The event will be held on the campus of Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Cade Building Room 219.  The address of the campus is 101 College Drive.  However, it is recommended that you enter the campus from the West Campus Drive entrance and NOT the main entrance.  Once turning onto West Campus Drive, you will make your first right at the stop sign.  The Cade Building will be on the left side of the road and parking will be in a lot across the street.  A map of the campus with the route and building highlighted can be viewed here: aacc-map-mlaw-conference.

Individuals

• Danelle Buchman
• Michaele Cohen
• Sophie Ford
• Cassandra Freeman
• Susan Horst
• Elizabeth Fran Johnson
• Pam Luby
• Anita Riley
• Joan Stine

Organizations

• American Association of University Women – Maryland
• Anne Arundel County Commission for Women
• Business and Professional Women of Maryland
• Christol Salon and Spa
• Emerge Maryland
• Job Opportunities Task Force
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Maryland Commission for Women
• Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
• Maryland National Organization for Women (NOW)
• Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
• Maryland Working Families
• MomsRising.org
• Montgomery County Commission for Women
• NARAL Pro Choice Maryland
• National Coalition of 100 Black Women Prince George’s County
• Planned Parenthood Maryland
• Women’s Democratic Club of Montgomery County
• Woman’s National Democratic Club
• Women’s Law Center of Maryland

MLAW is encouraging organizations (lead groups) and legislators to submit their legislative proposals for consideration at our Fall Agenda Conference to be held on October 22nd. Selected legislation will comprise our 2017 Legislative Agenda.

Criteria for submissions is as follows:
*addresses a women’s issue
*can be addressed through the legislative process
*has an identifiable, sustainable group that can shepherd the issue
*has a reasonable chance to move successfully through the legislative process

If your legislation meets this criteria and you would like it to be considered, please download and complete a submission form. 2016 Legislative Proposal Form

The MLAW fall conference will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD.

The conference will feature a moderated panel: “From the Style Page to the Front Page: Advancing Women’s Issues”, including: Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, Delegate Kathleen Dumais, Delegate Ariana Kelly and Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton.  Delegate Aruna Miller, President of the Women Legislators of Maryland, will give opening remarks.

The highlight of the conference will be the presentation of legislative proposals for the upcoming 2017 legislative session. Join us to learn about the bills that will make up the 2017 Agenda. An optional Grassroots Advocacy 101 workshop will be offered from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.  There is no charge for the this workshop.   A light continental breakfast is included with registration. Optional box lunches for those staying for the Advocacy 101 workshop are available for $10 and require a pre-order.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and encouraged. For more information, call 443-519-1005 or email us at  mdlegagenda4women@yahoo.com or visit our website at www.mdlegagendaforwomen.org for sponsorship levels benefits and pricing.

Anne Arundel Community College, located at 101 College Parkway in Arnold, provides a convenient setting for our conference with ample free parking and handicapped accessibility.

Click here to download a Conference Registration Form. 2016 Fall Conference Registration Form

Click here to download a Sponsorship Form. 2016 Fall Conference Sponsorship Form

Click here to download a Conference Flyer.  2016 Fall Conference Flyer

Click here to download a Legislative Proposal Form. 2016 Legislative Proposal Form

MLAW is the only statewide coalition of women’s groups and individuals that provides a non-partisan, independent voice for Maryland women and families.  We mobilize networks, groups, and individuals from all over the state to ensure the passage of key legislation.  In 2016, five of the nine bills on the MLAW Legislative Agenda PASSED the General Assembly. MLAW support makes a difference! 

This year, we are celebrating 22 years as your voice in Annapolis.  

Every year, the Maryland legislature considers hundreds of bills, and every year a high percentage of MLAW-supported bills become law.  These laws make a difference for women and families throughout Maryland.  MLAW is an effective, volunteer-run organization that depends entirely on dues and private contributions to do its work. We need your help to continue our work on behalf of Maryland women and families. 

If you are already an MLAW member, please renew your membership today. If you are not a current member, please sign up right away. And please consider an additional donation to support our vital work.

We hold an annual fall conference to develop our MLAW Legislative Agenda and a legislative reception in Annapolis during the legislative session to introduce the Agenda.  These events focus legislators’ attention on our issues and raise our visibility throughout the state.  We distribute the annual Legislative Agenda to every Maryland legislator.  In collaboration with our advocacy partners, we submit testimony, advocate for bills, and promote our Agenda through our website, Facebook page, and e-newsletter.

Your membership entitles you to VOTE for the legislative issues that will be included on the MLAW Legislative Agenda. 

Your membership and additional contributions fund MLAW’s efforts to maintain a strong voice for women and families in the Maryland legislature.  We appreciate your commitment to women’s rights, and we ask for your generous support. Please consider an additional donation to support our advocacy efforts. Please print and complete the membership form (link below) and mail in your membership and/or donation. You may also join or donate online at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=634FHF6AZJJ3G.

Thank you!

