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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:
- HB 86/SB 6 - Landlord and Tenant – Residential Leases – Tenant Rights and Protections (Tenant Protection Act of 2022)
This bill among other things, expands protections for tenants and legal occupants who are victims of abuse who need to terminate their lease, by allowing physicians and psychologists to provide documentation of proof of abuse.
Bill will be enacted on June 1, 2022
- HB 694 / SB 944: Hospitals - Financial Assistance - Medical Bill Reimbursement
This bill will require the Health Services Cost Review Commission, in coordination with certain state agencies, to develop a process for identifying patients who paid for hospital services but may have qualified for free care during calendar years 2017 through 2021 and for reimbursing the identified patients, while keeping confidentiality of services rendered.
Bill will be enacted on July 1, 2022 and end on June 30, 2025.
- SB17/HB561 - Child Custody - Cases Involving Child Abuse or Domestic Violence - Training for Judges
Requiring training for judges regarding domestic violence and child abuse, including regarding child sexual abuse and investigations.
Most of the Bill will be enacted on July 1, 2022, excluding one section that will be enacted by July 1, 2024
- HB148/SB328 - Criminal Law - Stalking – Definition
A bill to improve Maryland’s stalking law by adding tracking with out consent (for instance via stalkware on a phone) and other electronic communication to the criminal stalking statute. Modifying the stalking statute will also permit peace and protective orders to be issued based on this conduct.
Bill will be enacted on October 1, 2022
- SB20/HB284 - Criminal Procedure - Out of Court Statements - Child VIctims and Witnesses
Expands the tender years exception to the hearsay rule to include alleged victims and witnesses of crimes of violence who are under 13 years old. This is a major expansion of this rule.
Bill will be enacted on October 1, 2022
- HB817 - Criminal Law – Violation of a Protective Order – Merger Prohibition and Separate Sentence Authorization
Clarifying that the charges of violating a protective order and assault do not merge and may be sentenced separately.
Bill will be enacted on October 1, 2022
- HB296/SB280 - Temporary Protective Orders - Electronic Filing and Video Conferencing Hearings
A bill permitting virtual proceedings for filing and hearing of temporary protective order petitions when the petitioner is at a sexual assault or domestic violence program, a child advocacy center, a vulnerable adult program, a human trafficking program, or in a hospital receiving medical treatment, or in any other location approved by the Court.
Bill will be enacted on October 1, 2022
- HB210 - Criminal Trials - Spousal Privilege - Exception
This bill eliminates spousal privilege when the case involves a crime that happened prior to the marriage.
Bill will be enacted on October 1, 2022
Summaries taken from the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault's 2022 Legislative Agenda