WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 502
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Chapter 502
(House Bill 1049)
AN ACT concerning
Transportation – Assaults on Public Transit Operators – Report
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Transit Administration to submit a certain
annual report on assaults on public transit operators to certain persons; and
generally relating to assaults on public transit operators.
BY adding to
Article – Transportation
Section 7–714
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Transportation
7–714.
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(2) “LOCAL EXECUTIVE AUTHO RITY” MEANS:
(I) 1. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE O FFICER OF A COUNTY ; OR
(II) 2. IF A COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A CHIEF EXECUTI VE
OFFICER, THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY; AND
(II) IF A MUNICIPALITY OPE RATES A TRANSIT SYST EM:
1. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE O FFICER OF THE
MUNICIPALITY; OR
2. IF THE MUNICIPALITY D OES NOT HAVE A CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER , THE GOVERNING BODY O F THE MUNICIPALITY .
(3) (I) “PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERAT OR” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
IS: Ch. 502 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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1. EMPLOYED BY THE ADMINISTRATION , THE
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY, OR A POLITICAL
SUBDIVISION; AND
2. ENGAGED IN PROVIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIO N
SERVICES, INCLUDING:
A. BUS SERVICE;
B. TRAIN SERVICE;
C. LIGHT RAIL SERVICE; AND
D. SUBWAY SERVICE .
(II) “PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERAT OR” INCLUDES A TRANSIT
STATION MANAGER .
(B) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REP ORT ON
ASSAULTS ON PUBLIC T RANSIT OPERATORS AS REQUIRED BY THIS SEC TION.
(C) THE REPORT SHAL L INCLUDE THE FOLLOW ING INFORMATION FOR THE
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G 12 MONTHS:
(1) FOR EACH ASSAULT ON A PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERA TOR:
(I) THE NATURE OF THE ASS AULT;
(II) THE MODE OF TRANSIT W HERE THE ASSAULT OCC URRED;
(III) THE LOCATION OF THE A SSAULT;
(IV) WHETHER POLICE WERE I NVOLVED IN RESPONDIN G TO THE
ASSAULT; AND
(V) THE OUTCOME OF ANY IN VESTIGATION INTO THE ASSAULT,
INCLUDING ANY DISCIP LINARY ACTION TAKEN , IF THE INFORMATION I S AVAILABLE;
(2) A COMPARISON OF THE AG GREGATE DATA COMPILE D UNDER
ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION W ITH AT LEAST TWO OTH ER STATES WITH SIMIL AR
TRANSIT SYSTEMS OR P OPULATIONS; AND
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 502
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(3) A REVIEW OF CURRENT TR ANSIT INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES TO
PREVENT AND MITIGATE ASSAULTS ON PU BLIC TRANSIT OPERATO RS.
(D) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR DECEMBER 1, 2023, AND EACH
DECEMBER 1 THEREAFTER , THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT
UNDER THIS SECTION T O:
(1) THE LOCAL EXECUTIVE A UTHORITY OF EACH COU NTY EACH
LOCAL EXECUTIVE A UTHORITY;
(2) THE STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR EACH COU NTY; AND
(3) THE FOLLOWING COMMITT EES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE:
(I) THE SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE;
(II) THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE;
(III) THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE; AND
(IV) THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the report due on December
1, 2023, under § 7–714 of the Transportation Article as enacted by Section 1 of this Act
shall include, in addition to the information required by § 7–714 of the Transportation
Article as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, the following information:
(1) the data described in § 7–714(c)(1) of the Transportation Article as
enacted by Section 1 of this Act for each of the immediately preceding 5 years;
(2) an evaluation of assault prevention and mitigation technology and
policies for each transit system operated by a political subdivision;
(3) recommendations to improve the existing assault prevention and
mitigation technology and policies for each transit system operated by a political
subdivision; and
(4) an evaluation of the feasibility of establishing a statewide local transit
safety officer to provide guidance to transit systems operated by political subdivisions on
best practices to prevent and mitigate assaults on public transit operators.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this A ct shall take effect July
1, 2023. Ch. 502 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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Approved by the Governor, May 8, 2023.