Senator from Baltimore County opposes reinstating 'order to show cause' in discipline bill; SB 202 passes
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Summary
A senator from Baltimore County criticized provisions reinstating the 'order to show cause' in Senate Bill 202 (discipline procedures), called it an "extraordinary remedy" and voted against it; the Senate later declared the bill passed with a constitutional majority.
Senate Bill 202, addressing discipline procedures and reinstatement of an "order to show cause," was called for final passage on the Senate floor. A senator identified on the record as "from Baltimore County" spoke against restoring the order to show cause, saying the Police Accountability Act had removed many special procedural rights for officers and that reinstating interlocutory review would disrupt the streamlined disciplinary process the act sought to create.
"That extraordinary remedy is wholly unnecessary, disruptive of the streamlined process this legislation sought to create with the Maryland Police Accountability Act and shouldn't be reinstated," the senator from Baltimore County said, and announced he would vote "red." The senator also cited the Maryland Court of Appeals' prior characterization of the order to show cause as a "powerful and unusual exception" to normal appellate procedures.
After roll call, the clerk announced that with 28 votes in the affirmative, Senate Bill 202 had received a constitutional majority and was declared passed on final passage.
The floor record shows a recorded objection from one senator but no further debate on amendments recorded on the floor at that time. The bill moves forward having passed final passage in the Senate.
