addiction from family members who are addicted. So creating programs that are age-appropriate is required. I hope the school system people will work with child and mental health experts as well as experts in substance abuse treatment. We need educators and mental health professionals to work together so they tailor the messages that are appropriate for students at all age levels.”

Other notable new laws:

Fallen Heroes Day at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens

Hometown Heroes

This law provides a tax break for the retirement income of law enforcement, fire, rescue and emergency services personnel who are 55 or older. In addition, the law exempts their first $15,000 of retirement income from state taxes.

 

 

 

Minimum Wage

As part of incremental increases approved in 2014 to take place over several years, a new law increases Maryland’s minimum wage from $8.75 to $9.25 an hour.

 

Photo of Adam Benesch of Union Craft Brewing by Harry B

Craft Breweries

Under this new law, breweries will be able to sell up to 2,000 barrels of beer annually, up from 500 barrels under the former law. This change enables London-based Diageo to build a Guinness brewery in the former Seagram’s bottling plant in Baltimore County. All Maryland breweries will be able to sell up to 2,000 barrels of beer per year, and they will also be able to petition the state for permission to buy another 1,000 barrels from distributors for sale in their taprooms.

 

 

Peter Arnold is an Olney, Md.-based freelance  writer.

 

 

 

 

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