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Md. lawmakers eliminate mandatory minimum sentences Police reform passes; mandatory minimums eliminated
(35 minutes 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. The Maryland General Assembly on Monday approved sweeping changes in criminal sentencing policies and adopted 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 hailed both bills as game-changing legislation that would significantly change how criminals are punished and how the public interacts with police.
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 — including whether to ban guns on state college campuses. A controversial bill to provide a $37.5 million tax credit to Northrup Grumman passed its final legislative hurdle with a 74 to 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 drunken-driving bill involving ignition locks was still awaiting a vote. “It’s a meaningful step,” Larry Stafford, executive director of Progressive Maryland, said of the police bill, which passed the House and then the Senate with about an hour left until the end of the annual legislative session. “There will have to be more steps in the future.”
Advocates were disappointed that the bill does not give civilian review boards independent investigative powers. But Stafford said he was pleased with other areas of the bill, including an investment in community policing and tax credits for police officers who live in the communities where they work.
Despite a spurt of momentum early on Monday, lawmakers appeared unlikely to pass a paid-sick-leave bill that would have made Maryland just the fifth state in the country to require paid time off for employees who are ill.
As the clock ticked toward midnight on the session’s final day, lawmakers were still wrestling with tax relief and several other measures. A controversial bill to provide a $37.5 million tax credit to Northrup Grumman passed its final legislative hurdle with a 74 to 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 drunken-driving bill involving ignition locks was still awaiting a final vote.
[‘Noah’s Law’ edges closer to final passage ][‘Noah’s Law’ edges closer to final passage ]
The criminal-justice reform bill would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, increase penalties for some violent crimes and allow some nonviolent offenders to be released from prison earlier.The criminal-justice reform bill would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, increase penalties for some violent crimes and allow some nonviolent offenders to be released from prison earlier.
It also would lower the age at which older inmates can receive geriatric parole and would limit the ability of judges to impose long sentences for probation violations.It also would lower the age at which older inmates can receive geriatric parole and would limit the ability of judges to impose long sentences for probation violations.
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 long-standing 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 long-standing 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.
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.
“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.”“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.”
Del. Patrick L. McDonough (R-Baltimore County), who was among the lawmakers voting 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 voting 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.” 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.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.
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 easily passed the House 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 House 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 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.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.
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.
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 still awaits 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 passed the Senate 45-to-1 and the House 90-49. The bill makes broad changes in how officers are hired, trained and disciplined, and allows people to make complaints about police officers anonymously. It is based on recommendations from a legislative work group created last year after the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.
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. The House and Senate had split over in recent days whether the bill should require localities to place civilians on police review boards. The final version of the legislation leaves that up to individual jurisdictions.
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 senators involved in the conference-committee talks wanted a larger tax break for the wealthy than the House members were willing to accept. Walker said senators involved in the conference-committee talks wanted a larger tax break for the wealthy than the House members were willing to accept.
With less than 90 minutes left before the session was to end, the Senate engaged in a spirited debate on abill that would require people convicted of domestic abuse to surrender their firearms. The debate occured because language from another bill, banning guns on state university campuses, was added to the measure. 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 over-prescribing 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 Senate gave final legislative approval Monday to a bill that would require doctors and pharmacists to use a statewide database to help identify abuse and over-prescribing of painkiller medications. Monday night, the House gave final approval to a bill designed to increase voter registration, in part by expanding requirements for state agencies and public colleges to provide opportunities to join the rolls. Lawmakers stripped out language requiring the state to do a one-time automatic registration of eligible voters who are not already enrolled.
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 House failed to act on a bill that would have allowed voters to make a decision on whether to legalize daily fantasy sports. Miller said Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D), who was visiting the chamber, should file a lawsuit to ban the games from operating in the state. “I know he’s capable of handling it,” Miller said.
But it goes further than what Hogan proposed this year, requiring officials to actively look for signs of opiate abuse and over­-prescription 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.