Signed by Governor Wes Moore

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that establishes the environmental and natural resources crimes unit of the office of the Attorney General.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the purpose of the Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit is to investigate and prosecute cases against people that violate state criminal environmental and natural resources laws and any other criminal offenses discovered during the investigation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the unit to act with the full powers, rights, privileges, and duties of the State’s Attorney, including the use of a grand jury (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the unit’s staff includes assistant attorneys general, investigators, and administrators (Sec. 1).

• Requires that travel expenses are included in expenses provided by the state budget for the Chief Counsel and staff (Sec. 1).

• Requires that before November 30th of each year, the Attorney General reports to the Governor and General Assembly on all activities of the unit and any actions taken by the Department of the Environment or the Department of Natural Resources in response to unit findings and recommendations (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Attorney General, or a Deputy Attorney General or Assistant Attorney General designates in writing by the Attorney General, to issue in any court in the state a subpoena to produce phone, business, government, or corporate records and documents for the limited purpose of furthering an already ongoing investigation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a subpoena issued to be served in the same manner as a subpoena by a circuit court (Sec. 1).

• Authorize a person to have an attorney present made with the Attorney General or an agent of the Attorney General (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Attorney General to advise a person of their right to legal counsel when served a subpoena (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Attorney General, if a person fails to obey a lawfully served subpoena, to report the failure to obey the subpoena to the circuit court (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Attorney General to provide a copy of the subpoena and proof of service to the circuit court (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the court to grant appropriate relief after a hearing that allows the person that allegedly failed to comply with a subpoena an opportunity to be heard and represented by counsel (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this section does not allow the denial of a privilege or right recognised by law (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes the environmental and natural resources crimes unit of the office of the Attorney General.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the purpose of the Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit is to investigate and prosecute cases against people that violate state criminal environmental and natural resources laws and any other criminal offenses discovered during the investigation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the unit to act with the full powers, rights, privileges, and duties of the State’s Attorney, including the use of a grand jury (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the unit’s staff includes assistant attorneys general, investigators, and administrators (Sec. 1).

• Requires that travel expenses are included in expenses provided by the state budget for the Chief Counsel and staff (Sec. 1).

• Requires that before November 30th of each year, the Attorney General reports to the Governor and General Assembly on all activities of the unit and any actions taken by the Department of the Environment or the Department of Natural Resources in response to unit findings and recommendations (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Attorney General, or a Deputy Attorney General or Assistant Attorney General designates in writing by the Attorney General, to issue in any court in the state a subpoena to produce phone, business, government, or corporate records and documents for the limited purpose of furthering an already ongoing investigation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a subpoena issued to be served in the same manner as a subpoena by a circuit court (Sec. 1).

• Authorize a person to have an attorney present made with the Attorney General or an agent of the Attorney General (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Attorney General to advise a person of their right to legal counsel when served a subpoena (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Attorney General, if a person fails to obey a lawfully served subpoena, to report the failure to obey the subpoena to the circuit court (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Attorney General to provide a copy of the subpoena and proof of service to the circuit court (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the court to grant appropriate relief after a hearing that allows the person that allegedly failed to comply with a subpoena an opportunity to be heard and represented by counsel (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this section does not allow the denial of a privilege or right recognised by law (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text