The 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly ended at midnight on April 8. Here is a brief overview of the most important issues for independent higher education (as provided by MICUA):
• The FY 2009 operating budget includes $58.7 million for the Sellinger Program – an increase of four percent in the per-student appropriation and an adjustment for enrollment growth.
• The budget also includes $1.65 million for the Regional Higher Education Centers to provide funds to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to distribute for the basic operations of the centers and to provide incentive funds to encourage the development of new programs in areas of high-need.
• It also includes $3.6 million for BRAC initiatives to support academic programs that serve the military installations.
• The FY 2009 budget includes $109 million for student financial aid, a five percent increase over last year’s appropriation.
• The FY 2009 state capital budget includes $9 million for four MICUA member institutions (John Hopkins, Mount St. Mary’s, Loyola College, and Sojourner-Douglass College) – a $1 million increase over the Governor’s budget.
Summary of legislation that may impact independent colleges:
• House Bill 40 – requires employers to provide leave with pay for the illness of an employee's immediate family. The bill provides that an employee may only use leave with pay that has been earned.
• House Bill 133 – extends the work of the Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Funding Higher Education. The bill also adds the Lt. Governor to the Commission's membership.
• House Bill 358 – requires the Department of Budget and Management to develop a searchable website that includes information on state financial assistance or expenditures in excess of $25,000 including all grants, loans, awards, and contracts.
• Several environmental bills passed, including bills to authorize grants, loans, and tax credits for projects to promote energy conservation and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
• House Bill 905 and Senate Bill 438 – these bills require public institutions of higher education in Maryland to develop and implement plans for programs of cultural diversity and require the independent institutions that receive funds under the Sellinger Program to submit certain information to MICUA. MICUA must submit a report to the Maryland Higher Education Commission on the efforts of the independent colleges and universities to promote and enhance cultural diversity.
• House Bill 942 – requires the colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry to submit a one-time report to the legislative committees and the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities on courses that have been developed regarding cultural competency and health disparities.
• House Bill 1210 – prohibits credit card issuers from offering gifts in exchange for the completion of a credit card application at a college or university (including at athletic events).
• House Bill 1287 – establishes a student internship program to encourage students to explore opportunities in public service.
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