HOUSE BILL 50 (HB 50)
CRIMES - CHILD ENDANGERMENT
What is this Bill?
HB 50 establishes the crime of child endangerment. A parent or other person who has care, custody, or responsibility for a child may not recklessly act or fail to act in a manner that creates a substantial risk to the minor including death, serious disfigurement, loss of function or impairment of any bodily member or organ. A violator is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Why is it important?
According to the Washington Post citing information from the National Center for Prosecution of child abuse, Maryland is the only state that does not have a criminal child neglect statute. The Frederick County State's Attorney, Charlie Smith, testified in support of the bill last session. He states that his office has been unsuccessful prosecuting cases like allowing an unattended two year old child to play outside in the cold weather with little clothing on while the parents were unaware of the child's whereabouts and the dangers to the health of the child. There is a gap in Maryland law between a violation in family law regarding leaving a child alone and child abuse with penalties up to 25 years incarceration.
How will it help?
HB 50 will give our State's Attorneys a valuable tool to protect our children from people who put children's lives in danger.
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HOUSE BILL 22 (HB 22)
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT -INTERCEPTION OF ABANDONED PROPERTY
What is this Bill?
HB 22 requires the Comptroller to intercept abandoned property in which a child support obligor has an interest to defray child support arrearage. The Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) certifies the arrearage and CSEA is providing child support services. The Comptroller's Office and Office of Administrative Hearings could meet the bill's requirements with existing resources.
HB 22 requires the Comptroller to intercept abandoned property in which a child support obligor has an interest to defray child support arrearage. The Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) certifies the arrearage and CSEA is providing child support services. The Comptroller's Office and Office of Administrative Hearings could meet the bill's requirements with existing resources.
Why is it important?
As you may know, legislators receive a lot of calls from constituents about child support issues. Non-custodial parents are required, and it is their duty, to pay court ordered child support. "(M)any children in Maryland do not live in a two-parent household. Statewide, more than 30 percent of households with children are headed by a single parent, up from 12.8% in 1970." (Overview of Maryland Local Government, DLS, p. 12) We know that many non-custodial parents do not satisfy their child support obligations resulting in hardship for the child and custodial parent. HB 22 will give the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) another tool to satisfy child support obligations and relieve some of this hardship.
How will this help?
Maryland has had success using the State Tax Refund Intercept Program since its initiation in 1980. Millions of dollars in child support payments have been collected through this program. I believe this program will also be successful.
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Send your questions, feedback
and ideas directly to Galen at:
TalktoGalen@yahoo.com
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