Office of Senator Antonio L. Hayes Rahwa Andemichael, Chief of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Equity & Justice: A Practicum Experience

in the 2020 Maryland General Assembly

Policymaker: Senator Antonio L. Hayes 40th Legislative District- Baltimore City May 2020

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Office of Senator Antonio L. Hayes

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• Rahwa Andemichael,

Chief of Staff

• Lora Mayo,

Director of Community Engagement

• Ian Genove,

Legislative Aid

• Alexa Thomas
• Yana Mezhibovskaia
• Lauren McNerney

Legislative District 40- Baltimore City

• Delegates Frank Conaway Jr., Nick Mosby, and Melissa Wells

also represent the district in Annapolis

• Baltimore Senators: Jill P. Carter (D), Mary L. Washington (D),

Charles E. Sydnor III (D), Cory V. McCray (D), and Senate President William C. Ferguson IV (D)

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Highlighted Legislation

• Senate Bill 929: P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Public Resources

Organizing to End Crime Together Act

• Senate Bill 931: Specialty Drug- Diabetes & HIV/AIDS

Medications

• Senate Bill 940: Vision Care for Low-Income Children
• Senate Bill 539: Paid Family & Medical Leave- Time to

Care Act

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Public & Healthcare Safety

• Public Resources Organizing to End Crime Together

P.R.O.T.E.C.T. (SB 929)

▫ Brief overview: This bill targets violent crime by implementing resources and crime prevention measures, specifically in high-crime micro-zones. ▫ Public health context: Baltimore City had 348 homicides in 2019, once again breaking its murder per-capita record. 30.%

• f murder victims and 26.7% of suspects were on

parole/probation. ▫ Lessons learned: Attempting different methods when things don’t work. Collaboration between the BPD, Juvenile Services, and Parole and Probation and Focus on Prevention. ▫ Legislative Outcome: PASSED on March 17, 2020

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Health Equity

• Diabetes and HIV/AIDS Medication Access (SB 931)

▫ Brief overview: This bill sought to remove certain medications used to treat diabetes and HIV/AIDs from the Secretary of Health’s “specialty drugs” classification. ▫ Public health context: Since only a few pharmacies have license to prescribe these drugs, this designation comes with a serious threat to access for our most vulnerable ▫ Lessons learned: To always remember the practical aspect of health and healthcare, meeting patients where they are and closing gaps where possible. ▫ Legislative Outcome: PASSED on March 18, 2020

• Vision Care for Low-Income Children (SB 940)

▫ Brief overview: This bill sought to implement a Children’s Health Program Health Service Initiative for vision care ▫ *Dropped

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Paid Family and Medical Leave: Time to Care Act

▫ Brief overview: Up to 12 weeks of leave with income partially replaced through a state insurance program ▫ Public health context: 83% of US workers and the vast majority of those in Maryland lack paid family leave through employees. Nearly 25% of women take 10 or fewer days of maternity leave. ▫ Lessons learned: The importance of rallying stakeholders and having well-rounded perspectives to the table. Session moves quickly! ▫ Legislative Outcome: Stuck in Finance Committee *Other States: Rhode Island, California, New Jersey, New York, District

• f Columbia, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon,

Hawaii*

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Interactive Discussion

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▫ Would you say there are certain topics/subjects that should

not be hashed out in the political arena?

▫ Discuss any similarities or differences you noticed between

your usual work and that of policy.

Lessons Learned and Conclusions

• With a good initiative and strong backing, getting

legislation passed is not as far fetched as I had once imagined

• There is much opportunity for the expertise of

clinicians and public health experts in policy

• Policy is a critical avenue for effective and

sustainable change

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Thank You!

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