An Active Legislative Session
February 2020
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
With the 2020 Legislative Session in full swing, #TeamMcCray has been active in terms of introducing legislation that will benefit the entire State of Maryland. This includes four new bills that address behavioral health in our State. You can learn more about each bill in our latest vlog post here.
In the Legislature
Senate Bill 687 – Expungement of Conviction – Driving While Privilege is Canceled, Suspended, Refused, or Revoked. Did you know that under Maryland law, driving with a suspended license is not an expungable offense? As a result, an individual who has this offense on his or her record is unable to have it ever removed—no matter how much time has passed. And, as I explain in an editorial for Maryland Matters, this can have devastating consequences if that individual has another offense on their record. SB 687 will allow individuals to petition for expungement if they have been convicted of driving on, among other things, a suspended license.
Senate Bill 574 – Jobs Court Pilot Program. This session, I have been working with Judge Nicole Pastore to expand a pilot program that will allow individuals convicted of criminal offenses to return to work. Thanks to Judge Pastore’s leadership, this is a program that has already seen success in Baltimore; we hope to expand its success to the entire State. This is exactly the type of meaningful criminal justice reform that will make Maryland a leader in the United States.
Senate Bill 72 – Members of the Command Staff of the Police Department – Residency Requirements. SB 72 will empower the City Council to require all Baltimore Police Department officers at the rank of Colonel or higher to be residents of Baltimore. It’s a simple bill that sends a clear message: our City’s leaders should live in our City. I was proud to read the Baltimore Sun editorial board’s recent praise for this piece of legislation, and look forward to working with my colleagues in the House of Delegates to ensure its passage.
For a full list of the legislation that I have introduced this session, please see the attached link.
In the 45th
I appreciated the chance to stop by Johnston Square Elementary School to celebrate the 100th day of school with a class of pre-kindergarten students. To celebrate the big day, we read “Miss Bindergarten celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten.” Afterwards, we talked about Mae Jemison, who was the first black woman to travel to space, and Garrett Morgan, who invented the traffic light. I can only imagine what accomplishments these inquisitive young people will have later in their lives. Thank you to Principal Olumiji and his entire team for their hard work in preparing our next generation of leaders.
Later this month, we will be holding a 45th District Town Hall. The Town Hall will take place on Saturday, March 21 at 10:00 AM at Lillie Mae Carroll Public Charter School (2200 Sinclair Lane, Baltimore, MD 21213).
One Last Thing . . .
My office is accepting applications for the Senatorial Scholarship. All current high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students who have submitted a FAFSA are eligible to apply. For additional information, please contact me at cory.mccray@senate.state.md.us or (410) 841-3165.
Listening. Learning. Leading.
Cory McCray
Senator, 45th Legislative District
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