March 31st Evening Update
The senate had passed the Time to Care Act! Now the bill will go to the governor’s desk for the final sign off! Governor Hogan can either sign it, veto it, or let it pass into law without his signature. Please urge Governor Hogan to sign SB275 to ensure Marylanders have access to paid family and medical leave!
Urge Governor Hogan to Sign SB275!
March 31st Morning Update
Last night the Maryland House of Delegates passed the Time To Care Act by a veto proof majority and sent it on to the State Senate! The Senate will take it (SB 275) up sometime today and should concur with the House amendments, pass it and send it on to Governor Hogan.
Hogan, although some hold out hope, will almost certainly veto the bill. As long as it gets to him today, the General Assembly will get it back in time to override the veto.
In the course of this campaign the thousands of Time To Care supporters have made a tremendous difference. Two examples: Senate President Bill Ferguson was saying in late December that “there wasn’t the appetite” to get this done this year. He is now the biggest booster for getting it done. House Speaker Adrienne Jones was up until recently pushing a Commission which would deal with the specifics and make recommendations (Annapolis speak for NOT doing something). Without her leadership in the last week, it would not have passed the House.
St Ignatius makes a difference – especially when we join with the broader issues of social and economic Justice.
Read the Baltimore Sun article on the Time to Care Act!
March 18th Update
The Maryland State Senate has passed the Time To Care Act and sent it to the House of Delegates. Our next challenge to persuade the Speaker of the House, Adrienne Jones, who has been an advocate on this issue, to lead and move the legislation through the House and send to the governor.
The House of Delegates recently turned this legislation into a Commission Bill, which is another way of kicking the can down the road, since nothing the Commission does or recommends has the force of law. The issue has been studied for many years. Now is the time for action.
Here is the most updated fact sheet about the Time to Care Act.
Below is a letter from Economic Justice Subcommittee Chair, Terry Cavanagh.
Hello everyone,
As you all may know, the St. Ignatius Justice & Peace Committee, as well as Catholic Charities and the Maryland Catholic Conference has been supporting the Time to Care Act of 2022 (HB8/SB275) which establishes a Family and Medical Leave Insurance program that will allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid Family and Medical leave. The House Bill (HB8) has been amended to establish a commission to study the bill which most advocates agree is not needed. Advocates agree that the Senate bill (SB 275) is the version that should be voted on and passed by the full assembly,
House Speaker Adrienne Jones has been a big supporter of the Time to Care Act of 2022. She should be thanked for continuing efforts to pass the Time to Care Act without establishing a commission to study it. We are asking everyone to contact Speaker Jones by email, telephone or whatever other means to thank her for this unwavering support. Her contact information and a sample of a message to her are below.
As always, thank you for all you do.
Peace and Blessings,
Speaker Adrienne Jones (adrienne.jones@house.state.md.us; 410-841-3800 or 301-858-3800)