EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0789*
HOUSE BILL 789
D1 5lr2306
CF SB 621
By: Chair, Judiciary Committee (By Request – Maryland Judiciary)
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Courtroom Security – Minimum Adequate Security Standard 2
FOR the purpose of establishing minimum adequate security standards for courtroom 3
security at all courthouse facilities; and generally relating to courtroom security. 4
BY adding to 5
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 6
Section 1–206 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 12
1–206. 13
(A) THERE IS A MINIMUM AD EQUATE SECURITY STAN DARD FOR 14
COURTROOM SECURITY AT ALL COUR THOUSE FACILITIES IN THE STATE. 15
(B) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A COURT SECURITY OFF ICER MUST 16
MEET THE QUALIFICATI ONS FOR A SPECIAL POLICE OFF ICER, AS DEFINED IN § 17
3–301 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 18
(C) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026, THERE SHALL BE PRESEN T IN EVERY 19
COURTROOM DURING PRO CEEDINGS AT LEAST : 20
2 HOUSE BILL 789
(1) ONE COURT SECURITY OF FICER FOR ANY CRIMIN AL, FAMILY, OR 1
JUVENILE PROCEEDING ; 2
(2) TWO COURT SECURITY OF FICERS FOR ANY PROCE EDING 3
INVOLVING AN INCARCE RATED INDIVIDUAL OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE 4
REMANDED TO CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF THE P ROCEEDING; AND 5
(3) ONE ADDITIONAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER FOR EVERY FOUR OR 6
FEWER COURTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR OF A COUR THOUSE. 7
(D) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2028, THERE SHALL BE PRESE NT IN EVERY 8
COURTROOM DURING PROCEEDINGS A T LEAST: 9
(1) ONE COURT SECURITY OF FICER FOR ANY PROCEE DING; 10
(2) TWO COURT SECURITY OF FICERS FOR ANY PROCE EDING 11
INVOLVING AN INCARCE RATED INDIVIDUAL OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MA Y BE 12
REMANDED TO CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF THE P ROCEEDING; AND 13
(3) ONE ADDITIONAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER FOR EVERY FOUR OR 14
FEWER COURTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR OF A COURTHOUS E. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , on or before September 30, 16
2025, each law enforcement agency, department, or entity providing security at a 17
courthouse facility shall submit a report to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 18
Maryland and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General 19
Assembly identifying: 20
(1) the current number of court security officers available to provide 21
courthouse security; 22
(2) the minimum number of court security officers necessary to meet the 23
minimum adequate security standards, accounting for annual leave and absences; 24
(3) the current number of courthouse security positions for which funding 25
has been allocated; 26
(4) the current number of vacancies in the agency, department, or entity; 27
(5) a viable plan to meet the minimum adequate security standards under 28
Section 1 of this Act; and 29
(6) any obstacles to the agency, department, or entity meeting those 30
minimum adequate security standards. 31
HOUSE BILL 789 3
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
1, 2025. 2