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Md. lawmakers eliminate mandatory minimum sentences Md. lawmakers eliminate mandatory minimum sentences
(about 1 hour later)
With hours left to go in the annual legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly approved sweeping changes in criminal sentencing policies and seemed poised to adopt broad new police training and accountability procedures.With hours left to go in the annual legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly approved sweeping changes in criminal sentencing policies and seemed poised to adopt broad new police training and accountability procedures.
Lawmakers also edged closer to passing a paid sick-leave bill that would make Maryland just the fifth state in the country to require paid time off for employees who are ill. But significant hurdles remained.Lawmakers also edged closer to passing a paid sick-leave bill that would make Maryland just the fifth state in the country to require paid time off for employees who are ill. But significant hurdles remained.
With the annual 90-day legislative session set to adjourn at midnight, lawmakers were still wrestling with tax relief, automatic voter registration and numerous other measures as advocates held a final round of rallies and conference committees met, broke up and convened again. As the clock ticked toward midnight on the session’s final day, lawmakers were still wrestling with tax relief, automatic voter registration and numerous other measures. A controversial bill to provide a $37.5 million tax credit to Northrup Grumman passed its final legislative hurdle with a 74-59 vote in the House. Lawmakers approved a bill allowing Montgomery County to establish its own loan authority to refinance the college loans of residents. A widely watched drunk-driving bill involving ignition locks was still awaiting a vote.
A bill to allow Montgomery County to establish its own loan authority to refinance the college loans of people who live there at lower interest rates received final passage. And a widely watched drunk-driving bill involving ignition locks was nearing final approval.
[‘Noah’s Law’ edges closer to final passage ][‘Noah’s Law’ edges closer to final passage ]
The criminal-justice reform bill eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, increases penalties for some violent crimes and allows some nonviolent offenders to be released from prison earlier.The criminal-justice reform bill eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, increases penalties for some violent crimes and allows some nonviolent offenders to be released from prison earlier.
It also lowers the age at which older inmates can receive geriatric parole and limits the ability of judges to impose long sentences for probation violations.It also lowers the age at which older inmates can receive geriatric parole and limits the ability of judges to impose long sentences for probation violations.
The Justice Reinvestment Act is similar to bills that have passed in about two dozen other states in recent years, embraced by both Democrats and Republicans as a way to reduce prison populations and costs and also address longstanding sentencing disparities and injustices. The Justice Reinvestment Act passed the House and Senate by wide margins and has the support of Gov. Larry Hogan (R). It is similar to bills enacted in about two dozen other states in recent years, embraced by both Democrats and Republicans as a way to reduce prison populations and costs and also address longstanding sentencing disparities and injustices.
“It’s a great bill,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), an early proponent in Maryland of sentencing reform.“It’s a great bill,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), an early proponent in Maryland of sentencing reform.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he was “thrilled” with the legislation. “We’ve been working very hard on it,” he said. “We’re happy with the version that came out.”
Del. Christopher R. West (R-Baltimore County) called the bill a “major accomplishment,” saying it would bring about a “new norm” in criminal justice by focusing on dependency treatment, drug counseling, education and job training instead of incarceration.Del. Christopher R. West (R-Baltimore County) called the bill a “major accomplishment,” saying it would bring about a “new norm” in criminal justice by focusing on dependency treatment, drug counseling, education and job training instead of incarceration.
Del. Patrick “I believe this bill will be regarded as that single piece of legislation passed in 2016 with the most far-reaching consequences,” he said. “It is a genuinely bipartisan bill.”
L. McDonough (R-Baltimore County), who was among the lawmakers who voted against the legislation, said he was concerned about a lack of treatment slots for those who would be directed to rehabilitation under the measure. He also questioned whether it would truly improve public safety as intended. Del. Patrick L. McDonough (R-Baltimore County), who was among the lawmakers who voted against the legislation, said he was concerned about a lack of treatment slots for those who would be directed to rehabilitation under the measure. He also questioned whether it would truly improve public safety as intended.
“If this bill is flawed, we are going to pay in bloodshed,” he said. “We’re talking about putting more people in a safety net that doesn’t exist.”“If this bill is flawed, we are going to pay in bloodshed,” he said. “We’re talking about putting more people in a safety net that doesn’t exist.”
Toni Holness, public policy counsel for the ACLU of Maryland, said her organization is happy to see the General Assembly recognize that “being tough on crime has not given us a return on our investment.” Toni Holness, public policy counsel for the ACLU of Maryland, said her organization is happy to see the General Assembly recognize that “being tough on crime has not given us a return on our investment.” But she took issue with stiffer penalties for violent crimes that were added to the bill in exchange for doing away with mandatory minimum sentences. Such penalties, she said, run counter to the intention of the bill — to reduce the prison population.
But she took issue with stiffer penalties for violent crimes that were added to the bill in exchange for doing away with mandatory minimum sentences. Such penalties, she said, run counter to the intention of the bill — to reduce the prison population.
Holness said she hopes that the General Assembly will now shift its focus from prisons to jails, where one-third of the state’s incarcerated population is housed and two-thirds of it is awaiting trial. “We have to capitalize on this momentum and look at our jail population,” she said.
Lawmakers struggled Monday to reach a deal on the paid sick- leave bill, with the proposal’s prospects appearing to rise and fall throughout the day.Lawmakers struggled Monday to reach a deal on the paid sick- leave bill, with the proposal’s prospects appearing to rise and fall throughout the day.
