EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 426
N2 2lr2083
CF 2lr2082
By: Senator West
Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2022
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Task Force to Study the Laws of Intestacy in Maryland 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Task Force to Study the Laws of Intestacy in 3
Maryland; and generally relating to the Task Force to Study the Laws of Intestacy 4
in Maryland. 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That: 7
(a) There is a Task Force to Study the Laws of Intestacy in Maryland. 8
(b) The Task Force consists of the following members: 9
(1) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 10
the Senate; 11
(2) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the 12
House; and 13
(3) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 14
(i) an orphans’ court judge residing in a jurisdiction of more than 15
250,000 people; 16
(ii) an orphans’ court judge residing in a jurisdiction of fewer than 17
250,000 people; 18
(iii) a national expert on probate law; 19
(iv) one representative of the Register of Wills Association; 20
2 SENATE BILL 426
(v) two representatives of the Estate and Trust Law Section of the 1
Maryland State Bar Association; and 2
(vi) one representative of the University of Baltimore School of Law 3
or the University of Maryland School of Law. 4
(c) (1) The Governor shall designate the chair of the Task Force. 5
(2) The chair of the Task Force may appoint up to three additional 6
members to the Task Force as considered necessary by the chair. 7
(3) To the extent practicable, the members appointed to the Task Force 8
shall reflect the racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of the State. 9
(d) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide staff for the Task Force. 10
(e) A member of the Task Force: 11
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 12
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 13
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 14
(f) The Task Force shall: 15
(1) examine the laws of intestacy in Maryland; 16
(2) analyze and compare the laws and practices of other states relating to 17
the laws of intestacy; 18
(3) examine any other research, analysis, or guidance related to the laws 19
of intestacy that the Task Force determines to be relevant; and 20
(4) make recommendations to revise the laws of intestacy in Maryland. 21
(g) On or before January 1, 2023, the Task Force shall report its findings and 22
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 23
Government Article, the General Assembly. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 25
1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2023, this 26
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 27
further force and effect. 28