Del. Marlon Amprey

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission in Maryland to study how education impacts the criminal justice system and to develop strategies for reducing recidivism. The commission will be composed of state officials, experts, community representatives, and individuals with prior experience in the correctional system, who will meet to gather public input and research best practices across all levels of education. Over a two-year period, the group is tasked with creating a data-driven policy framework that evaluates current workforce programs and identifies ways to improve employment outcomes for incarcerated individuals. The commission must submit an interim report by June 2025 and a final report by January 2026, after which the legislation will automatically expire.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated. It requires peace officers to transport people needing emergency evaluation to a nearby facility rather than strictly the nearest one, and it allows psychiatric nurse practitioners to conduct these evaluations alongside physicians. The legislation also mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to follow a treatment plan if they refuse voluntary care. Additionally, the bill ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these proceedings and permits electronic submission of necessary petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention within the Maryland Department of Health to address gun violence and misuse through a public health approach. The center will be led by an executive director who coordinates efforts with federal, state, and local agencies while actively seeking input from communities disproportionately affected by firearm violence and public health experts. Key responsibilities include developing state plans for violence reduction, issuing guidance on evidence-based strategies, facilitating data sharing, and conducting public awareness campaigns. Funding for the center will be included in the state budget starting in fiscal year 2026, and the law takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Baltimore City Board of License Commissioners to issue specific new liquor licenses in the 40th Alcoholic Beverages District to support local businesses and community agreements. It creates a new Class M-F license for a municipal family fun center at a bowling alley and skating rink, while also allowing a Class B license for a restaurant on West 29th Street and extending an existing Class A license at East West Biddle Street until July 2025. The new licenses come with specific conditions, such as requiring memorandums of understanding with neighborhood associations, limiting operating hours, and restricting certain types of sales or events.

Maddy summaryThe REAP Act requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to help incarcerated individuals apply for federal Pell Grants to fund higher education. To support this, the law mandates that the department work with specific state universities and community colleges to facilitate access to these financial aid programs. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Labor must set enrollment goals and create tracking systems to monitor the number of incarcerated students in postsecondary programs and the college credits they earn. This data will be shared with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the state budget must include funding for marketing these programs to inmates and maintaining the tracking infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law, known as the Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024, allows the state and private individuals to sue firearm companies for creating public nuisances if they knowingly sell or market products that cause harm to the public. The bill requires these industry members to implement strict controls to prevent sales to prohibited persons, such as convicted felons or straw purchasers, and to stop the theft or loss of firearms. Violations of these rules can lead to civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages, court orders to stop specific practices, and legal fees, without requiring proof that the company intended to break the law. Additionally, the act directs the Attorney General to study whether the state can legally require gun manufacturers to pay for the costs of crime prevention and victim compensation.