2011 Public Policy Agenda
Our advocacy work stems from a recognition that a healthy Maryland economy requires public policies that meet the workforce needs of employers and promote fair and equitable access to economic opportunities for low-income Marylanders.
During the 2011 state legislative session, JOTF will support legislative and budget initiatives that promote employment and training opportunities for out-of-work residents, ex-offender reentry, and post-secondary education.
Reduce barriers to work for out-of-work Marylanders
Maryland’s official unemployment rate has doubled over the past three years – from 3.6% in September 2007 to 7.5% in September 2010. In these trying economic times, many unemployed residents are experiencing financial hardship, which negatively impacts their credit. Job-seekers are behind on their bills because they don’t have a job, but they can’t get a job because they’re behind on their bills. More importantly, there is no research to show any statistical correlation between what is in someone’s credit report and their likelihood to fail on the job.
Solution
- Limit employers’ use of credit checks in hiring. About 60% of employers use credit history checks as a tool in their pre-employment screening even if the information has no relation to the job.
Promote successful re-entry and employment of ex-offenders
Each year approximately 15,000 inmates return from prison to communities across Maryland. Their criminal record and low education levels are enormous barriers to mainstream employment. By adopting policies that will promote the long-term employment of former inmates, we can help ensure that these Marylanders find legitimate work, contribute to the economy, and turn their lives around.
Solutions
- Address the issue of monthly parole fees.
- Remove the question from job applications that asks applicants if they have ever been convicted of a crime.
- Reduce the impact of a criminal background on employment.
Enhance training, employment opportunities for low-skill, low-wage workers
Maryland’s low-income workers need access to training in order to advance in the workplace and obtain jobs with family supporting wages. In these challenging economic times when jobs are scarce and employers are looking for workers with specific skills, it is even more important for the state to increase its investment in training and hiring.
Solutions
- Expand state and local policies to increase employment opportunities for low-skill adults through public works expenditures.
- Increase funding for workforce training programs that will upgrade the skills of entry level and incumbent workers.
- Reduce the barriers for adults to obtain a driver’s license.
Help Marylanders access and succeed in adult and post-secondary education
Solutions
- Protect funding for adult education.
- Explore ways to improve student transition rates from developmental education into credit bearing courses.
- Work with the state to ensure that its collection of longitudinal data tracks students as they move from K-12, postsecondary, and into the workforce.
Protect Maryland’s unemployment insurance program
Solutions
- Preserve Maryland’s unemployment insurance system to ensure that out-of-work residents receive appropriate assistance.
Preserve the safety net for vulnerable Marylanders
Solutions
- Protect low-income residents from harmful budget cuts.
- Ensure that Maryland’s stimulus money is spent effectively.
For more information, or to receive weekly policy updates during Maryland’s legislative session, contact Melissa Chalmers Broome at 410-234-8046.
