Read more about the article Comments Due Sep 29 on Updated Draft Paid Leave Claims Regulations
Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
Comments Due Sep 29 on Updated Draft Paid Leave Claims Regulations

The Maryland Department of Labor has released an updated outline of draft regulations overseeing claims processes for the state’s paid leave benefit. Written comments are due on September 29. The Maryland Department of Labor’s FAMLI Division — tasked with implementing and guiding the statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) law — has released a "FAMLI Claims Reguls Outline" for stakeholders to weigh in on. The revised outline reflects stakeholder feedback from the original discussion…

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September 22, 2023
Read more about the article Available Now: $120M in State Grants for School Behavioral Health
County News / Education / Health and Human Services
Available Now: $120M in State Grants for School Behavioral Health

Maryland has made $120 million in student behavioral and mental health services grants over the next year and a half. Now available is $120 million in state funding via grants to aid counties and school systems in addressing Maryland's students' complex mental and behavioral needs. The historic funding is available for the next year and a half and was set aside to provide counseling and behavioral health services in schools and communities. State leaders held…

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September 21, 2023
Read more about the article Sep 20 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
Board of Public Works / County News / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Sep 20 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on September 20, 2023: Baltimore City A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $300,000 to the Board of Directors of the…

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September 20, 2023
Read more about the article Montgomery Considers Raising County’s Tipped Minimum Wage
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
Montgomery Considers Raising County’s Tipped Minimum Wage

Montgomery County will consider a bill to raise the tipped minimum wage inside the county to $6 by July 2025.8 The Montgomery County Council introduced a bill to raise the base minimum wage for tipped employees working inside the county. Currently, workers who rely on tips -- primarily restaurant and hospitality staff, like servers -- are required by county law to be paid $4 per hour (before tips). Council Bill 35-23 would require employers of…

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September 20, 2023
Read more about the article Community College Enrollment Is Up Nationwide, Maryland Numbers Are Encouraging
County News / Education / Higher Education
Community College Enrollment Is Up Nationwide, Maryland Numbers Are Encouraging

New data shows that community college enrollment is up nationwide for the first time in a decade and by 8 percent in Maryland. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community college enrollment nationwide rose for the first time in over a decade this spring. The Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) says this is true for Maryland, with signs of modest increases compared to recent semesters. Community college enrollment across the country rose…

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September 19, 2023
Read more about the article Board of Public Works: Sept 20 Meeting Agenda
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Board of Public Works: Sept 20 Meeting Agenda

The Board of Public Works — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The State Board of Public Works (BPW) typically convenes on alternating Wednesdays in the Governor’s Reception Room on the 2nd floor of the State House in Annapolis, and meetings are open to the public. They are also live-streamed on…

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September 19, 2023
Read more about the article ICYMI: State Superintendent Choudhury Won’t Seek Second Term
County News / Education
ICYMI: State Superintendent Choudhury Won’t Seek Second Term

State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury will not seek a second term. Mohammed Choudhury was appointed State Superintendent of Schools in May 2021 following a national search. He came to Maryland from Texas, where he served as the Associate Superintendent and Chief Strategy, Talent, and Innovation Officer for the San Antonio Independent School District. He started leading Maryland's schools on July 1, 2021. On September 15, the Maryland State Board of Education released a statement…

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September 18, 2023
Read more about the article WalletHub: Maryland Among the Top States for Teachers
County News / Education / News You Can Use
WalletHub: Maryland Among the Top States for Teachers

WalletHub ranked Maryland as the sixth-best state for teachers in the country. WalletHub, a financial resource and media site, has published its 2023 list of the best states for public school teachers. Maryland ranked 6th of 51 entries in the latest rankings. Maryland is ranked sixth-best for teachers, following: Virginia New York Utah Washington Florida Maryland is followed in WalletHub's ranking by Massachusetts, North Dakota, New Jersey, and then Georgia. WalletHub evaluated the fifty states…

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September 18, 2023
Read more about the article Back to School, Back to Support: Mental Health Resources from NAMI
County News / Education / Health and Human Services
Back to School, Back to Support: Mental Health Resources from NAMI

Mental health resources are a critical part of every county's back-to-school plan. Here are some helpful resources to get your county started. It's back-to-school season, and student mental health is top-of-mind for counties, schools, and national leaders. One resource comes from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). NAMI's website reads: As we gear up for the new school year, we understand the importance of mental health for students, parents, and educators. That’s why we…

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September 13, 2023
Read more about the article Flexibility is Key to Attracting, Keeping County Workers
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
Flexibility is Key to Attracting, Keeping County Workers

According to public service labor experts, offering flexibility is key to hiring and retaining public servants in a post-pandemic work environment. Around the country, local governments and states are struggling to hire and retain talent in the post-pandemic world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 1 million public service government jobs are open in the U.S. --  the vast majority in state and local agencies. Maryland is no exception, with counties and the…

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September 12, 2023
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