Jobs Training, Dog Bite Liability, Death Penalty Repeal, and MD's First Rabies Death In 37 Years

The General Assembly has granted final approval to Governor Martin O'Malley's job training legislation. The bill authorizes some $2.5-million a year in state grants to better train people to work in high demand industries (via our wire service, the Washington Post, and the Baltimore Sun). 

The passage of another bill the legislature is considering -- one that deals with liability for dog bites -- is far less certain. The measure would overturn a decision by Maryland's highest court that labeled pit bulls "inherently dangerous" dogs and made the landlords of pit bull owners liable in case of a dog bite. The compromise bill, approved unanimously last month by the House of Delegates, would have made all dog owners liable in dog bite cases, but given them an opportunity to defend themselves in court. Then last week, in a State Senate committee, that bill was amended to put a higher burden of proof on dog owners in the event of a bite. And yesterday, the Senate voted down a proposal to strip that higher burden of proof from its legislation. Delegate Luiz Simmons, who negotiated the House version of the bill with Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Brian Frosh, said he felt betrayed by the change -- and says he doesn't think the House will accept the Senate bill. But Frosh and State Senate President Mike Miller say a could be in House-Senate conference. WYPR's Karen Hosler has a comprehensive report on the measure here; WYPR Senior News Analyst talks with the Baltimore Sun's Andy Green about the plan on today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics. And there's more here from the Washington Post and here from the Baltimore Sun.

In Annapolis today, the full House of Delegates will take up a bill that would repeal Maryland's death penalty; the bill passed the State Senate last week. Opponents of repeal are expected to offer a series of amendments to the legislation during today's debate (via the Daily Record).

Senate President Mike Miller says he's working with legislative leaders to make changes to Baltimore City's school facilities plan. As proposed, the measure would have the state send the city block grants of $32-million a year for the next couple decades; that cash would be used to leverage billions of dollars in bonds, that would be used to pay for rebuilding or replacing of many of Baltimore’s schools. Miller had been skeptical of the plan, but says he expects a revised version that protects the interests of every jurisdiction in Maryland could be passed; Miller says he thinks it'll be tied to the approval of a measure to raise transportation revenues, which he supports (via the Baltimore Sun; more here from the Daily Record).

Maryland's back-to-school "tax-free week" could be expanded, under legislation being backed by Republican Delegate Patrick Hogan. The bill would put school supplies on the list of items that can be bought sales-tax free in mid-August. The tax holiday currently only applies to clothes and shoes (via the Frederick News Post). 

Maryland has seen its first human death from the rabies virus in 37 years. Officials are not releasing any information about the victim, citing privacy concerns. But they're trying to figure out how the victim contracted the disease (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

Google has agreed to a settlement over accusations the Internet giant improperly gathered personal data while taking photographs for its "Street View" mapping service (via our wire service and the Baltimore Business Journal).

And in sports: the Orioles play the Minnesota Twins tonight as spring training continues.