Michaele Cohen
President, MLAW Board of Directors

Click here to download the MLAW MEMBERSHIP FORM 2016-17

5 Bills on the 2016 MLAW Legislative Agenda PASSED

HB 1003/SB 481   Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

HB 155/SB 278   Criminal Law – Stalking and Harassment

HB 314/SB 346   Peace Orders – Grounds for Relief

HB 740/SB 485   Task Force to Study Family and Medical Leave Insurance

HB 1005/SB 848   Health Insurance – Contraceptive Equity Act (Maryland Contraceptive Act of 2016)

We are very disappointed that the following bills DID NOT PASS despite extraordinary efforts:

HB 580/SB 472   Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act

HB 646/SB 593   Family Law – Child Conceived Without Consent – Termination of Parental Rights

(formerly the Rape Survivor Family Protection Act)

HB 1175/SB 664   Fair Scheduling, Wages, and Benefits Act

HB 623/SB 866   Criminal Procedure – Postconviction Review – Conviction of Human Trafficking Victim

Click here to view and download the final report: 2016MLAWAGENDAFinal

Click to download the MLAW 2016 Agenda Document

Please join us for MLAW’s Annual Legislative Reception and Briefing. This is your opportunity to meet us in Annapolis to learn about the legislation that will make up the 2016 Legislative Agenda and to meet with legislators to discuss issues important to women.

There is no charge to attend the event, but please register early as registration is limited.  Also, please only register if you are sure you can attend.  Last year’s event “sold out” and we had to cut off registration.   We’ll do our best not to turn anyone away!

**Click here to register**

The briefing and reception will be held on February 16, 2016 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm in the President’s Conference Center West in the Miller Senate Office Building located at 11 Bladen Street in Annapolis. Please be sure to bring a photo identification in order to enter the Senate building. There are several parking garages located near the Senate building, as well as metered parking throughout Annapolis. You also may park at Navy Stadium and take the shuttle to the Miller Senate Building.

For more information, email us at mdlegagenda4women@yahoo.com or call 443-519-1005.

*Equal Pay for Equal Work
*Fair Scheduling Act of 2016
*Maryland Healthy Working Families Act
*Stalking, Harassment, Misuse of Electronic Communication or Interactive Computer Service
*Rape Survivor Family Protection Act
*Expansion of Maryland Vacating Convictions Law for Survivors of Human Trafficking
*Family and Medical Leave Act Insurance Program

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Equal Pay for Equal Work: This bill would close various loopholes to address the fact that women in Maryland earn, on average just 85 cents for every dollar earned by men in comparable jobs, including the closing of the ‘Employer Defense’ loophole, and also prohibiting retaliation against sharing salary information.

Fair Scheduling Act of 2016: This bill will reform Maryland law to guarantee predictable schedules so workers can plan ahead to meet their responsibilities on and off the job; it also allows employees to be compensated for their time and flexibility. This critical legislation will incentivize employers to build stable, predictable, family-friendly schedules and prevents employers from destabilizing the lives of the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers and their families – more often than not, women.

Maryland Healthy Working Families Act: The proposed legislation, which was introduced for the first time in 2013, requires Maryland employers to allow workers to earn a certain number of annual paid sick and safe days. Employees would begin accruing hours from the start of employment but would not be allowed to use their paid sick time until the completion of a probationary period. The “safe time” component of the legislation requires employers to allow employees who have been victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault to use their accrued paid sick leave to care for their health after these incidents or to seek legal protections or new housing.

Stalking, Harassment, Misuse of Electronic Communication or Interactive Computer Service, Revenge Porn: Stalking can be a very scary form of intimate partner abuse. Prosecutors indicate the way stalking is defined makes it virtually impossible to obtain convictions.  Updating and revising the laws of stalking, harassment and misuse of electronic communication will assist in holding perpetrators of these acts accountable criminally and increase safety for victims of domestic violence.

Rape Survivor Family Protection Act: 5% of rape victims of reproductive age (age 12-45) became pregnant as a result of rape, with the majority of pregnancies in adolescents. This bill would create a legal process for rape victims to terminate the parental rights of rapists when a child is conceived as result of rape. Victims would be required to meet a clear and convincing standard of evidence. This is the same standard used for other termination of parental rights cases – no more, no less.

Expansion of Maryland Vacating Convictions Law for Survivors of Human Trafficking: This bill expands the relief available to survivors of human trafficking who have been arrested and convicted for crimes they were forced to commit by their traffickers.  In addition to expanding the types of crimes eligible for vacatur, the bill also explicitly extends the relief to survivors of labor trafficking, who were previously ineligible for this form of relief.  This change will allow all survivors of trafficking to more easily heal from the trauma of their victimization by reducing the stigma and collateral consequences associated with having a criminal record that stems from a history of trafficking.

Family and Medical Leave Act Insurance Program: The proposed legislation establishes a paid family and medical leave insurance program, which would operate, similar to unemployment insurance and social security. This program would create a state-run insurance fund that provides up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for those that are caring for a new child, have a serious health condition, or are caring for a family member with a serious health condition. Rhode Island, New Jersey, and California already.