Vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a prerelease facility for women who have been incarcerated.

Highlights:

• Requires the Commissioner of the Division of Correction to operate a comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease unit for women that has access to the community and (Sec. 1):

• Is a separate structure in which specified services are provided; 

• Has security features for woman inmates who:

• Present the least risk of violence;

• Present the least risk of escape; and

• Have a record of satisfactory institutional behavior; and

• Matches security levels on a validated gender-responsive risk measure.

• Requires the Commissioner to, when determining which area to place a prerelease unit, determine which area, defined by zip codes, the largest percentage of inmates will likely be released (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to identify the location, acquire property, and design a site plan for the prerelease unit for women on or before June 1, 2021, and begin construction or renovation of the facility on or before September 1, 2021 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department to provide an update on the progress of the construction of the Prerelease Unit for Women to the senate judicial proceedings committee and the house judiciary committee on or before December 31, 2021, and 2022 (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this act shall take effect on October 1, 2020 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text