Montgomery County and supporters back bill letting adult-protective services share information with federal investigators

Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield introduced House Bill 542, which would allow local departments that investigate abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to request assistance from federal law enforcement and to disclose information to federal partners.

Mario Wazasin, administrator for Montgomery County Adult Protective Services, told the House Judiciary Committee that more than 7,000 adult-protective investigations happen statewide and many involve financial exploitation. He said local APS teams sometimes encounter cases that cross state lines or involve mail and international targets and that federal partners—such as the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or other federal financial-crimes units—are necessary to pursue complex scams.

Erica Baylor, acting APS supervisor for Montgomery County, described cases in which seniors mailed cash or received stolen goods that were redirected through a chain of victims; one household lost about $130,000 after responding to fraudulent letters. She said county prosecutors lack the resources or jurisdictional reach to recover funds in many mail- and cross-border scams.

Committee members asked why that collaboration is not already happening. Mario Wazasin said county attorneys permit reports to federal law enforcement but formal collaboration and information sharing are constrained by Maryland law; HB 542 seeks explicit statutory authority to collaborate and share information to strengthen investigations.

Supporters said the measure would not change civil-protection thresholds or APS investigative duties but would add a practical tool to help APS pursue large-scale financial exploitation and to coordinate with federal partners who have specialized investigative tools.

The committee did not take a final vote at the hearing. Supporters asked for a favorable report.