[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6635476,"mediaKeyId","2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910","parentId",2634112,"title","Senate amends and advances proposal on hiring standards for positions with direct contact with minors; creates stakeholder work group","audioSeconds",133,"startMs",9118000,"endMs",9251000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910&start=9118&end=9251","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910/thumbnail_9118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6635476/Maryland/Senate-amends-and-advances-proposal-on-hiring-standards-for-positions-with-direct-contact-with-minors-creates-stakeholder-work-group","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635476-5a3f1f8ed29f656d9a59190abc0d3dc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775310062&Signature=CzTwMsR4MdnS6j6A76ny4MrtDVZx75n-cWryjBCRiGauIgjkj7Jgmlu8dvGSMD~jLewhRyXQmX-VQqwgQOCdDkSUp43ZP5iHjSE3k2EVcYBoOe1dCnlhKHHH-~cwp6ScPPNJgI28VAo0CfyUZBsGobiy0rnO64S8ybXv0k5oCIcB2lOm9iqoU3qvGupmVBUiMLBfG9qDkC-woNOGXS8ostQ4Z815-n9Zk4NGgk6VfgtH38NjnuJHsXGZTOgbk~SCtAhVNEYne-~PdwCJaOIFKxIiWBRJ-xdyPjRBA2w2JoaIF1OvyIf3kBiN6oUhX7XfaIqqJO7gJY4~S0EFfnXB~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Senate Sessions","date","2025-03-14T17:52:51.567Z","article","Senate Bill 770, considered March 14, as amended, asks the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to convene a statewide stakeholder work group to examine the operational and fiscal impacts of adding a requirement that applicants for positions involving direct contact with minors disclose and have screened any history of boundary‑violating behavior. The amended bill directs MSDE’s review to include proposed definitions, required checks, potential registration requirements for youth‑serving organizations and personnel, and the implementation burden on school systems and other employers.

Why it matters

The bill addresses child‑safety hiring practices in public schools, child‑care centers and youth‑serving organizations. Lawmakers stressed the need to balance child protection against administrative and fiscal burdens on school systems and nonpublic organizations, and to create consistent crisis response support when an employee is removed from a school or workplace for alleged criminal behavior.

Key changes adopted on the floor

Committee amendments adopted on the floor substantially narrowed the original operational mandate and inserted two main changes:

- Crisis response: Local school systems must provide crisis support and assistance to a public school that removes an employee with direct contact with minors because of alleged criminal activity or student‑safety concerns. The amendment establishes a specified crisis response team and standardized crisis response protocols for cross‑jurisdictional aid.

- Stakeholder work group: Instead of immediately imposing new prescriptive hiring and registration rules, the amended bill requires MSDE to convene a stakeholder work group to examine the impacts and to propose definitions, screening standards and operational models for jurisdictions and youth‑serving organizations.

Outcome

The three committee amendments were adopted on the floor and the favorable committee report was advanced. The bill was ordered printed for third reading; the committee amendment process and the creation of the stakeholder work group are intended to reduce implementation risks and clarify next steps before any new statutory obligations are imposed.

