SB 71

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

Sponsor: Senator CarterCommittee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: CorrectionsStatus: First Reading Judiciary (as of Nov 13, 2024)

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 up to 1 year following the birth; 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 22FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Patinella, Franklobbyist	ACLU of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dews, Christopherlobbyist	Center for Urban Families (CFUF)	Position only
FAV	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Spencer, Lisa	Maryland Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Duncan, Essita	Maryland Commission for Women	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tomasello, Beth	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richardson, Alexa	Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
FAV	Emerson, Jessica	The Human Trafficking Prevention Project	Written (PDF)
FAV	Egan, Ashleylobbyist	UULM-MD	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ward, Ariyana	Women's Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bradley, Erinlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown, Renaud	Individual	Position only
FAV	Carter, Jill	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Kasemeyer, Pam	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mercer, Jenniferlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Carter, Senator Carterlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	mcavoy, vince	Individual	Position only
FWA	Kirsch, Anne	PREPARE	Written (PDF)
FWA	SWASC, UM	Social Work Advocates for Social Change	Written (PDF)
INFO	Kahl, Catherine	DPSCS	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

ACLU of MarylandFAV 1

Center for Urban Families (CFUF)FAV 1

Coalition to Protect Maryland's ChildrenFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

DPSCSINFO 1

Maryland Affiliate of the American College of Nurse MidwivesFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Commission for WomenFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Montgomery County Women's Democratic ClubFAV 1

NASW MarylandFAV 1

Office of the Public DefenderFAV 1

PREPAREFWA 1

Social Work Advocates for Social ChangeFWA 1

The Human Trafficking Prevention ProjectFAV 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

Women's CaucusFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPatinella, FrankACLU of MarylandRegistered for: ACLU of Maryland; American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland

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

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVEgan, AshleyUULM-MDRegistered for: UULM-MD

FAVBradley, ErinRegistered for: Planned Parenthood of Maryland

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…

FAVMercer, JenniferRegistered for: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence