HB 634

Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026)

Sponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (District 18)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Public SafetyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 658 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to require entrance-level and in-service police training to include certain training regarding individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and autism.

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Testimony (23)

MGA witness list

FAV 21FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendments

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Adams, Dorinda	AARP Maryland (volunteer)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Alston, Linwood	City of New Carrollton Police Department	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cross, Dr Cashenna A	Councilwoman At-Large, Glenarden	Oral
FAV	Hession, Melody	Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown-Burnett, Gloria	Department of Human Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bailey, Shari	Laila's Gift	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller Smith, Nora	League of Women Voters Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	MD Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wisniewski, Molly	Maryland Commission on Caregiving	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoefner, Ferd	Takoma Park Presbyterian Church	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bergofsky, Linda	Individual	Position only
FAV	Delegate Kaufman, Delegate Kaufmanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Kaufman, Aaron	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lawson, Reginald A.	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Seitz, April	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FWA	Alexander, Jamie Grace	BALT	Oral
FWA	Rienzi, Rebecca	Pathfinders for Autism	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP Maryland (volunteer)FAV 1

BALTFWA 1

City of New Carrollton Police DepartmentFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 1

Councilwoman At-Large, GlenardenFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCAFAV 1

Department of Human ServicesFAV 1

Laila's GiftFAV 1

League of Women Voters MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Commission on CaregivingFAV 1

Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 1

MD Chapter of American Academy of PediatricsFAV 1

NASW MarylandFAV 1

Pathfinders for AutismFWA 1

Takoma Park Presbyterian ChurchFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMills, MorganCompass Government RelationsRegistered for: Alley Cat Allies; CFG Health Network; Coinbase, Inc.; Girl Scouts of Central Maryland; Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The; Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.…

FAVKrone, ChristineMD Chapter of American Academy of PediatricsRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…

FAVPeters, MeganMaryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)Registered for: Alzheimer's Association