MD HB592

Establishes a Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals, effective July 1, 2026, with automatic expiration on June 30, 2028

Task Force membership includes 15 members: one state senator, one delegate, representatives from Public Safety, Health, and the Public Defender's office, plus 10 Governor-appointed members including formerly incarcerated individuals, family members, social workers, attorneys, and nonprofit representatives

Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy designates the chair and provides staffing; members serve without compensation but receive travel expense reimbursement

Task Force must study the number of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals in state prisons, feasibility of housing them in prerelease units, impacts of forced infant separation, and best practices from other states

Final report with findings and legislative recommendations to reduce forced infant separation and facilitate parent-child bonding due to the General Assembly by December 31, 2027