On March 2, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted testimony to the House Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 762 - Criminal Procedure - Child Advocacy Centers - Care Providers. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is due to consider the bill's cross-file, SB 503, on March 8. HB 762 obligates child advocacy centers to follow several new procedures when there is a change in health care providers at the center, including a mandate to notify…

On March 2, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted testimony to the House Health and Government Operations Committee in support of HB 571 - Overdose Response Program - Opioid Overdose Reversal Drugs - Choice of Formulation and Dosage. The Senate Finance Committee will consider the bill's cross-file, SB 954, on March 21. HB 571 requires the Maryland Department of Health to delegate to local health organizations greater purview in determining their preferred formulation and…

On February 28, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Senate Finance Committee in support of SB 480 - Mental Health Law - Assisted Outpatient Treatment Programs. The House Health and Government Operations Committee will consider the bill's cross-file, HB 823, on March 14. SB 480 authorizes counties to establish an Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program (AOT) for mental health treatment in their local jurisdictions. At a time when demand for mental health treatment has…

On February 28, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted a letter of information to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee for SB 594 - District Court - Small Claims - Enforcement of Money Judgments. The House Judiciary Committee considered the bill's cross-file, HB 127, on January 25, and has since issued a favorable report. SB 594 prohibits the Maryland District Court from ordering the appearance of an individual to answer interrogatories in the execution of…

On March 1, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 580 - Public Safety - Officer and Community Wellness Training Grant Fund. The House Appropriations Committee will consider the bill's cross-file, HB 715, on March 7. SB 580 establishes the eponymous Officer and Community Wellness Training Grant Fund to prepare law enforcement officers to better attend to the needs of those suffering from mental health…

On February 23, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 849 - School Bus Stops - Violations - Enforcement and Safety Measures. This bill requires law enforcement agencies to issue a warning, rather than a citation, for qualifying school bus stop violations on State highways. Under current practice, motor vehicle violations occuring in dangerously close range to school bus stops carry a minor civil penalty…

On February 22, 2023, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted testimony to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 499 - Workgroup to Study Reentry with amendments. The House Judiciary Committee considered the bill's cross-file, HB 661, on February 23. MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Committee on this version of the bill. SB 499 establishes a workgroup tasked with examining the role of State and local agencies in the reentry…