[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6367455,"mediaKeyId","2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0","parentId",2158747,"title","Committee reviews proposal to let incarcerated people set up installment plans and waive penalties; advocates urge broader eligibility","audioSeconds",355,"startMs",2351000,"endMs",2706000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0&start=2351&end=2706","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0/thumbnail_2351000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6367455/Maryland/Committee-reviews-proposal-to-let-incarcerated-people-set-up-installment-plans-and-waive-penalties-advocates-urge-broader-eligibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367455-a2f9922426b5910f1af0173435c78c6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955636&Signature=iOjdPKpiAXAh3lKLXwiEdbUmF8eonw0ZHhLiwj7fq4weoENbPMRJay1b1hTSV3ETfr~IEgxPh8Sl~TVcQ27rjQe295ASwa6~HwYxf~gAqkBzRVXvbstF02zKlybuW1frLvtFDawGApzoZmstU5j1aFBKJuX-28MBFkhW41mQQOH9iTmDKyVtpfxI0t~g4NEtSdDH9cjOaaOb~3jrpaBCl1PfE3eWldKg1fnKxDqW8aO~y-A1g30fPPpf8afaBwVl6kaAgy26y0lJi9oJ84cfrSQObSmaaSXZY7xXkYzy9ljUuCLlZdGT7D6f9hOC6F9HXgu4-p3oidEQJ3CyZf-0cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Budget and Taxation","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 295, discussed by the Budget and Taxation Committee, would establish an income tax reconciliation program allowing people who were incarcerated for between six months and 10 years to apply to participate, set up installment plans to pay back taxes, and receive waivers of penalties and interest for the period of incarceration.

Committee staff summarized testimony from two advocacy groups: a group identified in the transcript as \"PREPARE, PREPAIR for Parole and Reentry\" and the University of Baltimore Center For Criminal Justice Reform. The staff said both groups submitted written testimony favorable with amendments and recommended expanding the bill's eligibility window beyond the proposed six months to 10 years.

The presenter said the bill as written applies only to tax years 2025 through 2029. The presenter also noted that the Comptroller’s office testified there are some existing programs that might serve affected individuals, but incarcerated people often do not know those programs exist.

Committee members asked whether the proposal would interfere with existing post-release processes—such as meetings with probation agents or court arrangements to manage outstanding financial obligations. One member said the program might duplicate or complicate processes that currently allow people leaving incarceration to arrange manageable repayment plans. Another committee member said, \"I think we should be doing what we can to get people back on their feet, and if they're willing to ... live up their responsibilities, it's a good thing that we can help them do that,\" and asked staff to map existing comptroller programs before proceeding.

No formal committee action on the bill was recorded in the transcript; the committee asked staff to gather more information about existing programs and the policy need before moving forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","B&T Committee Session, 1/28/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 295 would create an income tax reconciliation program allowing incarcerated individuals incarcerated six months to 10 years to enter installment plans and have penalties and interest waived. Advocacy groups urged expanding eligibility; the committee sought information about existing programs and the bill's necessity.","taxTitle","Budget and Taxation Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15091,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6367461,"Committee approves amended bill moving SDAT local tax-rate filing earlier to June 20",294,2022000,2316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0&start=2022&end=2316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0/thumbnail_2022000.jpg","/articles/6367461/Maryland/Committee-approves-amended-bill-moving-SDAT-local-tax-rate-filing-earlier-to-June-20","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367461-76d601bad4d536c9f1fc19c51ad30a04/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955636&Signature=Pl-DwDFG9luqgIXttdwpGpT49Y19Msv5smaoaTEfX5nH14Bi5qqgwvlcPvG66BUpaXK--YXbEZkT5KLbJFe4-j82tN~K7omLPTtU9teq~fMt61hJSDgMWsLWYEd-UFsvJBj1XERplx-spM8zm~rAS1cOzP~2oHL0CDq13v0UplgJlM8w9nOVb-0rMg-Hzrv6oAbR4cfjALVse-fWPG41espqbxigVDi4VodVyRTOHtW2Cj6a716CWQbLQBN1X8-kvx~ou8uJpsx1a31WzkhK59FfaqJN1mJDoN3ZDgSgngRF~FJKNi3Px4SASnv8pnbwkCT3Jc5gYCmhVOPbvNuiyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget and Taxation Committee considered Senate Bill 204, a departmental bill from the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) that would change the deadline for local governments to set and notify SDAT of their tax rates. Under current law, the deadline is July 1; the proposed amendment sets an earlier deadline in June.

Committee staff summarized testimony from the Maryland Municipal League (MML) and Anne Arundel County asking for an earlier date to accommodate local budget processes. The staff said, \"Mako says that their preference is June 20th, which was the same that, Anne Arundel County wanted. MML suggested June 15th.\" The staff added that SDAT had indicated a June 20th date would be acceptable to the department.

