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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0667*
HOUSE BILL 667
E5 EMERGENCY BILL 6lr3319
HB 1198/25 – JUD
By: Delegate Ruff
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Correctional Services – Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services – 2
Female Incarcerated Individuals 3
FOR the purpose of altering the required specifications for a certain prerelease facility for 4
female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Department of General Services to 5
direct certain procurement processes for the construction of a certain prerelease 6
facility for female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Commissioner of 7
Correction to make certain services available to certain female incarcerated 8
individuals; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to 9
implement certain comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease services by a certain 10
date; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to report 11
certain information to certain legislative committees; requiring the Office of the 12
Correctional Ombudsman to review and verify the Department of Public Safety and 13
Correctional Services’ compliance with this Act and report certain information to 14
certain legislative committees; and generally relating to comprehensive 15
rehabilitative prerelease services for female incarcerated individuals. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Correctional Services 18
Section 3–301 and 3–303 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume) 21
BY adding to 22
Article – Correctional Services 23
Section 3–301.1 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2025 Replacement Volume) 26
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 27
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 28
2 HOUSE BILL 667
Article – Correctional Services 1
3–301. 2
(a) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Commissioner shall operate a 3
comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease unit for women that: 4
(1) is a separate structure in which the services specified in § 3 –303(b) of 5
this subtitle are provided; 6
(2) has security features for female incarcerated individuals who: 7
(i) present the least risk of violence; 8
(ii) present the least risk of escape; and 9
(iii) have a record of satisfactory institutional behavior; and 10
(3) matches security level on a validated gender–responsive risk measure. 11
(b) [(1) In determining where to place a prerelease unit for women, the 12
Commissioner shall determine into which area, defined by zip codes, the largest percentage 13
of incarcerated individuals will likely be released. 14
(2)] A prerelease unit for women shall be: 15
(1) located in [or adjacent to the zip codes identified in paragraph (1) of this 16
subsection] BALTIMORE CITY ON A SITE THAT IS: 17
(I) NOT LESS THAN 3 ACRES IN LAND AREA; AND 18
(II) NOT LOCATED WITHIN A 1–MILE RADIUS OF ANY E XISTING 19
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; AND 20
(2) ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADMINISTRATION , HOUSING, 21
PROGRAMMING, AND SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE FOR NOT FEWER 22
THAN 1.25 TIMES THE NUMBER OF WOMEN AT T HE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL 23
INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FO R PRERELEASE STATUS IN 24
CALENDAR YEAR 2024, AS REPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ITS OCTOBER 2024 25
REPORT TO THE SENATE BUDGET AND TAXATION COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE 26
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. 27
(c) An incarcerated individual assigned to a prerelease unit for women may have 28
access to the community for any purpose described in § 3–305(a) of this subtitle. 29
HOUSE BILL 667 3
(d) The Department shall: 1
(1) identify a location, acquire property, and design a site plan for the 2
prerelease unit for women on or before June 1, 2021; 3
(2) begin construction or renovation of the facility on or before September 4
1, 2021; and 5
(3) begin operating and providing services in the facility on or before June 6
1, 2023. 7
3–301.1. 8
(A) ON REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL 9
SERVICES SHALL: 10
(1) REVIEW AND EVALUATE ANY PROPOSALS CURREN TLY IN 11
POSSESSION OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMPLI ANCE WITH THE FACILITY 12
REQUIREMENTS IN § 3–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE BY JUNE 1, 2026; 13
(2) IF NO CURRENT PROPOSAL EVALUATED UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS 14
SUBSECTION SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 3–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE, IN 15
ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXPEDITED PROCUREMENT PROCESS UNDER § 13–108 OF 16
THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE, ISSUE A REQUEST FOR 17
PROPOSALS FOR THE PL ANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A PRERELEASE 18
UNIT FOR WOMEN, AS REQUIRED UNDER § 3–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE, BY AUGUST 1, 19
2026; 20
(3) REVIEW AND EVALUATE PROPOSALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE 21
DEPARTMENT; AND 22
(4) AWARD A CONTRACT TO A PROVIDER AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. 23
(B) A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL S ISSUED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS 24
SECTION SHALL ACCURA TELY AND COMPLETELY DESCRIBE, TO THE EXTENT 25
PRACTICABLE, THE LOCATION, USES, AND TIMELINE FOR DEL IVERABLES TOWARD 26
COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. 27
(C) THE CONTRACT AWARDED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(4) OF THIS SECTION 28
TO BUILD A PRERELEASE UNIT FOR FEMALE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SHALL: 29