Next steps

MSDE will convene the required stakeholder work group to examine definition, screening and registration proposals and report back to the General Assembly (the transcript records the committee amendment adoption and the bill ordered printed for third reading). Local school systems will prepare to implement the crisis‑response protocols if the bill moves forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session, 3/14/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate advanced an amended bill requiring Maryland’s education department to convene a stakeholder work group to study how to add boundary‑violation history checks for applicants with direct contact with minors and added a crisis‑response requirement for schools that remove employees over alleged criminal activity.","taxTitle","SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15090,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635481,"Senate asks questions, lays over abortion‑care grant bill after debate over funding source and notice",892,6221000,7113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910&start=6221&end=7113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910/thumbnail_6221000.jpg","/articles/6635481/Maryland/Senate-asks-questions-lays-over-abortioncare-grant-bill-after-debate-over-funding-source-and-notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635481-f834d7a10f3d92bd519fc3d9dc49cfcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775310062&Signature=Ocbp5UyCMRv78FgLNZ3ZCfk2YtAhsukQhZqOhykIWMmt2YtAnC6adJ8gCqBhCJ7zHaU4RhDEyxwjWaUHAaNXm4yTmQm20k10C6-FdIfCFZ-6wWEgZpM7r6TcCq17AHCzchuhxzqvOQe8QxvVkIusm9YTcPz8y8S10xSrYshVw~O7CP4Cn5oyPSOaXNyf6LhWyeSl7D2QFki4npyLl61OsovmKY30ceiJuWc792SnGgqEWMXlWb29jmnMPEhHtLHk4tkwUI50eR2pjCTGanb-s7kTmYOJ~Y8JNL2Bsp5tHtyzevH95XdzFHmczUytd5umraHnPXNnuTboEs06xbN7wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 848, presented March 14 to the Maryland State Senate, would establish a Public Health Abortion Grant Program and fund in the Maryland Department of Health to provide grants to improve access to abortion clinical services. The bill would draw money from segregated accounts insurers maintain under the Affordable Care Act for abortion coverage and directs the insurance commissioner to transfer most unused balances from those accounts to a special state fund.

Why it matters

Supporters said the segregated accounts contain tens of millions of dollars that federal rules restrict to abortion care; the bill aims to consolidate and allocate those unused funds to expand clinical access. Opponents and several senators sought details about whether payers who contribute the $1 ACA assessment per exchange enrollee know the funds will be transferred and used in this manner and whether federal rules or other states restrict the permissible uses of the funds.

Key floor exchanges

On the floor, a senator asked whether the premium payers receive notice that a $1 assessment in premiums is set aside for abortion care. The floor explanation initially said such notice was not known; a follow‑up intervention from the bill sponsor said the notice is provided in fine print on premium bills. Senators also asked whether the segregated accounts can be used for broader reproductive services — the sponsor answered that federal law restricts those federal‑exchange segregated accounts to abortion services only.

The bill as introduced requires the insurance commissioner to order a near‑immediate transfer of most unused funds from carrier segregated accounts and directed an initial $2 million allocation to the new special fund. Committee staff described that carriers collectively have approximately $19 million in segregated balances available to be used for abortion services as of the date in the floor discussion.

Outcome

Following floor questions and a request for further review, the sponsor moved to have the bill and its amendment lie over under the rule and senators agreed. The committee amendment was recorded as adopted before the layover motion; the bill will return for further consideration after stakeholders and legislators review the notices and transfer language.

Next steps

The bill currently lies over under the rule to permit further amendment or clarification on notice language and transfer timing. Legislative staff and interested stakeholders indicated they would return with clarifications to the committee report or amendments before the next floor action.","Lawmakers debated a bill to create a Public Health Abortion Grant Program funded by segregated insurer accounts created under the Affordable Care Act; senators questioned whether premium‑payers receive adequate notice and whether funds may be used beyond abortion care, and the measure was laid over for amendment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635485,"Senate delays vote on medical-cannabis protections for fire and rescue personnel amid impairment-testing concerns",0,8013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910&start=8013&end=8013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910/thumbnail_8013000.jpg","/articles/6635485/Maryland/Senate-delays-vote-on-medical-cannabis-protections-for-fire-and-rescue-personnel-amid-impairment-testing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635485-0bdec56d01e6d0e0c66b7a4434939010/orig.mp4?Expires=1775310062&Signature=KhfVKelvLBkyFHCy2CvioHRDlbeoy5eXlxrJ6sczaKlOedVhUjcxOOAUjOPbcP0buhV07RQn4IjBd0o6KZ693hPfVbSw7DS3gfPCw3XKrmArJpMOn6XcGMR0AWxUfIf3U0Kig9EChpXBpeDafaHePFzT-l3Ly-J7Qpo~mDPzf9sCZ6lSGuE4BwkofuCyYhWGFnWZppxQpBehhV1a6F~wXGJD9Bn7eCPLxDTKolnya2xJRacHdxOOzNlLI6nRdEOuzdmwOfuH8~X1T-rDNpMcOYztvTu17QdGyqdEt-NuwwQB~avsY1lucsPM5y~o4tAzAjAKZehb4uuOnMg0vyudVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maryland Senate on March 14 laid over a bill that would bar employers of fire and rescue public‑safety personnel from taking adverse employment action solely because an employee has a valid medical‑cannabis certification or tests positive for cannabis while holding such a certification.