Staff told the committee that SDAT uses the July 1 timing to line up calculations for homeowner tax credits and other notices, and that changing the date could reduce the number of revised tax bills and service calls the department handles. The bill’s fiscal note listed no material state or local fiscal effect, though staff noted the change \"may affect local budget processes and could require changes to local charters.\"

Committee members debated the exact target date; some favored June 20 to give localities more time than a June 15 alternative. After discussion, the committee voted to report the bill favorably as amended. A roll-call tally was not provided in the transcript; the chair called for \"All in favor? Aye.\"","Committee members voted to report favorably, as amended, a bill that would change the deadline for local governments to set and report tax rates to SDAT from July 1 to June 20. SDAT and local governments said the change would reduce the need for revised tax bills; local-charter impacts and local budgeting timelines were discussed.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6367465,"Committee hears bill to let unused Safe Schools Fund dollars be reallocated within fiscal year; bill held",776,1228000,2004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0&start=1228&end=2004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158747-2674d86faa4db644c9342b72711897f0/thumbnail_1228000.jpg","/articles/6367465/Maryland/Committee-hears-bill-to-let-unused-Safe-Schools-Fund-dollars-be-reallocated-within-fiscal-year-bill-held","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367465-5db1ea5c297eafc1cdcd29c326a85252/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955636&Signature=VCvVKwWI6v0pdDbVY0~E7-g587BU~oEzdszCcMxh29kP0LWY7YUtcx7CcxhSsx3Ih293JxR6r2VZD8UnMktEvnD~LEq-OE-LZJ2Pns0dUnExkSqWZGQx5LCTB5OpLQIzdfnx79pezaCjahWZUOrH2m~SjMxEE8cAkp0kLb4MVXC-pOw62AkV2vTpi6m3PLVxKNubZ7Djs-qzDAnO0Amy8mcQwiuCjNHLEVWlC95xv-wD7fqpIfxmzBVxfb4222sNYGI2~aAj2hl0~IpZ4rd-XcGhHKksvv4ZAOTrWx9~n-xunD6idUu7pOhoNt4luKUnHzo8-woEzFnGcpFxoaHj6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Budget and Taxation Committee presenter explained Senate Bill 136 would allow unused Safe Schools Fund allocations to be reallocated within the same fiscal year to other counties that \"demonstrate need.\" The presenter said the fund was created in 2018 and that under current law unused local allocations remain in the special fund instead of being redistributed that year.

The presenter said, \"right now the funds are distributed proportionally to each school in the state. This would allow those grant funds to be reallocated to school systems that have fully extended their allocation and demonstrate need within the same fiscal year.\" The presenter added the formula is based on number of schools, not the number of students, and that grants are awarded by the Center For School Safety in collaboration with the IAC.

Senator Hetleman asked which counties did not apply in 2024 and how decisions would be made about redistributing unused amounts. The presenter named four jurisdictions that did not apply in 2024: Baltimore City, Cecil County, Frederick County and Howard County. Hetleman asked, \"Is there a way to tighten that up so that ... those decisions are made equitably?\" The presenter responded that the bill is silent on specific reallocation criteria and that language could be amended to provide priorities or standards for the Center to follow.

Committee members noted that $10,000,000 of the fund is earmarked by statute for School Resource Officers or equivalent personnel coverage, while additional smaller amounts (about $600,000 from school bus fines) also flow into the same special fund. The presenter said because the fund is a special fund, unused dollars historically have remained in the fund and carried forward, sometimes producing balances greater than the annual appropriation.

Members raised broader fiscal questions: the presenter said the BRFAA (Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act) contains a provision that would maintain the $10,000,000 annual mandate but could eliminate the fund's rollover, which would change how unused allocations are handled (money would revert to the general fund under that proposal). One committee member summarized the conversation by saying, \"this seems like a problem, solution and search for a problem,\" noting that if counties are not requesting money because they do not need it, the rollover mechanism still keeps the dollars for school safety in subsequent years.

There was no final action on the bill; the committee recorded that the bill was held for further consideration.","A committee hearing reviewed Senate Bill 136, which would let unused Safe Schools Fund allocations be reallocated to other counties within the same fiscal year. Presenters and senators debated who would decide reallocation and whether the change solves an existing problem; the committee held the bill.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews proposal to let incarcerated people set up installment plans and waive penalties; advocates urge broader eligibility

Committee approves amended bill moving SDAT local tax-rate filing earlier to June 20

Committee hears bill to let unused Safe Schools Fund dollars be reallocated within fiscal year; bill held