Dear Friend:

The 2008 Maryland Legislative Session has passed the halfway mark and the pace is picking up.  To date, 1,624 bills have been filed in the House of Delegates and 1,011 have been filed in the Senate.  I had expected fewer bills since the Special Session was held in November, but there are still many issues to address. 

I want to thank those of you who have taken my calls and helped my staff with research on the various bills.  I have found that some of the bill language needs clarifying, and it is best to talk to the people who are most directly affected by the issues.  Thanks also to all who share their concerns, insights, and suggestions on legislative issues before the General Assembly.

Present law states that a non-profit organization can only use their sales and use tax exemption to buy items used to further their own mission.  HB1094 – Sales and Use Tax – Nonprofit Organizations will allow non-profits to use their sales and use tax exemptions to buy up to $5,000 worth of items each year and donate them to other non-profits.  There are many small non-profits that struggle to get started.  They may be rich in eager volunteers but have little money.  Further, in Charles County a non-profit must be providing services for three years before qualifying to be considered for United Way funds.  This bill would allow more established non-profits to help new and smaller non-profits provide services.

HB1521 - Sales and Use Tax  - Exemptions – Veterans Organizations would extend the sunset provisions in present law on the Sales and Use Tax exemptions to Veterans Organizations.  Present law allows veterans organizations to use their sales and use exemptions from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009.  This bill would extend the period to June 30, 2012 and put their exemption in line with the sunset provisions on other non-profit organizations.

Many of you may know that I have been a Foster Care parent and I was also a member of the Foster Care Review Board.  During this time, I became aware of the number of children who are being cared for by family members who are not their parents.  These family members may be grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, or sometimes cousins.  Many of these children are not in a formal foster care situation, and the term Kinship Care is most often used to describe the situation.  In talking with many of these care givers, the children themselves, and local authorities, it became apparent that in many cases they need either short term assistance or referral to available services.  However, they often do not know where to go to get these services.   

Therefore, in support of these families, I planned to submit another bill for consideration.   HB1363 – Kinship Care Navigator would require that the Department of Human Resources (DHR) name a Kinship Care Navigator to inform kinship caregivers of government and community services and the eligibility requirements for services.  This bill had the support of delegates from all over the state who have worked on this issue for some time.  After meetings with representatives of DHR and their review of present services, DHR has taken a proactive position and named both a coordinator and suggested some specific areas to assess for improvements.  I appreciate their willingness to support these families and look forward to working together with them on this issue.  Therefore, I have withdrawn the bill to give them a chance to further enhance their action plan.

The welfare of our children has always been a focus of my attention, especially those children who do not have health care.  In 2007 the Family Coverage Expansion Act was passed to require insurance companies to continue health coverage for dependents up to age 25 on their parents’ health plan.  This bill did not cover children in foster care.  Therefore, I had a bill drafted to provide health coverage for foster children up to age 25.  A broader bill drafted by Delegate Heather Mizeur called for coverage of all children up to age 21 regardless of whether their parents have insurance.  After reviewing her bill, HB1591-Kids First Act, I believed it better to support her bill and did not file my proposal.

Data released by the Department of Housing and Community Development shows foreclosures continued to rise in the 4^th quarter of 2007.  Total foreclosure activity grew 38.9% and the number of mortgage loan defaults grew 53.2% in the 4^th quarter alone.  Five jurisdictions – Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery, Prince George’s Counties, and Baltimore City – accounted for 72.2% of foreclosures in the state, and nearly every jurisdiction experienced an increase in foreclosure activity.  The problem is only likely to deepen in 2008, as sub prime adjustable rate mortgage resets are expected to peak this year.

Four bills are scheduled in the House of Delegates to address the foreclosure crisis in Maryland.  HB360, 361, 363, and 365 strengthen consumer protections in the mortgage industry and increase the timetable for a foreclosure, so that homeowners have more time to seek alternative financing and avoid losing their homes.  Because there are a large number of foreclosures in Charles County, I will be watching these bills closely and how they may help the citizens in Charles County.

Electronic gaming devices have garnered attention these past few weeks and many of you have been following the stories in the papers.  Over the years several counties have allowed various types of electronic gaming devices to be set up for the benefit of non-profit organizations or under license from the county.  Non-profit organizations tell me that they have planned their budgets based on monies from these machines.  HB1576, Statewide Phase-Out of Electronic Gaming Devices clarifies the definition of what constitutes a slot machine and the definition of a “game of chance.”  This bill seeks to establish a statewide plan to eliminate these machines by June 30, 2009.  

Machines installed and operated on or after July 1, 2003, would cease to operate by June 30, 2008.  Devices which began operation between July 1, 1998 and before July 1, 2003, would end by December 31, 2008.  The oldest machines in operation before July 1, 1998, could continue in service until June 30, 2009. The bill has passed the Senate and will be coming to the Ways and Means Committee for a hearing.  I will be paying close attention to the provisions of the bill and how it affects Charles County.

This year we are again accepting applications for Delegate Scholarship Awards.  The awards are available to high school seniors and current college students planning to attend colleges and universities and private career schools in Maryland.  Recipients must be residents of the 28th Legislative District.

Applications, eligibility rules, and a checklist are available by calling my office at 301-858-3247 or sending us an e-mail to peter.murphy@house.state.md.us or by visiting our website where you can download the forms, www.delegatepetermurphy.com .  The deadline for submitting all applications is April 15, 2008.

If you are interested in legislation that is being considered this session, please let me know.  If you are planning to come to Annapolis to attend session or testify at a hearing, I would be glad to see you.  Involvement in the legislative process can be very rewarding.  As always, I appreciate your support and your continued interest in the well being of our County.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

Charles County, District 28