Senate Bill 1023, sponsored on the floor as \"Senate bill 10 23, senator c Jackson,\" was presented by the bill sponsor as prohibiting employers from disciplining employees for having a valid medical‑cannabis certification while preserving employers’ ability to bar use or impairment on duty and to adopt policies addressing on‑duty impairment. The committee report recorded no opposition and the measure was presented as having no fiscal impact.

Why it matters

Supporters said the bill is intended to align protections for people using medical cannabis with other medical conditions and to avoid employment penalties for off‑duty medical use. Opponents and several senators pressed for clearer, enforceable standards to assess whether an employee is impaired on duty — a point of particular concern for emergency responders who provide life‑saving care.

Key floor discussion

During extended questions from several senators, members raised the central operational concern: unlike alcohol, for which breath or blood testing yields an immediate, widely accepted impairment metric, there is no universally accepted instantaneous test for cannabis impairment. Senators pressed how local jurisdictions and employers would determine impairment in the field and asked whether available tests — including oral fluid swabs and urinalysis — would produce reliably actionable results.

A medical‑trained member of the chamber and other proponents explained that the bill requires employers to adopt policies to detect impairment, that supervisors and peers receive training to recognize signs of impairment, and that testing and return‑to‑duty protocols would be part of local policies. They noted emerging oral‑fluid tests that may indicate recent use (reports on the floor cited detection windows that could be as short as 15 hours but said positives can extend longer in some cases) and pointed to existing practices for alcohol and other impairing substances as models for workplace rules and testing protocols.

Opponents said those approaches are insufficient for emergency work where seconds matter and noted that standard field sobriety testing or drug recognition expert assessments have limits and resource implications. Several senators asked for more time to evaluate whether the state or local employers could implement reliable, immediate impairment assessments and to review draft policies on testing and discipline.

Outcome

After extensive questioning, a senator moved (and the body agreed) to lay the bill and its committee amendment over under the rule, postponing final action. The committee amendments that had been filed were adopted earlier on the floor before the decision to lay the bill over for further work and local review.

Next steps

Senate leaders recorded the bill as lying over under the rule to allow additional review and possible amendment before a later floor consideration. The transcript records committee amendment adoption followed by the layover motion.","The Maryland Senate laid over a bill that would limit employment discrimination against fire and rescue public‑safety personnel who hold medical‑cannabis certifications after extended floor questioning about how agencies would determine on‑the‑job impairment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":91,"_43":102,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6635470,"Committee reports: Senate orders dozens of bills printed for third reading after committee reports",550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910&start=550&end=550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2634112-7d332e7d255d28df567c649a31afc910/thumbnail_550000.jpg","/articles/6635470/Maryland/Committee-reports-Senate-orders-dozens-of-bills-printed-for-third-reading-after-committee-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6635470-46dd9be06d12ccd70d278a4fd93a1457/orig.mp4?Expires=1775310062&Signature=Ic7uxTg67NuaRuFandUpgR868l-7OpFLoxsfy1xQWR8ISGrS18BprwpiGe0cGfjoO1WtmYjMDQdK-b~dF9uLGMYS0M51jrCuK7jVCsy5l9Unp9g-q9-ug63X5li2hQECBzexZp7918IP~OUEfhOdcNKZf7GVCIROjDYhZvDyWHSpZf8ZTOetKkf7YrA34DNvtht70mwWyxcUVCHemoeae~-asIh2aKDH8VNM44TySBPp77g6HzYGxak3GBjI7NLmUxmW6UoRF375FBLaa0j1BxREmF4Bs9BKOoJxfMSiZ34FeckeQpv2poN6OzeQMkWNSHVQStS4RM1ceUZoOE4S~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maryland State Senate on March 14 took a large set of committee reports, adopting committee amendments in many cases and ordering numerous bills printed for third reading. Most items on the floor were advanced without extended floor debate. Where notable floor debate occurred, the Senate paused those bills for further work.

