Pam Beidle

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Unemployment Insurance

My office along with all of Team 32 have been working hard to make sure District 32 residents get the unemployment insurance benefits they are entitled to. We know that It has been a long and difficult process and many people still have not received the help they need. My office continues to assist those who are unable to get through to a representative at the Department of Labor. Please fill out this form HERE if you require assistance or if you are continuing to have difficulties. Please provide updated information and we will pass it along to the Division of Unemployment Insurance.

2020 Ballot Questions

The November Election ballot will have several ballot questions for you to vote on. There will be two State Questions and seven County Questions. Below are the questions for your review, you will have the opportunity to vote “For” or “Against” each question. Below each question In Italics is a brief description of what your vote will mean.

State Questions

Question 1

Constitutional Amendment

(CH.645 of the 2020 Legislative Session)

State Budget Process

The proposed amendment authorizes the General Assembly, in enacting a balanced budget bill for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, to increase, diminish, or add items, provided that the General Assembly may not exceed the total proposed budget as submitted by the Governor.

(Amending Article II Section 17 and Article III Sections 14 and 52 of the Maryland Constitution)

◻ For the Constitutional Amendment

◻ Against the Constitutional Amendment

A vote For Question 1, will change the Maryland Constitution and authorize the Maryland General Assembly to increase, decrease, or add items to the state budget as long as such measures do not exceed the total proposed budget submitted by the Governor. This change will put Maryland the same as 49 other states.

A vote Against Question 1 will not change the Maryland Constitution and will keep the process as it currently is.

Question 2

Commercial Gaming Expansion

Referendum

(Ch. 492 of the 2020 Legislative Session)

Expansion of Commercial Gaming – Sports and Event Wagering

– Authorizes sports and events wagering at certain licensed facilities.

Do you approve the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize sports and events betting for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education?

◻ For the Referred Law

◻ Against the Referred Law

A vote For Question 2 supports authorizing the General Assemble to pass legislation to allow wagering at certain sports and events at licensed facilities with state revenue intended to fund public education.

A vote Against Question 2 continues to prohibit sports and events wagering in Maryland.

County Questions

Question A

Charter Amendment

Legislative Branch – Duties of County Auditor

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to allow the County Auditor to have access to all records and files pertaining to County business; to allow the County Auditor to conduct additional financial and performance audits or reviews of any office, department, or agency funded in whole or in part by County funds; and to allow the County Auditor to conduct investigations of an act or allegation of fraud, waste, or abuse in the obligation, expenditure, or use of County resources.

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment expands the authority of the County Auditor, providing the authority to conduct investigations or performance reviews of any office or Department within the County government.

A vote Against the Charter Amendment continues the authority of the County Auditor as it is currently.

Question B

Charter Amendment

Executive Branch - Appointment and Confirmation of Certain Department Heads

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to require County Council confirmation of the County Executive’s appointments of the County Attorney, Chief of Police, and Fire Chief and to allow the County Council, on the affirmative vote of not less than five members, to prevent removal of a County Attorney appointed by the County Executive

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment provides review and confirmation by the Anne Arundel County Council for the County Executive’s appointments for the County Attorney, the Chief of Police and the Fire Chief. It also allows the County Council to block the removal of the County Attorney by the County Executive,

A vote Against the Charter Amendment allows the County Executive to continue to make these decisions of without Council approval.

Question C

Charter Amendment

Merit System – Exempt Positions

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to remove the limit of 1500 hours per calendar year for hourly rate contractual employees in the exempt service under Section 802(a)(14) of the Charter.

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment removes the cap on hours for County part-time contractual employees and allows these employees to remain in their positions for the full duration of their contracts. This will reduce the necessity of the County to hire and train new part time contractual workers to fill these positions for the duration of the calendar year.

A vote Against the Charter Amendment continues the 1500 hours limit on County part-time contractual employees.

Question D

Charter Amendment

Centralized Purchasing – Competitive Bidding

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to permit the County Council to increase the minimum value of purchases and contracts requiring full competitive bidding to an amount not less than $25,000 and not greater than $100,000.

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment authorizes the County Council to increase the amount required a full competitive bidding process necessary for any County purchase or contract to be anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000.

A vote Against the Charter Amendment maintains the current system requiring contracts over $50,000 to be competitively bid.

Question E

Charter Amendment

Merit System – Probationary Period –

Extension of Probationary Period

To amend Section 806 of the Anne Arundel County Charter to modify the probationary period from six months to the time required to complete the department’s entry-level training program plus twelve months for entry-level full-time classified sworn employees of the Police Department, Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Detention Facilities, and to provide that a probationary period does not run while an employee is on paid or unpaid leave that exceeds 80 consecutive hours.

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment establishing a twelve month probationary period for entry level recruits at the County police, fire, detention and sheriff departments. The probationary period would start after entry level training is complete and would not run while an employee is on paid or unpaid leave of 80 consecutive hours or more.

A vote Against the Charter Amendment maintains the probationary period of six months, including entry level training time, with an option for an employee to remain on probation for an additional six months.

Question F

Charter Amendment

Executive Branch – Expanding the Limitation on Term of Temporary Appointees

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to expand the initial term for an acting Chief Administrative Officer or acting head of any office or department from sixty days to one hundred twenty days, and to allow the County Council to extend that term by up to two additional six month periods instead of the current four months

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment expands the initial term for an acting Chief Administrative Officer or acting Department head hired on an interim basis from 60 days to 120 days. It also allows the County Council to vote on two additional six month extensions for such employees.

A vote Against the Charter Amendment maintains the current system allowing acting employees a 60 day term and permitting the County Council to approve one additional four month extension.

Question G

Charter Amendment

Anne Arundel County Human Relations Commission

To amend the Anne Arundel County Charter to require the Anne Arundel County Human Relations Commission.

◻ For the Charter Amendment

◻ Against the Charter Amendment

A vote For the Charter Amendment adds the Human Relations Commission to the County Charter, making it a permanent standing Special Commission only to be disbanded by another charter amendment.

A vote Against the Charter Amendment maintains the Human Relations Commission as a Commission in County Code, able to be modified or disbanded by a County Council vote.

I hope you find this information on the Ballot Questions helpful. The League of Women Voter’s has additional information on their website should you want further information.

My office is working virtually, we can be reached by email at pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us.

Stay safe and wear a mask.

Regards

Pam Beidle