Delegation advances bill letting specified mayoral offices access juvenile records with consent; members debate scope and prosecutorial access
March 10, 2026 | No. 2 - Carroll and Frederick Counties, Select Committees, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland
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Legislative counsel summarized SB524 as authorizing the Baltimore City mayor’s office and specified city offices to access juvenile police and court records when those offices provide programs or services relevant to a child who is the subject of the record.
Sen. McCray urged that parental consent be required 'on the front end, not the middle, not the back end' to ensure parents authorize access before records are shared. He also argued for naming specific agencies in the statute so future legislatures and officials would clearly understand who is authorized. McCray said his amendment was socialized with the city administration and the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).
Sen. Attar and an analyst from the Department of Legislative Services, Mr. Hassan, described an alternate amendment that would limit access to one mayoral office (the mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, per the transcript) and discussed whether prosecutorial entities such as the state's attorney's office or courts should also receive records under defined circumstances. Hassan said one offered version would authorize records to be shared with the state's attorney's office and the courts to help coordinate services for juveniles participating in programs.
Members debated the scope of sharing, the role of MOUs to define purpose and limits, and DJS’s requested clarifications for MOUs (including more specific Memorandum of Understanding terms). Sen. McCray said DJS leadership was comfortable with his amendment. The delegation moved and adopted McCray’s amendment; Sen. Attar withdrew her competing amendment with leave to revisit the issue later. The delegation agreed to send the bill as amended with a letter of support.
The delegation’s discussion emphasized safeguards: obtaining written consent where proposed; defining MOU terms (purpose, permitted disclosures); and returning to the legislature if additional agencies require access in the future. The transcript records that some members remained concerned about prosecutorial access absent clear MOU limits.
Sen. McCray urged that parental consent be required 'on the front end, not the middle, not the back end' to ensure parents authorize access before records are shared. He also argued for naming specific agencies in the statute so future legislatures and officials would clearly understand who is authorized. McCray said his amendment was socialized with the city administration and the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).
Sen. Attar and an analyst from the Department of Legislative Services, Mr. Hassan, described an alternate amendment that would limit access to one mayoral office (the mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, per the transcript) and discussed whether prosecutorial entities such as the state's attorney's office or courts should also receive records under defined circumstances. Hassan said one offered version would authorize records to be shared with the state's attorney's office and the courts to help coordinate services for juveniles participating in programs.
Members debated the scope of sharing, the role of MOUs to define purpose and limits, and DJS’s requested clarifications for MOUs (including more specific Memorandum of Understanding terms). Sen. McCray said DJS leadership was comfortable with his amendment. The delegation moved and adopted McCray’s amendment; Sen. Attar withdrew her competing amendment with leave to revisit the issue later. The delegation agreed to send the bill as amended with a letter of support.
The delegation’s discussion emphasized safeguards: obtaining written consent where proposed; defining MOU terms (purpose, permitted disclosures); and returning to the legislature if additional agencies require access in the future. The transcript records that some members remained concerned about prosecutorial access absent clear MOU limits.
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