Legislative Accomplishments

HB2272 - Ensures that contractual schools are subject to the Freedom of Information Act

SB2272 is an important education oversight bill which ensures contract schools are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act. This ensures there is the same transparency for contract schools as is required for other public schools.

 

HB2649 - Creates the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents

HB2649 created the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents. The purpose of this task force was to  develop policy recommendations to reform our justice system to better address the needs of children and families impacted by parental incarceration.

 

HB2723 - Provides additional support to the Task force on Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce for Children and families.

 HB 2723 amends the Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce for Children and Families Act by giving The Department of Children and Family Services administrative oversight and mandates that the department will provide additional support to the Task Force on Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce for Children and Families. This legislation extends the dates for submitting preliminary reports to the General Assembly and Governor and extends the repeal date of the act and dissolution of the task force.

 

HB3331- Expands Access to the Homeless Prevention Program 

HB 3331 amends the Homelessness Prevention Act by making changes to the types of assistance offered to households to prevent homelessness. Payment of a rent or mortgage arrearage

Payment of a security deposit. Payment of rent or mortgage.

HB 3331 adds that in no case shall the total assistance for a household be greater than the equivalent of 6 months of rent or mortgage payments.

HB3711 - Requires Baby Changing Stations in Public Restrooms

HB3711 provides that, in addition to any existing local, State, or federal law, all (male, female, and gender neutral) restrooms that are open to the public in a public building shall be equipped with baby changing facilities that are safe, sanitary, and usable.

HB 3711 defines a public building as:

A place of public accommodation as defined in the Equitable Restroom Act;

A State building open to the public; or

A retail store or restaurant that serves 50 or more customers per day on average.

 

SB1166 - Removes the Citizenship Requirement from Several Professional Licenses

SB 1166 does three things: 1) provides that no department may deny an occupational or professional license based solely on the applicant’s citizenship or immigration status; 2) removes the prerequisite of U.S. citizenship status and knowledge of the English language for licensure; and 3) allows for lawfully admitted permanent resident status where U.S. citizenship is still required.  

 

SB1735 - Allows for Participants of Guaranteed Basic Income Programs to Keep Access to Public Benefit Programs

SB 1735 allows financial assistance, wages, cash transfers, and gifts that are provided to an individual enrolled in a program or research project, not funded by general revenue funds, whose purpose is to evaluate anti-poverty policies to be excluded for the purposes of determining eligibility and benefit levels for public aid whenever allowed by federal law.