Bills advanced (selected list — ordered printed for third reading)

- Senate Bill 43 — Maryland Department of Health: forensic review board and community forensic aftercare program (favorable to amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 423 — Maryland Medical Practice Act / Board of Physicians revisions (favorable with amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 431 — Registered apprenticeship investments and administrative changes (favorable with 4 amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 495 — Opioid restitution fund authorized uses (favorable with 2 amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 749 — State Board of Dental Examiners: licensure by endorsement timelines (favorable; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 1005 — Federally Qualified Health Centers grant program: land acquisition (favorable; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 587 — Maryland reparations commission (favorable with amendment; bill and amendment laid over under the rule per floor motion).
- Senate Bill 365 — Department of Commerce nonprofit navigator program (favorable with 2 amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 664 — Business regulation, miscellaneous state business licenses enforcement (favorable with 2 amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 750 — Collective bargaining rights for part‑time faculty at public institutions (favorable with amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 815 — Occupational licensing and criminal history disclosures (language narrowed to barbers and cosmetologists; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 848 — Public Health Abortion Grant Program (favorable with 1 amendment; adopted and then laid over under the rule for further review)
- Senate Bill 972 — Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners changes (favorable with amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 1008 — Economic development small business guarantee fund changes (favorable with 2 amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 1036 (10 36) — Howard County alcoholic beverage delivery (favorable; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 308 — Election law, chief election judges party affiliation (favorable with 1 amendment; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 310 — Youth suicide prevention and gambling awareness education (favorable with 1 amendment; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 318 — Janet L. Hoffman loan assistance eligibility for veterinary practitioners (favorable with amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Senate Bill 342 — Voting Rights Act for counties and municipalities (favorable with 3 amendments; bill and amendments laid over under the rule after questions from floor members).
- Senate Bill 369 — Public libraries AED program (Romano Russell Act) (favorable with 2 amendments; adopted and ordered printed).
- Several additional departmental and local bills were advanced, amended and ordered printed for third reading across multiple committees (finance; education, energy and the environment; judicial proceedings; budget and taxation; judicial pensions). Many of those were routine department or local‑government bills.

Laid over under the rule or otherwise set aside for further study

- Senate Bill 848 — Public Health Abortion Grant Program (laid over for clarification of transfer mechanics and notice language).
- Senate Bill 1023 — Employment discrimination (medical cannabis for fire and rescue public‑safety employees) (laid over for further review of impairment testing and implementation).
- Senate Bill 342 — Voting Rights Act for counties and municipalities (bill and amendments laid over for additional consideration and negotiation).
- Several other bills the sponsors asked to lie over for technical or drafting conversations; the transcript shows multiple motions to \"lie over under the rule.\"

What to watch next

Bills ordered printed for third reading will return to the floor for final debate and third‑reading votes. Items that were laid over were paused to allow stakeholders and sponsors time to refine language or provide additional information to the chamber.","On March 14 the Maryland Senate adopted committee reports and ordered many bills printed for third reading; most passed without floor debate, while several items were laid over for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate amends and advances proposal on hiring standards for positions with direct contact with minors; creates stakeholder work group

Senate asks questions, lays over abortion‑care grant bill after debate over funding source and notice

Senate delays vote on medical-cannabis protections for fire and rescue personnel amid impairment-testing concerns

Committee reports: Senate orders dozens of bills printed for third reading after committee reports