MACo Policy Associate, Kevin Kinnally testified to the Senate Finance Committee on March 9, 2017, in opposition to Senate Bill 652 “Education – Community Colleges – Collective Bargaining”.

Counties oppose the one-size-fits-all approach of SB 652, which limits local decision-making.

The move to collective bargaining outlined in this bill could create potentially unsustainable costs for counties, who provide substantial funding for community colleges throughout Maryland – especially since the legislation does not envision any added State support.

From MACo’s testimony,

Despite counties’ role in supporting community colleges, this legislation would not provide any opportunity for county governments to participate in collective bargaining negotiations. The combination of these effects – State-imposed system and costs, no county participation in bargaining, and no additional State funding – is simply not affordable as a statewide county mandate and could present substantial budget difficulties.

MACo opposed identical legislation in past sessions of the General Assembly. The cross-file to the bill, HB 871, was heard by the House Appropriations Committee on February 21, 2017. Click here for previous Conduit Street coverage.

For more on MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2017 legislative session, visit our Legislative Tracking Database.