Senate Bill 354: Is There Still Hope?

Although the Maryland Senate Judiciary Committee allowed the March 30 "cross-over" deadline to pass without letting Senate Bill 354 out of commitee, I have since been told that the legislative session does not officially end until next Monday, April 13.

Sen. Brian Frosh, who chairs the committee and has sole discretion on which bills are let out of committee, is reportedly refusing to allow SB 354 to be brought to a vote by the full Senate despite our testimony at the March 18 hearing and strong support by other committee members.

If there is any hope at all of getting this bill passed in this year's legislative session, we may have to lobby Sen. Frosh directly.

Brian Frosh's email address is brian.frosh@senate.state.md.us. Write to him today and tell him you want this bill passed, especially if you happen to be a Bethesda resident and thus live in his district. Tell him you want to be safe from repeat violent offenders. Tell him you want the state of Maryland to put an end to the revolving door of criminal justice that allows even the worst of the worst to game the system and be let free before they are ready. Tell him that he can help save lives by putting this bill up for a vote. And tell him you are willing to have your tax dollars put towards keeping you and your loved ones safe.

Don't delay. Write to Sen. Frosh now.