The General Assembly special session that took place December 6-9 gave Maryland a new state treasurer, a new map of congressional districts, and collective bargaining rights for Maryland community college employees.
Legislators swiftly overrode Gov. Hogan’s veto of the 2021 session community college collective bargaining legislation (SB 746/HB 894). It gives the colleges’ employees the right to organize and fight for fair working conditions starting in September 2022 at most of the state’s largest community colleges, September 2023 at smaller community colleges, and September 2024 for Baltimore Community College. Except for exclusive bargaining units established before September 2022, the large community colleges do not have to engage in wage negotiations until July 1, 2023 and the smaller community colleges not until July 1, 2024.
Legislators overwhelmingly supported making Delegate Dereck E. Davis the next state treasurer, who is to be sworn in today. As treasurer he will have influence over the statewide funding decisions made by the Board of Public Works (BPW), which approves capital projects including schools, and on the Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE), whose predictions affect state financial planning that impacts schools and students. On the BPW the treasurer is one of three members, alongside the state comptroller and the governor. On the BRE the treasurer serves with the comptroller and the state’s budget secretary.
A new congressional district map received both...
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