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*hb1333*
HOUSE BILL 1333
E4 6lr3312
By: Delegate Bhandari
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – Maryland Law Enforcement Public Service Medal 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Law Enforcement Public Service Medal; 3
establishing eligibility requirements for the medal and procedures for nom ination, 4
selection, and the awarding of the medal; requiring the Governor to honor certain 5
law enforcement officers at a certain ceremony; and generally relating to the 6
Maryland Law Enforcement Public Service Medal. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Public Safety 9
Section 3–801 and 3 –802 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 8. Maryland Law 10
Enforcement Public Service Medal” 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
Preamble 14
WHEREAS, The State of Maryland recognizes the extraordinary bravery and 15
commitment of law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect and serve the public; 16
and 17
WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers often face dangerous and life –threatening 18
situations in their duty to safeguard communities; and 19
WHEREAS, The heroic actions of Sergeant Paul Pastorek, Corporal Jeremy Herbert, 20
Senior Officer William Kinsey, Officer Timothy Baublitz, and Officer Garry Kirts during 21
the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, demonstrated unparalleled 22
courage and selflessness in saving lives during a tragic crisis; and 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1333
WHEREAS, The Maryland General Assembly seeks to establish a formal recognition 1
for officers who display extraordinary valor, sacrifice, and dedication to public safety; now, 2
therefore, 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
Article – Public Safety 6
SUBTITLE 8. MARYLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL. 7
3–801. 8
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 9
INDICATED. 10
(B) “MEDAL” MEANS THE MARYLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC 11
SERVICE MEDAL. 12
(C) “SECRETARY” MEANS THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND 13
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. 14
3–802. 15
(A) (1) THERE IS A MARYLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SERVICE 16
MEDAL. 17
(2) THE MEDAL IS THE HIGH EST STATE HONOR AWARDED T O LAW 18
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PUBL IC SERVICE , VALOR, AND 19
HEROISM. 20
(B) (1) THE GOVERNOR MAY AWARD TH E MEDAL TO SWORN LAW 21
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN MARYLAND WHO: 22
(I) HAVE DEMONSTRATED AC TS OF EXT RAORDINARY 23
COURAGE, BRAVERY, OR SELFLESSNESS WHILE ON DUTY; 24
(II) HAVE RISKED OR SACRI FICED THEIR LIVES BY SAVING 25
LIVES, PREVENTING SIGNIFICA NT CRIMES , OR RESPONDING TO CRI TICAL 26
EMERGENCIES; OR 27
(III) HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY I MPACTED PUBLIC SAFET Y, 28
INCLUDING RESPONDING TO DI SASTERS, TERRORIST THREATS , OR SIGNIFICANT 29
PUBLIC EMERGENCIES. 30
HOUSE BILL 1333 3
(2) THE GOVERNOR MAY AWARD NOT MORE THAN FIVE MEDALS PER 1
CALENDAR YEAR. 2
(3) WHEN AN OFFICER IS AW ARDED A MEDAL POSTHU MOUSLY, THE 3
OFFICER’S NEXT OF KIN MAY RE CEIVE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION AND 4
COMMENDATION ON THE OFFICER’S BEHALF. 5
(C) (1) A MEDAL REVIEW COMMITT EE SHALL BE ESTABLIS HED WITHIN 6
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TO 7
EVALUATE NOMINATIONS AND SELECT RECIPIENTS FOR THE MEDAL. 8
(2) THE MEDAL REVIEW COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF: 9
(I) THE SECRETARY, WHO SHALL SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE 10
COMMITTEE; 11
(II) THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE; 12
(III) ONE REPRESENTATIVE O F THE MARYLAND POLICE 13
TRAINING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION, CHOSEN BY THE SECRETARY; 14
(IV) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, CHOSEN BY 15
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 16
(V) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, CHOSEN BY 17
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; AND 18
(VI) ONE COMMUNITY REPRES ENTATIVE WITH EXPERI ENCE 19
WORKING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR PUBLIC SAFETY, CHOSEN BY THE SECRETARY. 20
(3) THE COMMITTEE SHALL: 21
(I) REVIEW NOMINATIONS SUBMITTED BY: 22
1. STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; 23
2. STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS; AND 24
3. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVILIANS; AND 25
(II) ANNUALLY SUBMIT A LI ST OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE 26
RECOMMENDED AWARDEES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR FINAL APPROVAL. 27
4 HOUSE BILL 1333
(D) (1) THE GOVERNOR SHALL PRESEN T THE MEDALS IN AN O FFICIAL 1
STATE CEREMONY HELD ANNUALLY IN ANNAPOLIS. 2
(2) AT THE CEREMONY, EACH MEDAL RECIPIENT SHALL RECEIVE: 3
(I) A GOLD MEDALLION BEARING THE STATE SEAL; 4
(II) A CERTIFICATE OF COM MENDATION SIGNED BY THE 5
GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND 6
(III) A PERMANENT MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL 7
LISTING HOUSED AT THE STATE HOUSE. 8
(E) MEDAL PRODUCTION AND CEREMONY EXPENSES SH ALL BE FUNDED 9
THROUGH: 10
(1) AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION CONTAINED IN THE STATE BUDGET; 11
AND 12
(2) GRANTS, PRIVATE SPONSORSHIPS , AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 13
FOUNDATION SUPPORT. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the following individuals shall 15
be awarded the Maryland Law Enforcement Public Service Medal at the first annual 16
Maryland Law Enforcement Public Service Medal ceremony in recognition of contributions 17
made during the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge: 18
(1) Sergeant Paul Pastorek; 19
(2) Corporal Jeremy Herbert; 20
(3) Senior Officer William Kinsey; 21
(4) Officer Timothy Baublitz; and 22
(5) Officer Garry Kirts. 23
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2026. 25