In today’s rundown: A call for equality between girls and boys in Maryland’s juvenile justice system. | A look at whether the new health care law will force insurance providers to cover birth control. | Tax season job and volunteer opportunities.
— A bill that would mandate equal treatment for girls in the juvenile justice system is expected to be filed tomorrow in Maryland, reports WTOP.com. “The bill, being introduced by Delegate Kathleen Dumais, D-Montgomery, requires that the state ‘provides females with a range and quality of services and programs substantially equivalent to those offered to males.'” Gov. Martin O’Malley is expected to support the legislation.
–“The Obama administration is examining whether the new health care law can be used to require insurance plans to offer contraceptives and other family planning services to women free of charge,” reports The New York Times. The law says that insurance providers have to cover preventative health services. Opponents argue that pregnancy isn’t comparable to a disease that should be prevented. Congress has left it up to the administration to define the benefit and has adopted an amendment by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) that requires that special attention be paid to the “unique health needs of women.”
— Montgomery County’s top attorney says that a law requiring “pregnancy centers to post information about the care they provide is constitutional,” according to The Gazette. However, one Silver Spring center says that could change because a similar law was recently overturned in Baltimore. The county law requires pregnancy centers that do not provide abortions or referrals to abortion clinics post disclaimers.
— Looking for job or volunteer opportunities during tax season? The DC EITC Campaign needs volunteers. And Community Tax Aid has some seasonal positions available.