Committee unanimously backs extending Maryland Tort Claims Act to sheriff’s office employees; votes moved to matching House bill

The Maryland House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to give a favorable report to Senate Bill 271, which would extend the Maryland Tort Claims Act to employees of a sheriff's office.

During committee consideration, Delegate Erika asked for clarification about the bill’s scope. “I just wanna remind myself this was to include the, civilian employees of the police departments?” she said. A committee staff member replied, “Correct. It would then cover the civilian employees of the Sheriff's Office under the local tort claims.”

Committee members described the measure as primarily clarifying. “Okay, so more like it's more really more clarifying than anything,” Delegate Erika said after the clarification.

After the favorable motion was moved and seconded, the committee recorded unanimous yes votes on the Senate bill. The committee then took a unanimous consent motion to move those votes to the House counterpart, Delegate Tolles’ House Bill 1507, which committee members said is in exactly the same posture. The chair confirmed that the votes for Senate Bill 271 would be the same as the votes for House Bill 1507.

No amendments or conditions were recorded on the floor. The committee did not discuss specific dollar amounts, indemnity language, or other technical changes to the Maryland Tort Claims Act during this session; the clerk recorded the item as advancing by unanimous consent and the votes were associated with both bills for the record.

Because the measure alters which local employees are covered under the state's tort claim framework, future debate could address indemnity, limits on liability, and interactions with local government insurance programs; such topics were not discussed on the record at this hearing.