Maryland rehabilitation division seeks 74 staff positions to clear wait list; board asks for formal DBM proposal

The Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) told the State Board of Education that long-term staffing cuts and vacancies have left the agency operating under an order-of-selection and with a significant wait list for vocational-rehabilitation services.

Assistant State Superintendent Scott Dennis outlined the division's scope (roughly 658 staff across programs including disability-determination services and vocational rehabilitation), funding mix (majority federal grant support) and operational pressures. Dennis said Maryland had lost more than 100 FTE since FY2008 and had experienced high frontline vacancy rates; those shortages translated into a large backlog and active wait lists, some with cases dating back to 2019.

DORS asked the board to support creating about 74 additional FTE "pins" (estimated total recurring cost roughly $5'$6 million including benefits) to reduce caseloads, expand services at the Workforce & Technology Center, and eliminate the wait list. "Seventy-four additional pins would allow us to clear the wait list and expand services," Dennis said. He said most of the additional positions could be funded using the federal VR grant match but that state authorization (and DBM approval to create pins) is required.

DORS also warned that a FY24 state-match shortfall (roughly $3.9 million as presented to the board) could, if unaddressed, lead the state to be unable to claim the full federal allotment; DORS staff estimated a hypothetical multi-year loss of federal funds of up to $86 million if match is not provided over time. Board members asked DORS to return with a detailed written proposal quantifying positions, costs, hiring timelines, projected caseload impacts and the anticipated reduction in backlog; the board signaled willingness to consider advocacy to DBM and the governor if the proposal shows measurable impact.

MSDE and board leaders said they would work with DORS and counsel to prepare a proposal that the board could consider in time to request DBM approval or seek appropriations, noting options such as a FY24 deficiency appropriation or FY25 supplemental funding tied to federal fiscal-year timing.