Latest news with #FAMLI
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PDAB expansion nears, FAMLI implementation gets farther off
Lawmakers have one more day of work -- and lots of work to fill that day -- when they return Monday for the last day of the 2025 General Assembly session. (Maryland Matters file photo) With the end of the legislative session looming at midnight Monday, the bills have been coming fast and furious for Maryland lawmakers in recent days — and the pace will only pick up when they return Monday. While they haven't cleared all the hurdles, some bills are pretty clearly on their way to final approval. A bill that would expand the authority of a state board that is working to lower certain prescription drug costs is ready for the governor's consideration, after the Senate passed House Bill 424 on party lines Friday evening. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board is currently tasked with finding ways to reduce the cost of prescription drugs on the state's health plan, saving some taxpayer dollars in the process. The bill would expand the board's authority to set what are called upper-payment limits on prescription drugs in the commercial market. Doing so would limit how much drug purchasers could spend on certain medications, which supporters hope would result in savings for more Marylanders. The bill also increases the number of people who sit on the board's stakeholder council. 'This is a big day for Marylanders who may struggle to pay for their prescription medicines,' Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition, said in a Friday statement. He has been a vocal supporter of the board's efforts and the bill expanding the board's authority. 'With this measure enacted, the board can expand its work and develop common sense solutions to bring down costs for average Marylanders,' he said in the statement. The Senate's 33-12 vote on the House bill sends the measure back to the House for review. If the House approves, the bill will head to the governor's desk for his review and possible signature. House approval is expected, as the Senate version of the bill is in the same posture. The Senate Finance Committee passed a bill – somewhat reluctantly – to delay the implementation of the state's paid family leave act, a program that has been pushed off twice already. The Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program is set to begin in July. But amid a $3 billion budget shortfall and rapid-fire policy decisions from the Trump administration, the Gov. Wes Moore's (D) administration proposed delaying the start of the program by 18 months, with benefits going out in 2028. House Bill 102 would impose the delay, but some lawmakers are not happy prolonging the start to the program, according to discussions in a Senate Finance Committee voting session Friday. Sen. Dawn Gile (D-Anne Arundel County) said the delay is 'disappointing,' though she understood that it may be a necessary move due to the state's budget concerns. Committee Vice Chair Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore City) also had heartburn over delaying FAMLI program, which has been pushed off twice since the program was created in 2022. 'This is the third time it's been delayed,' Hayes said. 'It continues to concern me because we've put so much into it, but we are where we are.' Hayes ultimately voted against the bill, along with Democratic Sens. Benjamin Kramer of Montgomery County and Clarence Lam of Anne Arundel and Howard counties. 'I want to see it come to fruition,' Lam said. 'It's important to get this stood up as quickly as possible … there are a lot of people who need that help who could be helped sooner.' But Finance Committee Chair Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel) said the delay is necessary. If the state keeps the current timeline, 'this program is going to start and we're not going to have anything set up for it because we don't have computer programs and we don't have people.' The Finance Committee voted 8-3 for the delay. Republicans who largely oppose the FAMLI program voted to delay the program start date but said that they'd rather not see the program get started at all.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Life-altering events can happen any time; the FAMLI family leave program can't wait
A life-threatening or life-altering event can happen any time, which is why supporters say the state should not delay implementation of its family and medical leave act. (Photo by Fiordaliso/Getty Stock Images) I got the phone call at 2:39 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2020. After four anxious days of waiting, I heard the voice on the line say, 'I'm so sorry to tell you the tumor we found was malignant – you have cancer.' As the person on the phone became a muffled 'Peanuts'-esque voice, talking about oncology referrals and scheduling staging scans, I remember curling into a ball on my couch, alone with my cat, the room spinning as a myriad of rapid-fire thoughts ran through my head: 'I'm only 37. I have cancer?! Am I going to die? How do I tell my parents? My family? Friends? Work? What treatments will I need? Surgery? Chemo? What do those cost? What will my insurance cover?' With little warning, four days after a routine colonoscopy I had because of a family history of polyps, my life suddenly cleaved in two: Before and after my Stage 3 neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis. As my brain started the first of countless doom spirals, I tried to accept my life-threatening diagnosis, but I was fortunate never to have to ponder, 'Will I lose my job? Can I pay rent? Can I afford groceries?' Thanks to my large employer, I was among the lucky employees in Maryland with access to paid family and medical leave. Only 43% of the workforce have access to paid medical leave and even fewer have access to paid family leave. 