HB 502

Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative - Established

Sponsor: SpeakerCommittee: AppropriationsSubject: DisabledStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 1 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within the Department of Disabilities; establishing the Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative within the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy to facilitate efforts that improve outcomes in the hiring, recruitment, retention, and advancement of people with disabilities in the State government workforce; authorizing the Governor for fiscal year 2027, to include $250,000 in the annual budget bill for the Office; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 29Favorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Martinez, Madelinlobbyist	Catholic Charities	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kamali, Ardylobbyist	Employ Prince George's, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Manzoni, Mary	MD Works	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelter, Chris	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dove, Spencer	Maryland Commission on Civil Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delrosario, Bong	Maryland Department Of Disabilities	Oral
FAV	Beatty, Carol	Maryland Department of Disabilities	Oral
FAV	Beatty, Carol	Maryland Department of Disabilities	Oral
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Oral
FAV	Lee, Karen	SEEC	Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bereano, Brucelobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bereano, Brucelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chung, June	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Durfee, David	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harper, English	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harper, English	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only
FAV	Miller, Lt. Gov. Aruna	Individual	Oral
FAV	Skvirsky, Valerielobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	York, Katie	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

Catholic CharitiesFAV 1

Employ Prince George's, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Centers for Independent LivingFAV 1

Maryland Commission on Civil RightsFAV 1

Maryland Department of DisabilitiesFAV 2

Maryland Department Of DisabilitiesFAV 1

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthFAV 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CouncilFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

MD WorksFAV 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1

SEECFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMartinez, MadelinCatholic CharitiesRegistered for: Catholic Charities

FAVKamali, ArdyEmploy Prince George's, Inc.Registered for: Employ Prince George's, Inc.

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVBereano, BruceRegistered for: 5400 Holiday Drive LLC; Anne Arundel County Fair; Aurora Technical Systems; BWI Airport Fire Rescue Local 1742; BWI Airport Professional Firefighters; BWI Taxi Management, Inc.…

FAVSkvirsky, ValerieRegistered for: Associated Black Charities; Baltimore Civic Fund, Inc.; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Baltimore Orioles Limited Partnership; Benchmark Education Company; Greater Baltimore Committee…