Homestretch and Vaccines

We are in the home stretch of the legislative session with adjournment scheduled for late on Monday, April 12th.  There is always a flurry of activity during these finals days of activity and some big ticket items remain to be addressed.  Police reform has been a significant issue this legislative session.  The House and Senate have passed competing bills on the topic and they still need to be reconciled.  Similarly, the Climate Solutions Now Act--to increase our greenhouse gas reduction goal and establish more policies to achieve it--is in different forms in the House and the Senate.  Those issues and many others will be a major focus in these last few days of the 2021 legislative session.

As always, you can keep up with what I am doing by following me at @mkorman on Twitter or by clicking "Like" on Delegate Marc Korman on Facebook.

Vaccines

The Governor has accelerated the schedule for vaccine eligibility.  As of yesterday, all Marylanders 16 and older are eligible to get vaccinated at mass vaccination sites.  Starting on Monday, April 12, the Governor has required that all providers will be required to schedule appointments for all Marylanders 16 and older.

As my colleague, Delegate Ariana Kelly, reported in her most recent newsletter—which I continue to highly recommend—the pace of vaccine administration in Maryland has dramatically increased.  It took two months to administer the first million shots, 27 days for the second million, and just 19 days for the third million.

I continue to offer a few other practical tips to obtain vaccines for those eligible:

1. Pre-register with the state: You can pre-register with the state to get vaccinated at a state mass vaccination site. 
2. Use an aggregator site: There are a number of websites that can be used to search for vaccine availability such as https://www.findashot.org/appointments/us/MD and https://www.vaccinespotter.org/MD/.
3. Montgomery County is launching a vaccination program for those who are immobile.  Pre-register here and note that the recipient cannot leave their home.
4. Text MDReady to 898-211 to get vaccine updates from the state, including about appointment availability at mass vaccination sites.

Legislative News

I continue to see progress on my own legislative agenda.  Over the past few days the Senate has returned with minor changes or passed and sent to the Governor the Office of People's Counsel Environmental Reform Act, the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment for Multifamily Units Act, the Board of Public Works Budget Reduction Clarification Act, and legislation to bolster special education teacher pay.  My legislation to electrify the state bus fleet was also incorporated into the much broader Climate Solutions Now Act passed by the Senate.
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My colleague Senator McCray wrote about our bicameral legislation to reform the Maryland Environmental Service, one of the bills we expect to pass in the final days of the legislative session.
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Last week I wrote about the presentment deadline, the date by which bills must be on the Governor's desk for him to sign, veto, or allow to become law without his signature while the legislature is in session.  Some of the legislation that was presented to the Governor includes:

• Prevailing Wage: Legislation that expands the applicability of the state's prevailing wage law to certain government contracts.
• Early Voting: A bill to increase the number of early voting centers and alter the selection and placement process of such centers.
• Blueprint for Maryland's Future Revisions: Legislation that provides additional support for pandemic-related learning loss; increases access to technology for students; and expands behavioral and mental health resources, among other provisions.
• Unemployment Reform: A package of bills to modernize the unemployment insurance system that so many have become painfully familiar with this past year including measures to implement flexible payment plans for employers; improve customer service; increase allowable part-time work while still obtaining unemployment benefits; and more.

Community News

• I signed on to a letter authored by my seatmate, Delegate Love, regarding the five year old student's interaction with law enforcement recorded on video.  You can read it on her Twitter feed (click follow while you are there).
• The Bethesda Urban Partnership has a new e-newsletter.  You can sign up here for the newsletter and their weekly blasts about what is going on in downtown Bethesda.
• "Fridays with Friedson" from 11:30am-12:30pm.  Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3016160784121/WN_FTiQvyA-SuSr8SqeRBo9gw
• On Monday, May 3 at 7:30am, the Montgomery County Senate Delegation Chair and I will be presenting virtually to the Bethesda Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club.  Email [email protected] for further information.

​If you know of an upcoming District 16 event or a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email [email protected].
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Sincerely,
Marc Korman