The nine-inch snow storm that hit the city of Annapolis Monday, March 17th, delayed the schedule to which legislators are expected to adhere. Monday, March 17th, officially was “Crossover Day,” the last day when bills passed in the House or Senate can be sent to the corresponding subcommittee in the opposite chamber for consideration. Bills that fail to “crossover” are sent to the Rules Committee for review and a decision. Generally, legislation sent to the Rules Committee is considered more difficult to get passed.

The House of Delegates passed almost 100 bills before adjourning at 6:00 p.m

A series of bills before the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee could, if passed, delay the use of the new student achievement test, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The bills also could allow local school systems, rather than the state, to decide how much—if at all—the test would count towards teacher evaluation.  During the Senate committee hearing on February 19th, state officials were divided on how teachers should be evaluated.  Several bills now before the legislature propose waiving the state assessment test and Common Core

AFT Healthcare-Maryland President Debra Perry submitted testimony in favor of Senate Bill 483 February 20th. That bill proposes additional protections for workers in healthcare facilities. Perry’s testimony documented numerous incidents of violence that had befallen healthcare workers in state facilities and requested that legislators pass the bill SB 483.

The bill calls for the creation of a committee to study workplace violence prevention measures and the establishment of specific procedures that greatly reduce the opportunities for a violent incident to occur in state healthcare facilities.

http://afthealthcaremd.md.aft.org/

While the official percentage of unionized workers in America is cited as 11.3 percent, the AFL-CIO says that the labor movement is much larger than that percentage reflects. 

The labor movement is not limited to union membership, AFL-CIO spokespersons say, and, in fact, an article in American Prospect magazine supports that view. According to the article, a new group of labor activists is emerging in America. Called “alt-labor” activists, these workers, include striking fast food workers, Walmart employees, day laborers, restaurant workers, home health care providers, taxi drivers, domestic