SB 759

Correctional Services - Pregnancy and Postpartum Support (Prevention of Forced Infant Separation Act)

Sponsor: Senator CarterCommittee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: CorrectionsStatus: Hearing 3/08 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Division of Correction to allow a certain pregnant woman and a certain woman who recently gave birth to transfer to the prerelease unit for women for a certain time period; establishing the Healthy Start Bonding Program to facilitate strong bonds between incarcerated women and their children; and requiring the Division to allow liberal visitation between certain individuals and certain children under certain circumstances.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (26)

MGA witness list

FAV 23FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Duffy, Suzanne	Concerned Citizen	Position only
FAV	Dews, Christopherlobbyist	JOTF	Position only
FAV	Johnson, Qiana	Life After Release	Oral
FAV	Barnwell, Brianlobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Duncan, Essita	Maryland Commission for Women	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cooper, Monica	Maryland Justice Project	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Mast, Carlyn	Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Parental Defense Division	Oral
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Britt, Adiena	N/A	Position only
FAV	Richardson, Alexa	Office of the Public Defender	Oral
FAV	Hanson, Nicole	Out for Justice	Oral
FAV	Elaine, Arndt	SELF	Position only
FAV	Siri, Michellelobbyist	The Women's Law Center of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Benedetti, Adrea	Vessels for Humanity	Position only
FAV	Carroll, Daraja	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carter, Jill	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Kasemeyer, Pam	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Levine, Ava	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Carter, Senator Carterlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	mcavoy, vince	Individual	Position only
FWA	Tomasello, Beth	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Beskid, Jennifer	Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Concerned CitizenFAV 1

Department of Public Safety and Correctional ServicesINFO 1

JOTFFAV 1

Life After ReleaseFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Commission for WomenFAV 1

Maryland Justice ProjectFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Parental Defense DivisionFAV 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1

Montgomery County Women's Democratic ClubFWA 1

N/AFAV 1

Office of the Public DefenderFAV 1

Out for JusticeFAV 1

SELFFAV 1

The Women's Law Center of MarylandFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Vessels for HumanityFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

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

FAVBarnwell, BrianMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVSiri, MichelleThe Women's Law Center of MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Legal Services Corporation; Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.

FAVElliott, RobynRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…