Latest news with #DavisMartinezPublicEmployeeSafetyandHealthAct
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Family, loved ones of Davis Martinez honored during final bill signing of 2025
Blanca Garcia-Martinez, mother of slain parole agent Davis Martinez, attends an event for the signing of a bill, named after her son, to boost protections for state workers. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Family, loved ones and colleagues of Davis Martinez gathered in Annapolis Tuesday for a bittersweet occasion – to witness the signing of a law named to honor the slain parole agent's memory by boosting protections for state workers. 'His family and his loved ones turned that pain into purpose,' Gov. Wes Moore (D) said before signing the Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act. 'They came to Annapolis to advocate the legislation that would help ensure what happened [to Martinez] would never happen again.' It was just one of 181 bill signed into law Tuesday in the final bill signing session after a challenging 2025 legislative session. The measures ranged from the mundane to the major — the fiscal 2026 budget — and included moments of personal reflection from House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) and pure elation from long-suffering advocates finally seeing victory. Martinez became the first parole agent killed in the line of duty when he was brutally slain on the morning of May 31, 2024, while making a routine check on a parolee at a home in Silver Spring. Martinez's supervisors did not check on him until well into the evening, after coworkers noticed him missing and expressed concern for his well-being. Police found Martinez dead with multiple stab wounds at the home of the parolee, Emanuel Edward Sewell, who was arrested a day later in West Virginia and has since been charged with first-degree murder in Martinez's death. Martinez's family and labor unions called on the legislature to boost protections for state employees in the wake of the killing, which led to Senate Bill 26 and House Bill 176, which passed with unanimous approval. The legislation, now law, will provide better oversight of state workplaces and create a unit within the Division of Labor and Industry focused on public employee safety and health. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Martinez represents thousands of Maryland's 'dedicated state workers that show up to work every single day to serve others.' 'We are so deeply sorry for your loss, and we hope that this piece of legislation … is one small step to honor your loved one's memory,' he told Martinez's family. Tuesday's bill signing began with Moore and legislative leadership looking back on a legislative session filled with challenges – including a multibillion-dollar budget deficit and rapid-fire policy changes at the federal level. In spite of those challenges, Moore signed House Speaker Adrienne Jones' (D-Baltimore County) bill combining several current state offices to create a new Department of Social and Economic Mobility. Jones believes that her legislation House Bill 1253 runs 'in stark contrast' to the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs. 'When we say social and economic mobility, let's be very clear on what we're talking about,' Jones said Tuesday. 'We're talking about the strength of our diversity. We're talking about promoting equity and we're talking about creating inclusion in all spaces. I'm not afraid to say it.' She noted that the bill was personal for her as a Black woman. 'I've walked on to an unleveled playing field. I've been kept out of rooms, meetings and buildings solely because of my race and gender,' she said. 'We've come a long way since these times … and I refuse to let us go back today.' Jones extended that promise to Maryland's immigrant community, much of whome feel unsafe from the Trump administration's increased deportation efforts on undocumented immigrants. She highlighted House Bill 1222, which directs the Maryland Attorney General to develop guidelines that clarify how officials at 'sensitive locations' — which include public schools, places of worship, courthouses, hospitals and similar locations — should interact with federal immigration enforcement agents. 'The fear felt in Maryland's immigrant communities is real right now,' Jones said. 'Marylanders should feel safe while seeking medical care, pursing education and going to church … But as we see the suspension of the process and as we see a continued erosion of basic human dignity in our immigrant communities, we know this work is far from over.' The Tuesday bill signing also included the approval of the 2026 budget and a dense energy package, two heavily debated topics over the legislative session. But despite the weighty topics, there were also some moments of celebration during the event. Longtime health care advocate Vincent DeMarco celebrated the governor's signature on House Bill 424 and Senate Bill 357, which will expand the authority of the state's current Prescription Drug Affordability Board to help bring prescription drug costs down for all Marylanders. Currently, the board only looks at the cost of drugs for state employee health plans. During the bill signing, Moore gave a shout-out to DeMarco as someone who 'has been a champion for affordable health care for decades.' DeMarco later said he was 'ecstatic' about the board's expansion. Moore also signed off on one of his priority bills, to reform the state's procurement process – a topic that he admitted was 'not sexy' but is 'absolutely essential in delivering economic growth and building pathways to work, wages and wealth.' House Bill 500 reworks several parts of the state's procurement laws to support more minority-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses, increase oversight of procurements, along with other changes. Moore said that the bills signed Tuesday were reflective of the hard work the legislature, his administration and advocates put into the bills during the challenging 2025 session. 'We had to be nimble in the face of uncertainty and be courageous in the face of chaos,' Moore said. 'If there is one thing we're able to prove in this session is this: That in Maryland, we can look at challenge squarely in the face and refuse to blink.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Workers' Memorial Day: Reflections and calls to action
