The Administration’s bill ( HB 1228/SB 882) to accept federally-paid extended unemployment insurance benefits for private sector workers has raised concerns with the effect on public sector employers, who are self-insured and must pay for these benefits directly.   During the hearings on both bills, MACo and MML requested the opportunity to work with the Administration and the Committees to identify ways to help local governments accommodate these costs without putting new strains on local budgets. Through…

MACo Associate Director Andrea Mansfield and MML Director Government Relations Candace Donoho testified  in support of  HB 1228/SB 882 with amendments.  The proposed bills would provide an extended 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to Maryland’s long-term unemployed who have exhausted all of their State and federal emergency unemployment benefits.  The Federal government is providing 100% funding for private employers, but the State and many local governments are self-insured and would be required to pay…

SB 154, sponsored by Senator Richard Colburn, which would ensure that county and volunteer fire companies and rescue squads are receiving reimbursements for providing this service is moving favorably through the Senate with MACo supported amendments. Depending upon the jurisdiction, these services may be provided by a local government, or a volunteer fire company or rescue squad.  Although some ambulance services may become a participating provider with a health network, they are not a member…

Senate Bill 484, sponsored by Senator Nancy King, which authorizes county and municipal governments to make direct deposits for employee wages passed the Senate with MACo supported amendments. The original bill only applied to municipal governments and during testimony at the bill hearing, MACo supported the bill and requested county governments be given the same authority.  As amended, the bill provides that counties and municipalities may require the direct deposit of wages as a condition…