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Committee approves bill letting Baltimore mayor's office access certain juvenile records with limits and five-year sunset
Summary
The Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 524, which allows designated Baltimore City mayor's offices limited access to juvenile records for treatment and continuity-of-care purposes, requires written parental consent, prohibits redisclosure and includes a five-year sunset. Members pressed for assurances about access limits and liability.
The Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 524, authorizing limited access to juvenile records by specific Baltimore City mayor's offices for purposes tied to treatment and continuity of care.
Committee members heard that the bill, as written, allows records to be shared with the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, the Office of Children and Family Success and the Office of African-American Male Engagement "as stated in the bill, page five, section 91," a staff member said. The sponsor said access is limited to cases where an office is "providing programs and services in conjunction with" direct work with a child who is the subject of the record and only "for purposes directly related to supporting the treatment, rehabilitation, re-entry planning, or continuity of care." The bill also requires written consent from a parent or guardian before records are released.
Delegate Conaway asked whether the Baltimore City delegation had submitted a letter; a member confirmed "there was" a letter and that the bill had been amended. Counsel read elements of the reprint and noted the bill "limits the use of the records to the purposes described in that section and prohibits redisclosure of the records to any other persons" and requires compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws.
Several members sought practical guarantees. "I think the states attorney was clearly not in favor of this," Delegate Carden said, but added he would vote to advance the bill provided the mayor's office uses the information "properly and adequately." Counsel and the sponsor said the measure also includes a five-year sunset.
When asked about potential municipal liability for improper use, counsel said a monetary estimate "I cannot foresee." Delegate Simmons said testimony indicated a "controlled number of individuals" would have access; the exact number was described in committee testimony as a "small number of people" but was not specified at the hearing.
The committee approved the bill by roll call. The clerk announced the tally and the motion carried.
What happens next: The bill is reported favorably by the committee and will move to the next House or floor stage indicated by legislative procedure. The committee did not adopt language changing the sunset or the parental-consent requirement during the hearing.
