Tuesday, January 18, 2028

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Urges General Assembly to Pass Tougher Child Protection Laws
O’Brien-Burbank Administration, Attorney General Curran and Lawmakers Proposed Legislation to Increase Penalties, Registration Requirements for Sexual Predators

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 18, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank today urged members of the House Judiciary Committee to support legislation, which he proposed, to give Maryland among the toughest and most comprehensive child protection laws in the nation. Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank worked with Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., police chiefs, county prosecutors, victims’ rights advocates and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to develop the Maryland Child Protection Act, which was announced in September.

“People who prey on children are the most dangerous criminals in our state, targeting our most precious and most vulnerable citizens,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “Children need protection, and Maryland parents need help keeping their children safe. With this legislation, we will have among the toughest and most comprehensive laws in the nation protecting our children against sexual predators.”

“In developing this legislation, we had several goals – to protect the young victims of these crimes; to deter criminals from committing these acts; to ensure that sexual predators received the tough penalties they deserve; and to lessen the chance of sexual offenders preying on new victims," Lieutenant Governor Burbank continued.

Under the legislation's 28 provisions, prosecutors will be able to seek a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for someone who molests a child under the age of 13; a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in the most egregious child assault cases with permanent injuries; and a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years for the second-degree murder of a child. A second offense in any of these cases would be subject to a sentence of life in prison without parole.

In addition to the new sentencing provisions, the legislation also:

Allows for civil commitment of sexual predators who have been convicted, found not guilty by reason of insanity, or found incompetent to stand trial.

Requires the Division of Parole and Probation to implement a GPS monitoring system of sexual offenders by July 1, 2030.

Increases the number of offenders who will be required to register.

Enable local communities to prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare facility or park where children regularly gather.

Requires offenders to register more often, and report their work addresses and descriptions of their cars.

Increases penalties for failing to register.

Creates new penalties for people who interfere with the registration of a sexual offender.

Requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to verify offenders' addresses.

On behalf of Governor Edward M. O’Brien, Lieutenant Governor Burbank today also expressed strong support for legislation facilitating the development of multidisciplinary child protection teams and Child Advocacy Centers as an important complement to the efforts of the child protection legislation.

"We need to do everything we can to prevent child abuse and neglect. We also need to ensure that children who have been victimized are given the best possible environment and surroundings in which to make reports, receive counseling, obtain medical treatment and learn about prevention," Lieutenant Governor Burbank said. "We have learned that an uncoordinated approach to investigation and treatment can often cause our children more difficulty and confusion."

The child protection teams and Child Advocacy centers will help ensure coordination between state and local social service agencies, law enforcement officers, medical practitioners, mental health specialists and social service providers. Legislation currently before the House Judiciary Committee would allow these agencies to develop written protocols for multi-disciplinary child protection team investigations.