Legislative and Policy Planning Committee

 

The Legislative and Policy Planning Committee, chaired by Maura Lynch, focuses on supporting certain domestic violence-related legislation in the state of Maryland. Pieces of legislation that passed and were of particular interest to the DVCC Legislative and Policy Planning Committee include:
 

  • HB496/SB758- Consent and Repeal of Force

    This bill repeals the requirement that the state proves “force or threat of force” in 2nd-degree rape cases and creates a definition of “consent” applicable through the sex crime subtitle. The bill will not require a collection of data on rape and sex offense charges and convictions, including information such as sex, age, and race. 

  • HB656- Funding for Comprehensive Intimate Partner Violence Programs

    This bill will strengthen the funding requirements for programs providing comprehensive services to survivors of intimate partner violence and establish the federally recognized domestic violence coalition (The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence) as the agency responsible for the program's certification. 

  • HB544/SB391-Revenge Porn, Sextortion and Stalking-Time to Prosecute

    This bill will expand the time to file charges in revenge porn, sextortion, and stalking cases. There will be NO statute of limitations in revenge porn cases, a 10-year statute of limitations for stalking cases, and a 5-year statute of limitation in sextortion cases.

 

Summaries are taken from the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence 2024 Legislative Agenda