House Speaker Adrienne Jones recently announced a comprehensive legislative package dedicated to closing race-based economic and health gaps for minority communities. From the Speaker’s press release,
The 2021 Racial and Economic Justice Agenda package was developed this fall with over three dozen local, state and national leaders on ideas to address systemic racism across sectors. The agenda makes 30 policy recommendations, including nine pieces of legislation, in five key areas: housing, corporate management, banking, health, business and government.
Speaker Jones will be introducing legislation to expand economic opportunities for more wealth inclusion. The bill will require any company receiving State capital funding over $1 million to demonstrate racial diversity on its board and in its mission; mandate any company doing business with the State to demonstrate racial diversity on their board beginning in FY23; and create a State equity scorecard that shows a corporation’s diversity and spending that go to minority businesses. Despite gains, minority women represent less than five percent of board members in the United States.
A Maryland Matters article summarizes the series of bills, naming the bill sponsor for each.
- Legislation sponsored by Del. Pamela E. Queen (D-Montgomery) to stop credit and loan applicants from being denied if they can produce alternative forms of credit worthiness;
- A bill sponsored by Del. Benjamin T. Brooks Sr. (D-Baltimore County) to help first-time homebuyers afford down payments by creating tax-free savings accounts;
- A bill sponsored by House Ways and Means Committee Vice Chair Alonzo T. Washingotn (D-Prince Geroge’s) that would deploy a Certified Business Enterprise program to increase the ability of minority-owned businesses to compete for state contract bids;
- Legislation sponsored by Del. CT Wilson (D-Charles) poised to provide more resources for minority-owned businesses and alter the state’s procurement process;
- A bill sponsored by Del. Darryl D. Barnes (D-Prince George’s), the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, that would give minority business owners more opportunities by directing $10 million to the TEDCO Builder’s Fund;
- Legislation co-sponsored by Dels. Erek L. Barron (D-Prince George’s) and Jazz M. Lewis (D-Prince George’s) to set up Health Equity Resource Communities; and
- A bill sponsored by Health and Government Operations Vice Chair Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk that would declare racism a public health crisis and require medical professionals to undergo bias training during their licensing process.
The legislative package will be introduced in the coming days.
