We just wrapped up our fourth week of the Legislative Session, so I’d like to share with you what’s been going on in Annapolis.  Below is my weekly “Reznik Report” video blog, where I will discuss important happenings and issues this week in the Maryland General Assembly:

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We just finished our third week of the Legislative Session, so I’d like to share with you what’s been going on in Annapolis.  Provided below is my weekly “Reznik Report” video blog, where I will discuss important happenings and issues in Annapolis:

Reznik Report Week 3

Below is some additional information I would like to share with you to keep you better informed:

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Teens with Special Needs or Disabilities Conference

If you are the parent of a teen with special health care needs or disabilities and your teen has questions or concerns about the transition from child to adult health care, there is a free conference involving the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene coming up that you may find useful.  Teens with special needs ages 12-17 are invited to attend with a parent. 

The three dates and locations are:

ANNAPOLIS-MARCH 3, 2012 
Loews’ Hotel Annapolis 

SALISBURY-APRIL 21, 2012 
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center 

CUMBERLAND—MAY 12, 2012 
Rocky Gap Golf Lodge & Resort 


For more information or to register, click HERE.  

You can also e-mail Jeanette@ppmd.org or call 410-768-9110 ext. 103

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Public Comments about National Car Efficiency Standards

The Obama administration is proposing strong new pollution and fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks and will have a public comment period through January 30th. 
  
If you have a few minutes to spare, please submit a public comment to  a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov (include “Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0799” in the subject line) in support of strong clean car standards. 
  
Quick talking points on annual benefits by 2030: 

• The standards are projected to cut gasoline use by as much as 23 billion gallons per year nationally.
• The standards are the largest step the U.S. has ever taken to get off oil and tackle global warming pollution. 
  
• By making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas, the standards are expected to save consumers $45 billion at the gas pump. 
  

  
Please send me a quick reply if you submit a comment, so the environmental groups I am working with on this initiative will have a better idea of how many comments we’re generating.  

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That's it for this week.  As always if you have any questions or concerns regarding information in this e-mail or any issues affecting our state or local community please contact my office at kirill.reznik@house.state.md.us.

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Dear Friends,

We just finished our second week of the Legislative Session, so I’d like to share with you what’s been going on in Annapolis.  Provided below is my weekly “Reznik Report” video blog, where I will discuss important happenings and issues in Annapolis:

Reznik Report Week 2

Below is some additional information I would like to share with you to keep you better informed:

1)  Governor O’Malley proposed a total state budget of $35.9 billion for fiscal year 2013. In my video blog, I will discuss a few important highlights of the proposal. Click HERE to view the proposed budget and related information.

2)  To follow along with introduced bills and the Legislative Session, please click HERE.  Click on "Bill Indexes" to find bills introduced by different legislators (sponsors) or to find bills related to different subject matter.  Click on "Schedule" next to "Hearings" to view committee hearing schedules and and House and Senate "Proceedings" and "Agenda" to follow what is happening in each chamber.  You can also watch and/or listen to committee bill hearings and the House and Senate floor sessions live by clicking on the "Listen/View" links on this page.

3) To follow along with the specific legislation I will be working on this Session, please click HERE.  My bills are all currently being drafted, but as the Session progresses this page will be updated with my bills as I introduce them.


As always if you have any questions or concerns regarding information in this e-mail or any issues affecting our state or local community please contact my office at kirill.reznik@house.state.md.us. 

Sincerely,
Del. Kirill Reznik

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Dear Friends,

The 430th legislative session began on Wednesday and will continue for the next 90 days.  As I have done in years past, I will continue my practice of sending you “Reznik Report” video blogs, discussing the important issues and events of the week, and specific issues and legislation that I am currently focused on.

You can anticipate these weekly reports to be sent each Friday.  Below is a link to Week 1 (you can find the text of the video in the description section of the YouTube page):

Reznik Report Week 1

In addition to my video blog updates concerning activity in Annapolis, I would also like to inform you in these e-mails of information that you may find of interest concerning our County and local community.  

This week Governor O’Malley presented his final map for legislative redistricting, creating new lines for state delegate and state senate districts.  Click HERE to see the map and what district you will be located in.  The Maryland Constitution dictates that if the General Assembly does not act on the Governor’s redistricting bill in the next 45 days, the plan goes into effect beginning with the 2014 election.  Based on the Governor’s map which takes into account population changes, District 39 will experience some change.  As a result, I will be welcoming some new constituents, and unfortunately, for some of you it means I will no longer represent you here in Annapolis.  However, I hope you continue to stay in contact with me as I will continue to be an advocate for the interests of our entire community.

I also wanted to make you aware of a new website launched by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection that provides a one-stop shop for information on federal, state, and local incentives to achieve “green” goals in Montgomery County.  Click HERE to take advantage of this great new resource.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the legislation or happenings throughout the legislative session please contact my office at kirill.reznik@house.state.md.us.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Del. Kirill Reznik

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Starting October 1st, a series of new laws passed during the 2011 legislative session will go into effect.  Since many of them may directly affect you, I wanted to make sure that you were aware of the newly enacted legislation.

First, my bill, restricting the ability of an employer to use someone’s credit against them in hiring will go into effect on October 1st.  Here is a link to an article on this important legislation published today in The Washington Times.

Also, laws dealing with texting while driving have been enacted.  Following up on legislation we’ve previously passed, it is now illegal to both read and write electronic messages while driving, even if the car is stopped in traffic.  In addition, the act is now a primary offense, which means that you can be stopped and ticketed for the act, rather than having to be stopped for another offense first.

Finally, a change to the ignition interlock program has gone into effect.  Ignition interlocks are devices which require drivers to blow into a breathalyzer attached to their vehicle's ignition before the vehicle will start.  Under the new law, the devices will be mandated for repeat offenders, minors caught drinking and driving, and anyone caught with blood alcohol content exceeding 0.15.

You can read about other laws that took effect on October 1st in articles in The Gazette, The Washington Examiner, and The Washington Post.

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A Few Events and Improved Government Services of Interest

1. Foreclosure Prevention Event - October 1, 2011

Apologies for the late notice, but tomorrow, October 1st, the Montgomery County Housing Fair Committee is sponsoring a foreclosure prevention event from 10am to 3pm at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, located at 506 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg.

Legal experts and housing counselors will be on hand to provide Montgomery County homeowners with one-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling.  Attendees can also meet with representatives of Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s office.  For more information about this event and Montgomery County’s other programs to prevent foreclosure click HERE.

2. Maryland Community Service Locator website

The Maryland Community Service Locator is a great tool providing Marylanders with information on available services for seeking mental health treatment, addictions treatment, housing assistance, and other public assistance.

3. Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) announced it has added an emergency contact option to Maryland driver's licenses.

Maryland drivers can now add three emergency contacts to their driver's license so police will know who to call if an accident occurs. The emergency contact information is stored electronically on an individual's driver's license and will be available only to authorized law enforcement personnel.  To update this information for your driver’s license, click HERE.

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