(1) COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN § 3–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 30
AND 31
(2) INCLUDE: 32
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(I) HOUSING UNITS WITH DOUBLE AND SINGLE OCCUPANCY; 1
(II) HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE ROOMS , WHEELCHAIR RAMPS, 2
AND DESIGNATED HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES; 3
(III) BATHROOMS THAT MAXIM IZE PRIVACY , DIGNITY, AND 4
SECURITY OF RESIDENTS, STAFF, AND VISITORS; 5
(IV) ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES; 6
(V) INDOOR AND OUTDOOR M EETING, LOUNGE, AND VISITING 7
SPACES; 8
(VI) A CLASSROOM; 9
(VII) A CAREER CENTER; 10
(VIII) A NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL SUITE; 11
(IX) ON–SITE RECREATIONAL, CREATIVE, AND ATHLETIC 12
FACILITIES; AND 13
(X) ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. 14
3–303. 15
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
(2) “ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL” MEANS AN INCARCERATE D INDIVIDUAL 17
WITH PRERELEASE STATUS AT THE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR 18
WOMEN. 19
(3) “Evidence–based programs and practices” has the meaning stated in § 20
6–119 of this article. 21
(4) “GENDER–RESPONSIVE SERVICES ” MEANS PROGRAMS THAT 22
RECOGNIZE THE SPECIF IC NEEDS OF INCARCER ATED WOMEN IN PRERELEASE 23
STATUS REGARDING THE IR PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELO PMENT, SOCIALIZATION, 24
CULTURE, EXPOSURE TO TRAUMA , AND LIFE EXPERIENCES , TO REDUCE 25
CRIMINOGENIC RISKS A ND SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL R EENTRY, RECOVERY, AND 26
RECIDIVISM REDUCTION. 27
[(3)] (5) “Innovative programs and practices” has the meaning stated in § 28
6–119 of this article. 29
HOUSE BILL 667 5
(b) (1) The Commissioner shall make evidence –based and gender–responsive 1
services available to female incarcerated individuals [at the prerelease unit for women 2
required under § 3–301 of this subtitle] WITH PRERELEASE STATUS. 3
(2) THE SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N SHALL BE 4
PROVIDED TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE T HE FINAL CONSTRUCTIO N AND 5
OCCUPATION OF THE FACILITY REQUIRED UNDER § 3–301 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 6
(c) The comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease services shall utilize 7
evidence–based programs and practices and innovative programs and practices to: 8
(1) assist female incarcerated individuals in improving their education, 9
upgrading vocational skills, and obtaining suitable employment through classes to earn 10
industry certification or community college credits, workforce training, and job placement; 11
(2) provide female incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to 12
strengthen family and community relationships through extended family leave, parenting 13
workshops, and family reunification assistance; 14
(3) provide integrative and gender–responsive services, including medical 15
treatment, trauma –informed counseling, mental health treatment, and substance use 16
disorder treatment to address overall health and trauma needs and help female 17
incarcerated individuals achieve stable and productive roles in society; and 18
(4) develop individualized and comprehensive reentry plans involving 19
community provider partnerships for female incarcerated individuals to reduce barriers to 20
obtaining housing, jobs, education, health care, childcare and child welfare, transportation, 21
legal advocacy, case management, and other needs. 22
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP A PLAN TO PROVIDE 23
COMPREHENSIVE GENDER –RESPONSIVE SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDU ALS 24
ON–SITE AT THE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN ON OR 25
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2026. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before July 1, 2026, the 27
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall provide a preliminary report 28
on the progress the Department has made to comply with Section 1 of this Act, including 29
any specific steps taken and dates on which specific steps were taken to the Senate Judicial 30
Proceedings Committee, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Judiciary 31
Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the 32
State Government Article. 33
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or bef ore September 1, 34
2026, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the Department of 35
General Services shall provide an update on the progress of design and construction of the 36
6 HOUSE BILL 667
prerelease unit for women to the Senate Judicial Proceedings C ommittee, the Senate 1
Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House 2
Appropriations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 3
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 4
(a) On or before Decembe r 1, 2026, the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman 5
established under Title 9, Subtitle 40 of the State Government Article shall review and 6
verify the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services’ progress and submit a 7
report, including findings a nd recommendations, to the Senate Judicial Proceedings 8
Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 9
Government Article. 10
(b) The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall fully 11
cooperate with the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman and provide all information, data, 12
and facility access requested to complete the review required under this section. 13
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 14
measure, is necessary for the im mediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 15
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three –fifths of all the members elected to 16
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 17
enacted. 18