Rayneika Robinson (center), president of AFSCME Local 3661, at a June 2024 rally after the death of Parole Agent Davis Martinez. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Almost a year ago, I received news that no one ever wants to hear — that my colleague Parole and Probation Agent Davis Martinez had been killed during a home visit. He was the first agent to be killed in the line of duty in Maryland. Brother Martinez was a beloved coworker, brother and son. He was an active member of his union, AFSCME Local 3661, which represents thousands of state employees who work in public safety and community corrections. For the last year, my fellow union members and I have been mourning his loss, and we are still deeply hurt and angry at the departmental and policy failures that led to this tragedy. Sadly, Brother Martinez was not alone. In 2024, our union also lost Brother Ronald Silver II and Brother Timothy Cartwell. They were both sanitation workers for Baltimore City's Department of Public Works, and both died from preventable incidents while on the job. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. We know there are dangers that come with our professions, but the glaring truth is that for too long, Maryland's public employers have failed to make the health and safety of their employees a priority. Public sector workers in Maryland consistently face more than double the rates of occupational injuries and illnesses of their private sector counterparts, 5.4 cases compared to 2.3 cases per 100 full-time workers, respectively. But for the first time, my fellow union members and I have some hope. This year, our union was successful in passing the Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act, sponsored by Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery) and Del. Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery). This legislation marks a critical turning point in our fight for safe and healthy workplaces. For years, Maryland law has failed to hold public sector employers accountable for violating workplace safety standards. While private sector employers can face financial penalties, public sector employers are simply given a slap on the wrist, even though our safety is entrusted to them from the moment we clock in. The Davis Martinez Act changes that. This important legislation will hold all public employers accountable for the safety of their workers and add in financial consequences for failing to protect employees. With the Davis Martinez Act, Maryland will now become only the third state in the nation — joining New York and California — to require a Workplace Violence Prevention standard that covers the entire public sector. On this Workers' Memorial Day, a day where we remember those who have lost their lives or been injured or made sick on the job, I can't help but reflect on the lives that could have been saved had our public sector employers been proactive in creating and enforcing policies and procedures to keep us safe on the job. In honor of the legacies of our fallen union brothers, it's up to us to make Maryland a state that truly values the lives, safety, and health of each and every worker. In honor of Brother Martinez, Brother Silver and Brother Cartwell, we expect every public sector employer to work collaboratively with us, the workers who keep Maryland running, to implement these key reforms in good faith, because everyone deserves to return home safely from work at the end of the day.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Maryland lawmakers push stronger workplace safety protections after on-duty deaths
BALTIMORE — Maryland legislators are seeking stronger workplace protections for public sector employees in the wake of several on-duty deaths across the state. The Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act, named for the 33-year-old state parole and probation agent who was killed while conducting a home visit in May 2024, would create a dedicated public employees' safety and health unit within the Maryland Department of Labor, expand the existing Maryland Occupational Safety and Health program by establishing penalties for public bodies, and create standards for workplace violence prevention. 'At its fundamental core, this is about making sure that none of our public servants ever have to wonder whether they're coming back at night, and making sure that we've got accountability and plans in place to make sure that our public workers are working in safe and healthy environments,' Del. Jared Solomon, a Montgomery County Democrat, said at a House Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday. Also known as House Bill 176 and Senate Bill 26, the legislation is sponsored by Solomon and Sen. Benjamin Kramer, a Montgomery County Democrat. Some aspects of the bill are still being tweaked, Solomon said. Though the bill bears his name, Martinez is not the only public sector worker who died on the job last year. In August, Ronald Silver II, a Baltimore City Department of Public Works crew member, died of hyperthermia when temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees. And in November, Timothy Cartwell, a Baltimore DPW solid waste worker, died after becoming trapped while collecting garbage. Rayneika Robinson, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, Local 3661, said she and others had warned their employer, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, of safety risks. To Robinson, a fellow parole and probation agent, Martinez's death may have been preventable if DPSCS had 'proper plans, procedures and the necessary personal protective equipment to keep agents safe.' The department was cited last week by the Maryland Department of Labor for dangerous work conditions following a review of Martinez's death. DPSCS has also been ordered to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention program to address potential violence by parolees. Still, having more Occupational Safety and Health Administration coverage 'doesn't automatically make public employee workplaces safer,' said Jordan Barab, who served as a deputy assistant secretary of labor at OSHA under former President Barack Obama's administration. 'More must be done,' he said, adding that penalties 'serve to incentivize violators to comply with the law.' Ahead of the bill hearing Tuesday, the Office of the Attorney General had raised concerns about potential conflicts that could come with the office representing state agencies that receive violations from the Department of Labor, which is also represented by the office, Solomon said. However, the changes legislators are making in the bill would not impact conflicts that already exist, he said. Under current law, public bodies are exempt from existing MOSH penalties. Del. Jeff Ghrist, a Republican who represents Kent, Queen Anne's, Cecil and Caroline counties, asked about the possibility of increased appeals stemming from the bill. 'I guess there's a possibility that there could be more appeals, but we know that agencies are already appealing,' Solomon replied. In the 16 years Bill Chenowith has spent with the Howard County government as a safety officer, he said he's seen numerous instances of workplace conditions and practices that put employees in harm's way, including violent encounters with public employees increasing in frequency and intensity; requests to change safety reports, with refusal leading to a threat of being placed on probation; and reports documenting 'drastic' injuries being ripped up and thrown away. 'Public employees are asked every day to provide and perform crucial public services for Marylanders across the state, yet our safety does not feel though it is always valued when our public employers break the law and face no consequences for those actions,' he said. Though the state initially had technical concerns with some aspects of the bill, Devki Virk, the commissioner of labor and industry for the Maryland Department of Labor, asked the committee for a favorable report with adoption of the amendments. 'Risk is a given in these jobs, but tragedy should not be,' she said. 'These outcomes are not inevitable and they are not acceptable in our state.'
