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Turning point: New laws to expect in Maryland

WASHINGTON – There’s a clearer picture of what laws may change and what laws won’t in Maryland in the coming year.

Monday night was the crossover deadline for bills to pass through one chamber and be sent to the other. Any new bills passed after the deadline must be approved by the other body’s rules committee to be considered.

That is a high hurdle.

Among the bills passed in just one body, the House of Delegates has approved an amended bill to raise the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. A Senate committee takes it up this week.

The House also approved a bill to expand Maryland’s medical marijuana program. It has yet to get off the ground.

The Senate passed a separate bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and make it a civil offense penalized by a fine. But it isn’t clear whether that bill will pass in the House.

The Senate approved a bill to legalize home poker games among friends.

Based on hearings so far, it’s unlikely the so-called “rain tax” will be changed in Annapolis this year.

But there are a number of bills approved by both houses, signaling they’re on track to get to the governor’s desk.

Among those bills is a push to expand pre-kindergarten programs to more 4-year-old children, put limits on teacher evaluations based on standardized tests in the next two years and bills that would set fines for underage gamblers at Maryland’s growing casinos.

Here is a list of bills that passed both the House and Senate in some version (not including bills that would provide state grants to a some local projects):

HB 18/ SB 74: Requires community colleges and public four-year colleges to provide all first-time, full- time freshmen with information on the cost of attending the school at the same time that an award of federal financial aid is sent to a student.

HB 73/ SB 247: Establishes that if a dog injures or kills someone, there’s a presumption the owner knew or should have known the dog had vicious or dangerous propensities. Also establishes an owner is liable for a dog running off-leash.

HB 109/ SB 48: Requires election judges to allow disabled voters waiting in line sit. Otherwise they should be moved to the front of the line.

HB 136/ SB 298: Allows Montgomery County to hold beer festivals up to four weekends a year through a non- profit festival organization. The bill requires the festival focuses on promoting Maryland beer.

HB 137/ SB 301: Would allow beauty salons in Montgomery and St. Mary’s counties to get special licenses to provide wine or beer by the glass for customers.

HB 141/ SB 306: Would allow barbershops in Montgomery County to be open seven days a week (current limit is six days per week).

HB 275/ SB 481: Establishes that underage gamblers (younger than 21) can get a citation and fine for playing a table game or slot machine in a Maryland casino or for entering or remaining in an area where the slot machines or table games are played. The fine for anyone age 18-20 would be up to $100 for a first offense, up to $500 for a second and up to $1,000 and mandatory gambling addiction treatment for any further violations. Younger offenders would face juvenile court proceedings.

HB 294/ SB 542: Require police to get more training in CPR and other lifesaving techniques, and training on cultural and gender diversity and handling people with various disabilities

HB 297/ SB 332: Pre-K expansion to cover more 4-year-old children through grants to local schools

HB 335/SB 329: New inspections required for Cliffside elevators — like the one that had a major problem and led to a man’s death

HB 344/SB 344: Allows Charles County to adopt an ordinance after a public hearing allowing car dealers sell on Sundays.

HB 359/ SB 75: Would ban the sale of alcohol of 190 proof or more

HB 389/ SB 730: Maryland Transportation Authority will have to study and report on status of all electronic tolling, but more importantly MdTA won’t be allowed to implement all- electronic tolling at the Hatem Bridge any time before 2016.

HB 432/SB 473: Deer hunting could be allowed on Sundays in limited places in Frederick County, Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties.

HB 476/SB 614: Frederick County could pay employees only by debit card or direct deposit.

HB 482/SB 455: Homeless teens without family may be able to get a tuition waiver at some public colleges and universities.

HB 436/SB 3: You’ll likely have to move over for tow trucks just like emergency vehicles when they’re stopped on the side of the road with flashers on.

HB 530/ SB 520: Would allow people on bikes or motor scooters on roads with speed limits over 50 mph as long as that person is on the shoulder when not making a turn or crossing through an intersection.

HB 628/SB 238: Board of Public Works would have to set indoor air quality requirements for new relocatable classrooms.

HB 665/SB 659: Prohibiting a person who’s not a licensed veterinarian or vet tech from performing surgery on a dog.

HB 667/SB 660: Ban on surgical devocalization (“de-barking”) of cat or dog on penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine on first offense and up to 1 year and/or $2,000 for second offense.

Tax forms may show how much of each dollar the Maryland General Fund spends on specific categories. The information (potentially in a graph or image) will also be posted online.

HB 781/SB 460: “Altering the definition of ‘person in a position of authority’ for purposes of a specified prohibition against engaging in sexual contact, a sexual act, or vaginal intercourse with a specified minor; repealing a requirement that the ‘person in a position of authority’ be a full-time permanent employee of a school, etc.”

The law has some potential confusions. Read more from WTOP’s Kate Ryan.

HB 786/SB 417: LED bulbs will likely be included with the list of tax-free Energy Star items each President’s Day weekend

HB 928/SB 1044: Requires the Public Service Commission to report on the status of its efforts to protect consumers in connection with competitive retail electricity and gas supplies.

HB 1167/SB 676: Bars teachers and principals from being evaluated based on new standardized tests before the 2016-2017 school year and makes other changes to performance evaluation criteria based on student growth as the state transitions to the new Common Core curriculum and testing.

HB 1205/SB 993: Corrects references to Frederick County government as it transitions into a charter government rather than a commission.

HB 1215/SB 785: Renames the Community College Transfer Scholarship to the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship, alters the qualifications for the scholarship, specifies that it may be used for three years or six semesters and requires funding from the Need-Based Student Financial Assistance Fund.

HB 1246/SB 771: Creates new exceptional milk hauling permit and directs state government to enter into an agreement with the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association to collect data.

HB 1366/ SB 503: Requires each county school system to teach students CPR in every school with 7th- 12th graders beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. Doesn’t require students get a specific certification.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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