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. I was fortunate to have the time off to confront my situation, but no one should have to rely on luck to fight for their survival or the well-being of their loved ones. That's why we fought so hard to pass the Time to Care Act. In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly enacted it, creating a statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. A full 88% of Marylanders support this program, and the Maryland Department of Labor has been hard at work preparing to implement it. Consequently, I am heartbroken by Gov. Wes Moore's proposal to delay the implementation of the FAMLI program for an additional 18 months: an unconscionable amount of time for Marylanders who need time to care today. When you are faced with a life-threatening diagnosis, you are quickly reminded that the future is a luxury. Delaying this vital program harms every Marylander with a serious illness, caregiving for a loved one facing the end of their life, or welcoming new family members. These Marylanders might not have an additional 18 months to wait for benefits to begin Jan. 1, 2028. During this proposed delay, over 247,000 Marylanders who would have applied for benefits will instead have to make impossible decisions about which bills to forgo, decide if they should miss a day's pay to sit at a parent's bedside in hospice care or risk bodily harm by returning to work too soon after giving birth. Everyone needs time to care, and I am a testament to the unpredictability of when you might need paid leave. The proposed delay has been justified by 'federal uncertainty,' but life doesn't stop because of uncertainty. I was diagnosed with cancer during a worldwide pandemic but care couldn't wait. No other state is delaying the implementation of its FAMLI program in response to the federal administration's recent actions, and Maryland's FAMLI program does not rely on federal funding. Maryland was lauded as a national leader when it passed the Time to Care Act, but each year the implementation gets delayed and other states move ahead with starting their paid leave programs, Maryland gets left behind. By keeping the FAMLI program on its current implementation timeline, the Moore-Miller administration can provide certainty to Marylanders facing the uncertainty of a life-threatening illness that they won't lose their income while navigating their care. As a cancer survivor, I believe when facing an uncertain future you center your values, you stand beside each other, and you do the next right thing even if you can't see far into the distance. We may not be able to predict everything the future will bring, but the next right thing is for Maryland to hold fast to its values by keeping the FAMLI program on its current implementation timeline. Marylanders should feel secure in knowing that facing life's best and most challenging times won't also create an economic tragedy. We can't delay promised progress because of the fear of some undefined uncertainty. Now is the moment to champion the timely implementation of FAMLI leave in Maryland.
CBS News
28-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Audit finds Colorado Department of Labor over-collected millions of dollars from employers
Colorado employers paid $5 million more than they owed in unemployment insurance last year, according to a newly released audit. The Office of the State Auditor says a programming error in the Department of Labor and Employment's MyUI+ system -- the system for unemployment benefits in the state -- led to some employers overpaying and others underpaying. Up to 30,000 employers were impacted. The audit also found that 4,100 employers who should have been paying into the Family and Medical Leave Insurance -- or FAMLI -- Program, have not made payments, while others who were exempt from the program paid $127 million. The Labor Department refunded the money, but the audit found it failed to account for the refunds on its books. "Fundamentally, what we have here -- between these two programs -- is a system that breeds a lack of trust," said Republican State Sen. Lisa Frizell, vice chair of the state's Legislative Audit Committee. "This is a system that is problematic for employers, it's problematic for those who pay into FAMLI. We need systems in the State of Colorado that citizens and businesses can trust and unfortunately in these two situations we have neither." The Colorado Department of Labor released a statement saying it takes the findings seriously and is addressing the issues identified in the audit. It says it has also identified affected employers and will be crediting them for overpayments or billing them for underpayments.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political notes: ‘Madness' in the House, another FAMLI delay, a sludge slump
House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George's) the University of Maryland men's and women's basketball teams after nail-biter finishes sent both to the Sweet 16. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) With two weeks left in the legislative session, it's about to get crazy in the General Assembly. So talking about madness in the House seemed only fitting Monday night. 'Tomorrow, we're going to have some tough discussions over the [budget] debate that may be partisan, but tonight, we can stand unified and congratulate our Lady Terps for coming back in double overtime,' House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George's) said to cheers and applause. 'As well as our men's Terps,' said Lewis, who earned both his undergrad and graduate degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park. 'Congratulations, Terrapins! Win March Madness, please.' Lewis' comments came less than an hour after the Maryland women's basketball team beat Alabama 111-108 in double overtime to advance to next weekend's Sweet 16. And it came less than a day after the Terrapin men's basketball team beat Colorado State 72-71 on a game-winning bank shot at the buzzer by Baltimore product Derik Queen. 'Quite the Baltimore all-star,' said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) to cheers and whoops from the Senate when he asked who had watched the Terps triumph over Colorado State the night before. Another Queen was caught up in the March Madness — Del. Pam Queen (D-Montgomery) who was identified by ESPN announcers Sunday as the very enthusiastic fan jumping and screaming in support of Madison Scott at the Ole Miss-Baylor game in Waco, Texas. Scott, a fifth-year point guard/forward for Ole Miss from Indian Head, refers to Queen as 'my grandmother, Miss Pam.' Something worked: Ole Miss defeated Baylor, 69-63, to advance to the Sweet 16. Queen's seat, meanwhile, was empty at Monday night's session of the House. There were other allegiances on the floor Monday. Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery) majored in mathematics and graduated in 2005 from Duke University, whose men's and women's teams also advanced to the Sweet 16 over the weekend. Today, Shetty teaches a public servant leadership training course as part of a Maryland Fellows Program at the University of Maryland. 'May the best teams win,' she said after the House adjourned Monday night. 'Cheering them both on for the time being, but I'm hoping for Duke at the end.' A move to further delay implementation of statewide paid family leave benefit is officially underway as of Friday. The House Economic Matters committee added language to a bill that will slow the start date of payroll deductions to fund the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) by 18 months, even though the program has already been pushed off several times. The Moore administration announced its intention in February to delay the program. At the time, Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu cited federal 'uncertainty' as a reason to delay the program again — to help the state, employers and workers prepare amid 'huge instability and uncertainty' from the Trump administration. Advocates counter that federal uncertainties should reenforce the need to issue the benefit as soon as possible – and 55% of Maryland voters agree, according to a recent poll. But the administration is pushing through with the delay anyways. HB 102 was originally a bill to create a voluntary option for self-employed individuals to participate in the FAMLI program, but the amendment adopted last week also makes it the vehicle to delay the FAMLI program altogether, so that collections would start in Jan. 1, 2027, and benefits would become available on Jan. 1, 2028. Benefits are currently supposed to be available in 2026 Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery), worries that with each delay, the value of the benefit can't keep up with rising costs and inflation. 'I understand the reasons for the delays but my biggest concerns, when we finally implement the program, that the purchasing power of the benefit is going to be considerably eroded,' she said, planning to offer an amendment to address that issue but opted to withhold it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Committee Chair C. T. Wilson (D-Charles) said Friday that the delay is necessary amid the state's current financial picture. 'The concern is twofold, it's making sure that we have the ability to properly get this program into play,' Wilson said. 'But it's also to make sure that in, what I would consider financially tumultuous times, as much as this is needed, it is also taking money out of the pockets of both the employers and the employees.' The Economic Matters Committee approved the amended bill and sent for full House consideration. If successful there, the legislation would still need consideration by the Senate Finance Committee and Senate approval. The press conference was meant to discuss 'historic' legislation that would set new limits on the amounts of PFAS in sewage sludge, but it took a gloomy turn Monday afternoon when legislators behind the bill revealed that a deal on the proposal had seemingly fallen through. Originally, Senate Bill 732 and House Bill 909 bill would have set a limit at 1 part per billion of certain harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sewage sludge, a byproduct from wastewater treatment plants that is often spread on farm fields as fertilizer. Once applied to farmland, harmful PFAS chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA can wind up in livestock and crops, or run off into nearby rivers, streams and lakes. Even at incredibly low concentrations, such as 1 part per billion, PFAS in sewage sludge can pose a health threat to farm residents, their neighbors and those who rely primarily on their products, according to research released Jan. 14 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Bill sponsor Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery) said that supporters made 'tremendous' concessions to win support for the measure. The amended bill set an initial limit at 50 parts per billion, before lowering the threshold to 25 parts per billion in 2028. 'We had an agreement,' Love said. 'Unfortunately, many of us just came off a call, and I am really disappointed that several of the wastewater treatment plants — including those whose numbers already meet the threshold and those who don't even land-apply in Maryland — are standing in the way of this historic legislation.' During a hearing for the bill, some wastewater utilities argued that sending any noncompliant sludge to landfills or other sites instead of farm fields would come with a significant cost — which could be passed onto ratepayers. The bill did not meet the March 17 deadline to cross from one chamber to another, which already challenged its path to passage. But now, its future is even murkier.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorado bill extending insurance for parents with newborns in NICU moves forward
DENVER (KDVR) — A bill that would increase paid leave for parents with newborns in neonatal intensive care units is one step closer to becoming Colorado law. The state senate on Wednesday passed SB25-144, which would extend Colorado's paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program by up to 12 additional weeks for parents with newborns in NICU while the child is receiving care. Senator Jeff Bridges, a Democrat from Arapahoe County who co-sponsored the bill in the Senate, said his own experience shows him it's important to care for these parents. New law eases rules for immigrants to get driver's licenses, IDs in Colorado 'I know firsthand how terrifying and consuming it can be for a parent of a newborn in intensive care,' said Bridges. 'It is so important for a child's development to be with their parents in those first few months of life. We need to make it easier for parents with kids in the NICU to have access to that quality time, which is why we're expanding FAMLI in a way that doesn't raise premiums for employees or employers.' The bill also modifies the FAMLI program to extend the current rate of .9% of wages per employee through the end of the year. SB25-144 passed 22-12 (with one vacancy reflecting District 17's open seat) along party lines, with all Republicans voting no. The bill now heads to the state house. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