The measure, which passed the House with a strong majority last week, would require all employers to grant sick leave to their employees and mandate paid sick leave for businesses with more than 15 employees. Workers under 18 and seasonal laborers would be exempt. The measure, which easily passed the Houselast week, would require all employers to grant sick leave to their employees and mandate paid sick leave for businesses with more than 15 employees. Workers under 18 and seasonal laborers would be exempt.
The legislation seemed to gain momentum after Senate Finance Committee Chair Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) negotiated a compromise that would limit the amount of paid days accrued in a year to five instead of seven and restrict workers from claiming the benefit in their first three months on the job. The legislation seemed to gain momentum after Senate Finance Committee Chair Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) said he negotiated a compromise that would limit the amount of paid days accrued in a year to five instead of seven and restrict workers from claiming the benefit in their first three months on the job.
Melissa Broome, deputy director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, a driving force behind the legislation, said the changes Middleton helped negotiate “make the bill more palatable for people who were on the fence about it.” She added that the House’s passage of the bill last week gave the legislation “incredible momentum.”Melissa Broome, deputy director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, a driving force behind the legislation, said the changes Middleton helped negotiate “make the bill more palatable for people who were on the fence about it.” She added that the House’s passage of the bill last week gave the legislation “incredible momentum.”
But the bill’s prospects appeared to dim during a late afternoon hearing with the Senate Finance Committee, when Middleton said he would not bring the measure up for a vote “at this time.”But the bill’s prospects appeared to dim during a late afternoon hearing with the Senate Finance Committee, when Middleton said he would not bring the measure up for a vote “at this time.”
Middleton said his committee might still advance the measure to the Senate floor Monday evening. But there would be little time left to debate it, approve it and then work out any potential differences with the House version.Middleton said his committee might still advance the measure to the Senate floor Monday evening. But there would be little time left to debate it, approve it and then work out any potential differences with the House version.
It is unclear whether the bill would face a veto from Hogan, who has emphasized making Maryland an appealing place for employers. “We have no idea what’s going to happen in the next seven hours, but we’re open to taking a look at anything that makes sense,” he said during a late afternoon news conference.It is unclear whether the bill would face a veto from Hogan, who has emphasized making Maryland an appealing place for employers. “We have no idea what’s going to happen in the next seven hours, but we’re open to taking a look at anything that makes sense,” he said during a late afternoon news conference.
[New life breathed into sick-leave measure][New life breathed into sick-leave measure]
The police reform bill, which is still awaiting final approval, is based on recommendations made last year by a legislative work group that was created after the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. It would make broad changes in how officers are hired, trained and disciplined.The police reform bill, which is still awaiting final approval, is based on recommendations made last year by a legislative work group that was created after the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. It would make broad changes in how officers are hired, trained and disciplined.
The House and Senate split over whether the bill should require localities to place civilians on police review boards. On Monday, Del. Curtis S. Anderson (D-Baltimore) said that the House is willing to leave that up to individual jurisdictions. But he said he still wants a provision that will allow people to file complaints against officers anonymously. The Senate version does not allow anonymity. The House and Senate split over whether the bill should require localities to place civilians on police review boards. On Monday, Del. Curtis S. Anderson (D-Baltimore) said the House is willing to leave that up to individual jurisdictions. But he said he still wants a provision that will allow people to file complaints against officers anonymously. The Senate version does not allow anonymity.
Also undecided was a tax-relief package that Hogan has pushed for. Del. Jay Walker (D-Prince George's), a member of a conference committee trying to negotiate a deal, said the group's talks had failed Monday afternoon but could resume before midnight.  Also undecided was a tax-relief package that Hogan has pushed for. Del. Jay Walker (D-Prince George's), a member of a conference committee trying to negotiate a deal, said the group's talks had failed Monday afternoon but could resume before midnight.  
Both chambers have passed tax-relief packages that would lower the burden on middle-income taxpayers while expanding a credit for the working poor, including by extending the benefit to people without children. However, the House last week rejected a Senate provision that would reduce rates on high earners.Both chambers have passed tax-relief packages that would lower the burden on middle-income taxpayers while expanding a credit for the working poor, including by extending the benefit to people without children. However, the House last week rejected a Senate provision that would reduce rates on high earners.
 Walker said Senate lawmakers involved in the conference-committee talks wanted a larger tax break for the wealthy than the House members were willing to accept.  Walker saidsenators involved in the conference-committee talks wanted a larger tax break for the wealthy than the House members were willing to accept.
The Senate gave final legislative approval Monday morning to a bill that would require doctors and pharmacists to use a statewide database to help identify abuse and overprescribing of painkiller medications.The Senate gave final legislative approval Monday morning to a bill that would require doctors and pharmacists to use a statewide database to help identify abuse and overprescribing of painkiller medications.
The approved measure, sponsored by Sen. Katherine Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County), aligns with a recommendation made by Hogan’s heroin and opioid task force.The approved measure, sponsored by Sen. Katherine Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County), aligns with a recommendation made by Hogan’s heroin and opioid task force.
But it goes further than what Hogan proposed this year, requiring officials to actively look for signs of opiate abuse and over­prescription and alert doctors and pharmacists when they have exhibited patterns of overprescribing. It also includes stricter reporting requirements.But it goes further than what Hogan proposed this year, requiring officials to actively look for signs of opiate abuse and over­prescription and alert doctors and pharmacists when they have exhibited patterns of overprescribing. It also includes stricter reporting requirements.
Del. Erek L. Barron (D-Prince George’s) sponsored matching legislation in the House.Del. Erek L. Barron (D-Prince George’s) sponsored matching legislation in the House.