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SB0944 • 2026

Correctional Services - Reentry Readiness Program

Correctional Services - Reentry Readiness Program

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Charles
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
In the Senate - Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Correctional Services - Reentry Readiness Program

Establishing the Reentry Readiness Program in the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and requiring the Department to work jointly with the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Division of Vital Records in the Maryland Department of Health, and the Department of Labor to staff and administer the Program.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishing the Reentry Readiness Program in the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and requiring the Department to work jointly with the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Division of Vital Records in the Maryland Department of Health, and the Department of Labor to staff and administer the Program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.

  2. 2026-02-06 Senate

    First Reading Judicial Proceedings

  3. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Correctional Services - Reentry Readiness Program

Official Summary Text

Establishing the Reentry Readiness Program in the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and requiring the Department to work jointly with the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Division of Vital Records in the Maryland Department of Health, and the Department of Labor to staff and administer the Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0944*

SENATE BILL 944
E5 6lr2366

By: Senator Charles
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Correctional Services – Reentry Readiness Program 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Reentry Readiness Program in the Department of 3
Public Safety and Correctional Services; requiring the Department to work jointly 4
with the Motor Vehi cle Administration, the Division of Vital Records in the 5
Maryland Department of Health, and the Department of Labor to staff and 6
administer the Program; and generally relating to the Reentry Readiness Program. 7

BY adding to 8
Article – Correctional Services 9
Section 9–619 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2025 Replacement Volume) 12

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14

Article – Correctional Services 15

9–619. 16

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17
INDICATED. 18

(2) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE REENTRY READINESS PROGRAM. 19

(3) “RELEASING INSTITUTION ” MEANS A STATE CORRECTIONAL 20
FACILITY. 21

2 SENATE BILL 944

(4) “RETURNING CITIZEN” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL CONFINED IN A 1
STATE CORRECTIONAL FA CILITY WHO IS EXPECTED TO B E RELEASED WITHIN 90 2
DAYS. 3

(B) (1) THERE IS A REENTRY READINESS PROGRAM IN THE 4
DEPARTMENT. 5

(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL WORK JOINTLY WITH THE MOTOR 6
VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION, THE DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS IN THE MARYLAND 7
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO STAFF AND 8
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 9

(C) (1) THE PROGRAM STAFF SHALL ASSIST EACH RE TURNING CITIZEN 10
IN: 11

(I) ENROLLING IN VOCATIO NAL, WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND 12
JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAMS; 13

(II) OBTAINING A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE RETURNING 14
CITIZEN’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE; AND 15

(III) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION, 16
OBTAINING A PHOTO IDENTIFICATION OR DRIVER’S LICENSE. 17

(2) AT LEAST 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ANTI CIPATED RELEASE FROM 18
CONFINEMENT OF A RETURNING CITIZEN, PROGRAM STAFF WITHIN THE RELEASING 19
INSTITUTION SHALL AS SIST A RETURNING CIT IZEN IN COMPLETING A ND 20
SUBMITTING ANY NECESSARY APPLICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS FOR ENROLLING IN 21
A VOCATIONAL, WORKFORCE TRAINING, OR JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM. 22

(3) AT LEAST 60 DAYS BEFORE THE ANTI CIPATED RELEASE FROM 23
CONFINEMENT OF A RETURNING CITIZEN, THE COMMISSIONER AND THE PROGRAM 24
STAFF WITHIN A RELEASING INSTITUTION SHALL: 25

(I) PROVIDE THE RETURNING CITIZEN TH E APPROPRIATE 26
FORMS FOR OBTAINING A PHOTO IDENTIFICATI ON CARD UNDER § 12–301 OF THE 27
TRANSPORTATION ARTICLE OR A DRIVER ’S LICENSE FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE 28
ADMINISTRATION; AND 29

(II) ASSIST THE RETURNING CITIZEN IN COMPLETIN G THE 30
FORMS. 31

SENATE BILL 944 3

(D) AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE ANTI CIPATED RELEASE FROM 1
CONFINEMENT OF A RET URNING CITIZEN, PROGRAM STAFF SHALL V ERIFY THAT 2
THE RETURNING CITIZEN HAS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE AS REQUIRED UNDER 3
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION. 4

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 5
October 1, 2026. 6