MARYLAND—Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) approved on Jan. 30 a bill (SB 134) that extends the enrollment deadline for the state-run Maryland Health Insurance Plan for so-called “bridge eligible individuals,” which are individuals who were eligible for subsidized health insurance coverage but were unable to enroll in the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange by the Dec. 31 deadline.
The modification was sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. (D) on behalf of the Administration and co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38).
The program’s Web site experienced significant technological problems as it was being rolled out. As a result, some individuals who had attempted to enroll in coverage through the site by the statutory deadline were unable to do so, officials said. The new law would repeal the MHIP enrollment deadline of Dec. 31, allowing bridge eligible individuals who tried but failed to enroll through the exchange’s Marylandhealthconnection.gov Web site. The individuals have until to enroll in MHIP and the new law allows coverage to be retroactive to Jan. 1. Open enrollment through the Web site continues through March 31 for anyone, but only bridge eligible individuals will be eligible for the retroactivity, an legislative analyst explained.
Separately, Mathis was the primary sponsor of legislation that would allow candidates and questions in municipal elections to be listed on the state ballot (SB 438). The measure was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Feb.6.
He has also introduced SB0441, which has a companion bill in the House (HB0367) that would abolishing the Worcester County Bingo Board and directs the Worcester County Department of Development Review and Permitting to administer and enforce the bingo laws in the county. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee was scheduled to consider during a Feb. 5 hearing.
A bill (HB0284) that would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture to study efforts to manage and reduce phosphorus pollution from agricultural sources and to conduct an economic impact analysis of a Phosphorus Management Tool the department created to replace the Phosphorus Site Index, was scheduled for a Feb. 5 hearing ion the House Environmental Matters Committee. The proposal was co-sponsored by members of the Eastern Shore Delegation, including Delegates Norman Conway (D-38B), Michael McDermott (R-38B) and Charles Otto (R-38A).
Three bills that were introduced by McDermott were scheduled for committee hearings during the week of Feb. 3. They included HB 218, which would require state employee unions to allow employees who are exempt from paying a service fee 30 days to redirect the fees they would otherwise have paid a charitable organization of their choosing. The bill was scheduled for a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 4.
A proposal by McDermott that would allow authorities to prosecute individuals who make false telephone or online threats concerning destructive devices or toxic materials (HB 234) was scheduled to come before the House Judiciary Committee also on Feb. 4.
The House Ways And Means was scheduled to hearing a proposal by McDermott that was co-sponsored with Delegate Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. (R-36), which would expand the state pension exclusion subtraction modification. The bill (HB 75) would increase the maximum pension exclusion to $50,000 and allowing income from certain individual retirement accounts, annuities and defined contribution plans to be included within the subtraction modification formula.
During a meeting with the Eastern Shore Delegation, according to a report by McDermott, Secretary of Planning Hall discussed how the implementation of the state’s Septics Law was progressing and mentioned that state officials might be considering trying to utilize additional funds from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to address additional septic concerns on the shore.
The delegation also heard from representatives of the Tourism Advisory Council, who McDermott said were advocating keeping the governor’s proposed budget numbers for tourism in tact at $8.5 million as opposed to the budget review recommendations of the minimum mandated number of $6.5 million. The vast majority of the revenue would be used for advertising, he said.
The modification was sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. (D) on behalf of the Administration and co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38).
The program’s Web site experienced significant technological problems as it was being rolled out. As a result, some individuals who had attempted to enroll in coverage through the site by the statutory deadline were unable to do so, officials said. The new law would repeal the MHIP enrollment deadline of Dec. 31, allowing bridge eligible individuals who tried but failed to enroll through the exchange’s Marylandhealthconnection.gov Web site. The individuals have until to enroll in MHIP and the new law allows coverage to be retroactive to Jan. 1. Open enrollment through the Web site continues through March 31 for anyone, but only bridge eligible individuals will be eligible for the retroactivity, an legislative analyst explained.
Separately, Mathis was the primary sponsor of legislation that would allow candidates and questions in municipal elections to be listed on the state ballot (SB 438). The measure was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Feb.6.
He has also introduced SB0441, which has a companion bill in the House (HB0367) that would abolishing the Worcester County Bingo Board and directs the Worcester County Department of Development Review and Permitting to administer and enforce the bingo laws in the county. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee was scheduled to consider during a Feb. 5 hearing.
A bill (HB0284) that would require the Maryland Department of Agriculture to study efforts to manage and reduce phosphorus pollution from agricultural sources and to conduct an economic impact analysis of a Phosphorus Management Tool the department created to replace the Phosphorus Site Index, was scheduled for a Feb. 5 hearing ion the House Environmental Matters Committee. The proposal was co-sponsored by members of the Eastern Shore Delegation, including Delegates Norman Conway (D-38B), Michael McDermott (R-38B) and Charles Otto (R-38A).
Three bills that were introduced by McDermott were scheduled for committee hearings during the week of Feb. 3. They included HB 218, which would require state employee unions to allow employees who are exempt from paying a service fee 30 days to redirect the fees they would otherwise have paid a charitable organization of their choosing. The bill was scheduled for a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 4.
A proposal by McDermott that would allow authorities to prosecute individuals who make false telephone or online threats concerning destructive devices or toxic materials (HB 234) was scheduled to come before the House Judiciary Committee also on Feb. 4.
The House Ways And Means was scheduled to hearing a proposal by McDermott that was co-sponsored with Delegate Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. (R-36), which would expand the state pension exclusion subtraction modification. The bill (HB 75) would increase the maximum pension exclusion to $50,000 and allowing income from certain individual retirement accounts, annuities and defined contribution plans to be included within the subtraction modification formula.
During a meeting with the Eastern Shore Delegation, according to a report by McDermott, Secretary of Planning Hall discussed how the implementation of the state’s Septics Law was progressing and mentioned that state officials might be considering trying to utilize additional funds from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to address additional septic concerns on the shore.
The delegation also heard from representatives of the Tourism Advisory Council, who McDermott said were advocating keeping the governor’s proposed budget numbers for tourism in tact at $8.5 million as opposed to the budget review recommendations of the minimum mandated number of $6.5 million. The vast majority of the revenue would be used for advertising, he said.