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During the 90 days the General Assembly was in session, we ran out of ways to say what an unusual, challenging and hard session it was. We overused the word “surreal” to describe the feel of the State House and the legislative campus as lawmakers attempted to do their work with the specter of a COVID-19 hanging over their heads.
But that really was the best way to describe it. We missed all the rhythms and serendipity of a normal legislative session. We missed seeing everybody.
Maryland bill would make it easier to sue police officers for brutality in state court Ovetta Wiggins Lawmakers seeking to tighten police accountability in Maryland have also set their sights on civil lawsuits, with legislation that would make it easier to sue officers and localities for police misconduct. Del. Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-Montgomery) called the state’s immunity defense, which shields officers from legal liability, “the missing piece that we have to address.” Her proposed legislation would remove the immunity defense for police officers, increase caps for monetary damages awarded in civil lawsuits, allow the state to decertify officers who are found liable in those lawsuits, and permit local jurisdictions to forfeit officers’ pensions and use that money to help pay legal settlements.
State Roundup: Hogan signs $1.2 billion relief bill; funds target hard hit Marylanders, businesses
It was a bipartisan thumbs up at Monday s signing of the $1.2 billion relief package. From left: At the desk were Senate President Bill Ferguson, Gov. Larry Hogan and House Speaker Adrienne Jones. Behind them, from left, were House Minority Leader Nic Kipke, House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke, Senate Budget & Tax Chair Guy Guzzone and Senate Minority Leader Bryan Simonaire. Governor s Office photo
HOGAN SIGNS $1.2B RELIEF ACT: When Gov. Larry Hogan put pen to paper on Monday afternoon and signed the RELIEF Act into law, he triggered a series of maneuvers that will enable hundreds of thousands of state residents to get stimulus payments and many businesses to get tax breaks, Pamela Wood of the Sun reports.
A legislative package, known as Police Free Schools Act, seeks to restructure disciplinary measures in public schools across Maryland. The bill is designed to prohibit public school districts from contracting with local law enforcement agencies to station police officers, also known as school resource officers.
This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.
When a child is arrested by a police officer stationed in a Baltimore City public school, they are handcuffed, placed in cages, photographed and fingerprinted even kids as young as seven-years-old, according to Jenny Egan, a Baltimore City juvenile public defender.