Read more about the article Immediate Counseling Available to People Affected by the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore
County News / Feature / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics
Immediate Counseling Available to People Affected by the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore

Anyone affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, can receive immediate counseling through the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. “People who have been through a traumatic event can experience anxiety, worry or insomnia,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “People seeking emotional help in the wake of disaster or tragedy can call or text 1-800-985-5990 and begin…

Comments Off on Immediate Counseling Available to People Affected by the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore
March 26, 2024
Read more about the article County Leaders Embrace More Visible Education Budgeting
County Budgets / Education / MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
County Leaders Embrace More Visible Education Budgeting

On March 6, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 1026- County Boards of Education - Budgets - Notice (Transparency in Education Spending Act). The following day, Brianna testified in support of the crossfile, HB 1115. This bill is one of MACo's four 2024 legislative initiatives. The implementation of The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, coupled with an influx of federal relief and…

Comments Off on County Leaders Embrace More Visible Education Budgeting
March 8, 2024
Read more about the article MACo: Include Body Cameras in Public Information Task Force Charge
MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
MACo: Include Body Cameras in Public Information Task Force Charge

On February 16, 2024, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 624- Task Force to Study Public Information Act Requests Made to Law Enforcement- Establishment with amendments. This bill re-establishes a task force to study costs, procedures, and compliance board decisions for Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests made to law enforcement agencies. MPIA requests to law enforcement agencies have increased exponentially in the last few…

Comments Off on MACo: Include Body Cameras in Public Information Task Force Charge
February 19, 2024
Courts / Public Information and Ethics
House Leadership to Seek Funding for State’s Attorneys Modernization and Transparency Updates

Modernization requirements for local State's Attorneys Offices could come with allocated funding and grant opportunities. According to Maryland Matters, legislation to ensure case management systems are modernized in all 23 counties and the city of Baltimore could be on the horizon for the 2024 legislative session. According to recent statements from House Majority Leader David Moon, legislators could be moving forward with some of the recommendations coming out of the Task Force to Study Transparency Standards…

Comments Off on House Leadership to Seek Funding for State’s Attorneys Modernization and Transparency Updates
January 4, 2024
Read more about the article Baltimore County Local Bill Solidifies Inspector General’s Subpoena Power
Government Liability and Courts / Public Information and Ethics
Baltimore County Local Bill Solidifies Inspector General’s Subpoena Power

The Inspector General's Office in Baltimore County has been granted expanded authority to access non-government documents.  According to a Baltimore Banner article, the Baltimore County Council unanimously approved council bill 84-23 on Monday evening. This local bill allows the county’s Office of the Inspector General to subpoena non-government records at any point during an investigation, without having to request them and wait 90 days. The office also has been granted the power to subpoena county records…

Comments Off on Baltimore County Local Bill Solidifies Inspector General’s Subpoena Power
December 20, 2023
Read more about the article Supreme Court Unclear Whether Public Officials Can Block on Social Media
Courts / Public Information and Ethics
Supreme Court Unclear Whether Public Officials Can Block on Social Media

After three hours of oral arguments, all nine justices agreed on the value of clarifying boundaries for public officials posting on social media, but remained unclear on best strategy.  According to a Reuters article, the U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed unsure about how to handle if elected officials are allowed to block people on their private social media accounts. As covered previously on Conduit Street, the current Supreme Court session will answer this question following…

Comments Off on Supreme Court Unclear Whether Public Officials Can Block on Social Media
November 15, 2023
Read more about the article Researchers to Task Force: Unfunded Mandate Would Be Wrong Approach on Data Transparency
Government Liability and Courts / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections
Researchers to Task Force: Unfunded Mandate Would Be Wrong Approach on Data Transparency

A state task force of legislators studying transparency standards for State's Attorneys heard expert testimony advising against establishing an unfunded mandate as the means to accomplish greater transparency. Recommendations are due by the end of the year. Following hearings on proposed legislation regarding prosecutorial transparency, the General Assembly created the Task Force to Study Transparency Standards for State's Attorneys, to convene on the topic through this interim. In a recent meeting, legislators from both the…

Comments Off on Researchers to Task Force: Unfunded Mandate Would Be Wrong Approach on Data Transparency
November 7, 2023
Read more about the article Operation Green Light: Illuminating the Path to Veterans’ Well-Being in MD
County News / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Information and Ethics
Operation Green Light: Illuminating the Path to Veterans’ Well-Being in MD

In a continued commitment to honor and support our veterans, the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is proud to participate once again in the National Association of Counties' (NACo) Operation Green Light. This annual initiative provides an invaluable opportunity for governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals to delve deeper into military culture, suicide prevention, and veterans' experiences transitioning from military to civilian life. Maryland's participation in the VA/SAMHSA Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members,…

Comments Off on Operation Green Light: Illuminating the Path to Veterans’ Well-Being in MD
October 26, 2023
Read more about the article Cardin named chair of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
County News / Human Resources / Leadership / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics
Cardin named chair of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland was named chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, September 27. He replaces Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Cardin is a Democrat who has served on the Foreign Relations Committee ever since he joined the Senate in 2007. He’s also co-chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, better known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission. In a statement, Cardin said he’s accepting the…

Comments Off on Cardin named chair of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
October 3, 2023
Read more about the article Howard County Health Department Introduces CAREAPP for Easy Access to Vital Resources
County News / Emergency Management / Health and Human Services / Information Technology / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics
Howard County Health Department Introduces CAREAPP for Easy Access to Vital Resources

The Howard County Health Department announced the introduction of a mobile application to streamline the CAREAPP user experience. CAREAPP makes it easy to find and connect with over 2,500 Howard County programs for food, health, housing, transportation, education, employment assistance, and more. The free, fully translatable app can be accessed by downloading “CAREAPP Howard County” on any Apple or Android mobile device. “CAREAPP allows community members and partner organizations to find and connect to resources that address…

Comments Off on Howard County Health Department Introduces CAREAPP for Easy Access to Vital Resources
September 12, 2023
Newer Posts
Older Posts