EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0636*
SENATE BILL 636
E3 4lr1365
By: Senators West, Watson, and Carozza
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Juvenile Law – Commission to Study the Ability of the Department of Juvenile 2
Services to Provide Effective Social Services to Juvenile Offenders 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Commission to Study the Ability of the Department of 4
Juvenile Services to Provide Effective Social Services to Juvenile Offenders; and 5
generally relating to the Commission to Study the Ability of the Department of 6
Juvenile Services to Provide Effective Social Services to Juvenile Offenders. 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9
(a) There is a Commission to Study the Ability of the Department of Juvenile 10
Services to Provide Effective Social Services to Juvenile Offenders. 11
(b) The Commission consists of the following members: 12
(1) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the Chair of the 13
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee; 14
(2) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Chair of the 15
House Judiciary Committee; 16
(3) the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary’s designee; 17
(4) one representative appointed by the Office of the Public Defender; 18
(5) one representative appointed by the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ 19
Association; 20
(6) the State Police Chief, or the Police Chief’s designee; and 21
2 SENATE BILL 636
(7) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee. 1
(c) The Governor shall designate the chair of the Commission. 2
(d) The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall provide staff 3
for the Commission. 4
(e) A member of the Commission: 5
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 6
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 7
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 8
(f) The Commission shall: 9
(1) review and assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the policies and 10
practices of the Department of Juvenile Services relating to: 11
(i) the supervision and monitoring of juvenile offenders; 12
(ii) treatment programs; 13
(iii) intervention and prevention services; 14
(iv) rehabilitative services; 15
(v) community supervision; and 16
(vi) mental health services provided to juvenile offenders; 17
(2) consider available evidence–based assessments of Department of 18
Juvenile Services programs; 19
(3) develop data relating to the number of juvenile offenders and the length 20
and frequency of juvenile participation; 21
(4) investigate the effectiveness of Department of Juvenile Services 22
programs and services aimed at juvenile offenders; 23
(5) assess the total cost associated with Department of Juvenile Services 24
programs and services within the last 5 fiscal years; 25
(6) make recommendations regarding improvements to the Department of 26
Juvenile Services residential programs; 27
(7) assess and make recommendations regarding the ability of the 28 SENATE BILL 636 3
Department of Juvenile Services to provide social services to juvenile offenders; and 1
(8) make recommendations regarding budgetary appropriations to sustain 2
and improve Department of Juvenile Services programs and services. 3
(g) On or before December 1, 2025, the Commission shall report its findings and 4
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 5
Government Article, the General Assembly. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 7
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 6 months and, at the end of December 31, 8
2024, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated 9
and of no further force and effect. 10