MD SB985

Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services must adopt regulations establishing minimum mandatory standards for care, custody, and conditions of civil detainees in immigration detention facilities, covering security, safety, food services, housing, sanitation, individual rights, and record keeping

Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards gains authority to inspect immigration detention facilities, receive violation reports from any person (including anonymous online submissions), and order immediate closure of facilities deemed life-threatening or health-endangering

Licensed health care practitioners and certified security guards working in correctional or immigration detention facilities must report violations of minimum mandatory standards and security breaches to the Commission, with failure to report subject to disciplinary action by licensing bodies

Attorney General may bring civil actions against private entities operating correctional or immigration detention facilities for violations, with penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day, plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees

Facilities must submit annual certifications by July 1 confirming adequate utilities, functional HVAC, emergency power systems, and emergency operations plans; emergency regulations must be adopted by June 1, 2026, and the bill takes effect immediately as an emergency measure