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Maryland Disabilities Department seeks statute and affiliated foundations to expand housing, services
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Summary
The Maryland Department of Disabilities told the Appropriations Committee HB226 would codify its housing work and authorize one or more affiliated foundations to raise flexible funding to address a waitlist of "over 4,000 people" and gaps in federal funding for assistive technology and housing supports.
House Bill 226 would place the Maryland Department of Disabilities' housing activities into state law and permit the department to establish affiliated foundations to raise private and philanthropic funds, department leaders told the Appropriations Committee.
"House bill 2 26 has 2 core purposes," Secretary Carol Beatty said in opening testimony, explaining the bill would both "establish the department's current housing work in state statute" and allow MDOD "to establish 1 or more affiliated foundations" to support housing, assistive technology and employment programs. Beatty said the department currently manages five housing programs and maintains a waitlist "of over 4,000 people."
Why it matters: Witnesses said federal grant funding has not kept pace with rising costs and program demand. Deputy Secretary Anne Blackfield reviewed a sponsor amendment to clarify legal review: the legislation would require the department to work with its assigned assistant attorney general on foundation policies by adding the phrase "the office of" before "the attorney general." Blackfield said that change came at the office of the attorney general's suggestion to avoid implying the attorney general personally would review policies.
Program details and constraints: Testimony noted the Maryland Assistive Technology Program (TAP) is fully federally funded but the grant does not meet current needs, while the assistive-technology loan program receives no state funding. Beatty said MDOD expects to use existing staff for initial foundation setup and anticipates the affiliated foundation will become self-sustaining; she added there is currently no fiscal note attached to HB226.
Committee questions focused on implementation and reach. One member asked whether the housing supported by the foundation "can be built anywhere in the state," and witnesses confirmed the intent is statewide and to work with nonprofit partners and local developers to pursue projects.
Next steps: MDOD requested a favorable committee report. The committee did not record a formal vote during this hearing; sponsors indicated they will proceed with the amendment clarifying attorney-general office involvement.
