A lot has happened this session.  Now it’s time to come together and celebrate how we made a difference for women and families in Maryland!

Join us for Happy Hour and an update on the 2015 legislative session at MEX Tequila Bar at Power Plant Live!  To welcome MLAW members and supporters, MEX is serving up two complimentary appetizers and a margarita tower.  Additional food and drink specials will be offered too! Come out for some great food and drink, learn about MLAW’s successes in Annapolis, make new connections and get involved!

All MEX customers get $5 parking after 5pm at the Pier V Garage located on East Pratt Street.  For more information, call 443-519-1005 or email mdlegagenda4women@yahoo.com.

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mlaws-2015-legislative-wrap-up-happy-hour-tickets-16918078428

2015 Legislation – Final Report (Click to download the report as a PDF file: 2015 MLAW Agenda Final)

HB 9/SB 105   Maryland Licensure of Direct-Entry Midwives Act (originally the Maryland Home Birth Safety Act)
This bill established a licensing and regulatory system for the practice of direct-entry midwifery under the State Board of Nursing.
Outcome:  PASSED the House and Senate.

HB 225/SB 269   Domestic Violence – Additional Relief
The bill expands the relief available in a final protective order by authorizing a judge to order “any other relief that a judge determines is necessary to protect a person eligible for relief from abuse.”
Outcome:  PASSED the House and Senate.

HB 606/SB 477   Domestic Violence – Persons Eligible for Relief   
This bill expands the “persons eligible for relief” in the protective order statute to include “an individual who has had a sexual relationship with the respondent within 1 year before filing of the petition.”
Outcome:  PASSED the House and Senate.

HB 564   State Personnel – Limits on Use of Leave for Birth, Adoption, Foster Placement, or Care of Child
This bill enables state employees who are spouses to each use their accrued sick leave and family leave benefits for the birth or adoption of their child and prohibits the limit on combined family leave.
Outcome:  PASSED the House and Senate.

HB 385/SB 40   Labor and Employment – Maryland Healthy Working Families Act
This bill required employers to allow employees a certain number of annual paid sick and safe days, including earning one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of seven days per year. The safe time component required employers to allow survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault to use paid sick leave to care for their health after these incidents or seek legal protections or new housing.
Outcome:  No action in the Senate Finance Committee or the House Economic Matters Committee.

HB 503/SB 78   Rape Survivor Family Protection Act (Akin’s Law)
This bill allowed rape victims who become pregnant as a result of the rape to ask the family law court to end the parental rights of the rapist.
Outcome:  No action in the House Judiciary Committee or the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. 

HB 985   Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment
This bill would have a established a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in Maryland and included conducting a feasibility study to evaluate potential economic impact, best program design and implementation.
Outcome:  Unfavorable report in the House Economic Matters Committee; withdrawn.

Thank you to everyone – legislators, advocates and supporters – who joined us at our annual Legislative Briefing and Reception in Annapolis.  The event was attended by over 130 people, including 23 legislators.  Guests heard from our lead groups who explained the seven bills that make up this year’s Legislative Agenda.  The document can be viewed here: MLAW 2015 Agenda Document.   Now it’s time to take action to pass these bills.  If you are not on our email list, please contact us to add you so that you receive our legislative alerts throughout the session.  More photos from our event can be viewed on our Facebook page.

MLAW is pleased to present our 2015 Legislative Agenda document.  Click MLAW 2015 Agenda Document to read and download a copy.

Please join us for MLAW’s Annual Legislative Reception and Briefing which will be held on February 12, 2015 from 4:30-6:30pm. This is your opportunity to join us in Annapolis to learn about the legislation that will make up the 2014 Legislative Agenda and to meet with legislators and 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: https://mlaw2015reception.eventbrite.com

The briefing and reception will be held 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.

The most powerful advocacy tool for the Agenda is your signature as a supporter.  Organizations and individuals are invited to sign on as a supporter of the 2015 Agenda.  We also encourage you to invite your friends and colleagues to sign on.  A list of supporters will be attached to the document before it is distributed to legislators and the public, as well as included on our website. The document will be released at our Legislative Reception and Briefing and will be distributed to all legislators. 

Cooperative action is the basis upon which MLAW operates.  One voice is important but the collective voices of many impacts public policy and enables advocates and legislators to demonstrate concern and support for women’s issues.  Make your voice count for women and their families in the 2015 session of the Maryland General Assembly.   

To add your name to the list of supporters, download the sign-on form MLAW 2015 Agenda Sign On or simply email your name exactly as it should appear to mdlegagenda4women@yahoo.com.  

Thank you for your support.  We look forward to receiving your signature of support for the 2015 Agenda by 1/16/15.

In November, leaders of state-wide organizations and advocates addressing issues of concern to women of Maryland participated in a conference to identify potential legislative initiatives for the 2014 Maryland General Assembly.   Those initiatives then constituted a ballot which members of MLAW considered.  Members were asked to identify what they believed were the top initiatives for the MLAW Legislative Agenda 2015.

The MLAW Board of Directors reviewed the results of the balloting and identified issues that will comprise the MLAW Legislative Agenda 2015.  The issues selected are listed below and described in more detail here: MLAW 2015 Agenda – Bill Synopsis.

• Midwife Licensure
• Protective Orders – Relief for Victims of Dating and Sexual Violence
• Akin’s Law
• Domestic Violence – Protective Orders – Additional Relief
• Maryland Earned Sick and Safe Leave Act
• State Personnel – Limits of Use of Leave for Birth, Adoption, Foster Placement or Care of Child
• Paid Family and Medical Leave – Feasibility Study

Click the Paypal link below to pay for your 2014 Fall Conference registration or sponsorship online using a credit card.   When prompted, enter the amount of the registration fee or sponsorship that you wish to purchase.

 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES

Conference registration (includes continental breakfast) – $35

Conference + advocacy workshop (includes breakfast and lunch) – $45

Student fee (does not include lunch; add $10 for lunch)  –  $20

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

20th Anniversary Platinum Sponsor…………………… ..$250

Gold Sponsor……………………………………..…………….…$150

Silver Sponsor………………………………………….…………$125

Bronze Sponsor………………………………………………….$100

Individual Ad (business card size).……….……………….$25

MLAW is encouraging organizations (lead groups) and legislators to submit their legislative proposals for consideration at our Fall Agenda Conference to be held on November 15th. Selected legislation will comprise our 2015 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, visit MLAW Fall Conference 2014 Legislative Proposal Form for more information and to download a submission form.

2014 Annual Fall Legislative Conference:
“Hear Our Voices: Advocating for Women’s and Family Issues in the 2015 Legislative Session”

Saturday, November 15, 2014
Legislative Conference: 10:30am – 1:30pm
Lunch and Advocacy Workshop: 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Miller Branch, Howard County Library
9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042

Click here to download 2014 MLAW Fall Conf Registration Form

Click here to download 2014 MLAW Fall Conf Sponsorship Form

Click here to download 2014 MLAW Fall Conf Flier