MEC Testimony - 2016 Legislative Session *

MEC Statement - Fully Fund Public Education for FY 2016 and Beyond

The Maryland Education Coalition (MEC) urges the Governor and Maryland General Assembly to fully fund public education in Maryland for FY 2017 and beyond and reminds each that the Maryland Constitution requires the state to provide "a thorough and efficient System of Free Public Schools, and to provide by taxation, or otherwise, for their maintenance".

MEC Statement

MEC Testimony - House Bills 453 & 1343-Maryland Education Credit and

House Bill 1213-BOAST - OPPOSED

HB 453, Maryland Education Credit - Allowing a tax credit against the State income tax for contributions made to specified student assistance organizations; requiring the Department of Economic Competitiveness and Commerce to administer the tax credit; requiring an entity to submit an application to be a student assistance organization on or before January 1 each year; establishing the Maryland Education Tax Credit Reserve Fund; applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015; etc.
HB 1343, Maryland Education Credit - Providing a tax credit against the State income tax for contributions made to specified student assistance organizations; requiring the Department of Economic Competitiveness and Commerce to administer the tax credit; requiring specified entities to submit an application to be a student assistance organization on or before December 1 each year; establishing the Maryland Education Tax Credit Reserve Fund; applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015; etc.
HB 1213-BOAST - Establishing the Broadening Options and Opportunity for Students and Teachers (BOOST) Program for specified purposes; establishing a BOOST Authority in the Department of Economic Competitiveness and Commerce for specified purposes; providing for the membership and duties of the Authority; prohibiting members of the Authority from having specified financial interests; requiring members of the Authority to file specified financial disclosures, etc.

MEC Testimony

MEC Statement - FY 2017 Capital Budget

Authorizing the creation of a State Debt in the amount of $1,002,385,000, the proceeds to be used for specified necessary building, construction, demolition, planning, renovation, conversion, replacement, and capital equipment purchases of the State, for acquiring specified real estate in connection therewith, and for grants to specified subdivisions and other organizations for specified development and improvement purposes, subject to specified requirements; etc.

MEC Statement

HB 1466 - Task Force to Study Restorative Justice Discipline Practices - SUPPORT

Establishing the Task Force to Study Restorative Justice Discipline Practices in Maryland Public Schools; providing that the purpose of the Task Force is to study current disciplinary practices in Maryland public schools and examine national best practices for training teachers and principals in restorative justice discipline practices; requiring the Task Force to report its final findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2018; etc.

MEC Testimony

SB 271 – CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITH SIGNIFICANT ENROLLMENT GROWTH OR RELOCATABLE CLASS ROOMS – FUNDING - OPPOSE

Beginning in fiscal year 2017, increasing the amount of money from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 the Governor is required to provide in the State budget for the Capital Grant Program for Local School Systems With Significant Enrollment Growth or Relocatable Classrooms each fiscal year; and altering a specified reporting date.

CLICK HERE for FY 2017 Public School Construction Budget by School System, pages L 5-7

MEC Testimony

HOUSE BILL 1433 - Education – Prekindergarten Students – Funding

Establishing specified funding for prekindergarten students by altering the definition of full-time equivalent enrollment to include prekindergarten students in the number of students enrolled for purposes of calculating specified State aid formulas for education.

MEC Statement

* MEC membership does not necessarily imply endorsement of all of MEC's positions.