HB 154

Workgroup to Study the Impact of Court-Mandated Fines and Fees

Sponsor: Melissa Wells (District 40)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Public SafetyStatus: Hearing 1/25 at 2:30 p.m. (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Workgroup to Study the Impact of Court-Mandated Fines and Fees, particularly as it relates to low-income residents; requiring the Workgroup to develop a plan and legislative recommendations for eliminating or reducing court-mandated fines and fees, and a comprehensive database and schedule of court-mandated fines and fees; and requiring the Workgroup to report its plan and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 31, 2023.

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Testimony (21)

MGA witness list

FAV 18FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Brown, Gregorylobbyist	ACLU of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneiderman, Franzlobbyist	Consumer Auto	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jones , Priya	Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dews, Christopherlobbyist	JOTF	Oral
FAV	Stoica, Ioanalobbyist	Job Opportunities Task Force	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Grandpre, Lawrence	Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle	Oral
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	McDermott, Meaghan	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
FAV	Martinez, Roberto	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jefferson , Staceylobbyist	Marylanders Against Poverty	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kemerer, Hannibal	Office of Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hanson, Nicole	Out for Justice	Oral
FAV	Emerson, Jessica	The Human Trafficking Prevention Project	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arreaza, Leo	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Wells, Delegate Wellslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Haven, Kimberly	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Kevin	Individual	Position only
FWA	Fink, Nelda	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

ACLU of MarylandFAV 1

Consumer AutoFAV 1

Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC)FAV 1

Job Opportunities Task ForceFAV 1

JOTFFAV 1

Leaders of a Beautiful StruggleFAV 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland JudiciaryUNF 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFAV 2

Marylanders Against PovertyFAV 1

Office of Attorney GeneralFAV 1

Out for JusticeFAV 1

The Human Trafficking Prevention ProjectFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVBrown, GregoryACLU of MarylandRegistered for: American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland; ACLU of Maryland

FAVSchneiderman, FranzConsumer AutoRegistered for: Auto Consumer Alliance; Consumer Auto

FAVDews, ChristopherJOTFRegistered for: Advance Maryland Education Fund; Beyond Impact; Center for Urban Families; Dews & Associates; Out for Justice, Inc.; REFORM Alliance…

FAVStoica, IoanaJob Opportunities Task ForceRegistered for: Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF); Jews United for Justice

FAVSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

FAVJefferson , StaceyMarylanders Against PovertyRegistered for: Behavioral Health System Baltimore

UNFPipkin, MatthewMaryland JudiciaryRegistered for: Maryland Multi-Housing Association