EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0209*
HOUSE BILL 209
E5, E4, F5 4lr1292
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Amprey
Requested: October 31, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission to 3
develop recommendations relating to education and its impact on the criminal justice 4
system; and generally relating to the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission. 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That: 7
(a) There is a Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission. 8
(b) The Commission consists of the following members: 9
(1) three members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President 10
of the Senate; 11
(2) three members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 12
the House; 13
(3) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the 14
Secretary’s designee; 15
(4) the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary’s designee; 16
(5) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee; 17
(6) the Public Defender of Maryland, or the Public Defender’s designee; 18
(7) a representative of the Maryland Judiciary, appointed by the Chief 19
Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland; 20 2 HOUSE BILL 209
(8) the Secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, or the 1
Secretary’s designee; 2
(9) the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; 3
(10) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s 4
designee; and 5
(11) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 6
(i) a national expert on correctional education issues; 7
(ii) a representative of a foundation with expertise in correctional 8
education systems; 9
(iii) a representative of local law enforcement agencies; 10
(iv) a representative of the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association; 11
(v) a representative of an adult prison services provider bureau; 12
(vi) a representative from a restorative justice organization; 13
(vii) two individuals who are or were under the supervision of the 14
Division of Correction; and 15
(viii) any other member with expertise relevant to the work of the 16
Commission. 17
(c) The Governor shall appoint the chair of the Commission. 18
(d) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services shall 19
provide staff for the Commission. 20
(e) A member of the Commission may not receive compensation as a member of 21
the Commission. 22
(f) The Commission shall: 23
(1) convene an advisory stakeholder group that includes organizations 24
with experience in: 25
(i) criminal justice policy reform; 26
(ii) advocating for individuals with learning disabilities and those 27
from marginalized communities; and 28 HOUSE BILL 209 3
(iii) restorative justice; 1
(2) work with the advisory stakeholder group, including conducting 2
roundtable discussion forums seeking public input in all geographic regions of the State; 3
(3) develop an education–focused statewide framework of policies to invest 4
in strategies to increase public safety and reduce recidivism of adult offenders, using a 5
data–driven approach; 6
(4) research best practices for the primary, secondary, postsecondary, and 7
career or vocational education of those who are subject to the criminal and juvenile justice 8
systems; 9
(5) identify measures to mitigate risk factors that contribute to adult 10
contact with the criminal justice system, with a focus on education; and 11
(6) request technical assistance from: 12
(i) the Abell Foundation; 13
(ii) the Annie E. Casey Foundation; 14
(iii) the Council of State Governments; 15
(iv) the Vera Institute of Justice; 16
(v) the Coalition on Adult Basic Education; 17
(vi) the RAND Corporation; and 18
(vii) other organizations similar to the organizations under items (i) 19
through (vi) of this item. 20
(g) (1) On or before June 1, 2025, the Commission shall submit an interim 21
report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 22
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 23
(2) On or before January 1, 2026, the Commission shall submit a final 24
report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 25
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 27
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 28
30, 2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 29
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 30