Strengthening Protections For Maryland’s Children

Protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities — especially our children — is one of my highest priorities as a Maryland state senator. That is why I am introducing a bill this legislative session to strengthen child sexual abuse prevention measures by enhancing oversight, improving background checks, and expanding safeguards across all child-serving organizations. This bill builds on past legislative efforts, ensuring that no gaps remain in our commitment to keeping children safe.

This legislation was prompted by concerns from parents and community members regarding how schools handle allegations of child sexual abuse. While the legal process in a recent case is ongoing, this situation highlights the critical need for stronger policies to ensure the safety of our children. Schools and other child-serving organizations must have comprehensive safeguards in place to mitigate risks and ensure that all employees meet the highest standards of trust and integrity. Every child deserves a learning environment where their safety is the top priority.

In 2018 and 2019, Maryland took significant steps in child sexual abuse prevention with the passage of House Bill 1072 and House Bill 486. These bills laid the groundwork for mandatory training, codes of conduct, and employee screening in schools. However, without sufficient oversight and enforcement, policies alone are not enough to ensure effective implementation.

This new legislation will amend House Bills 1072 and 486 to require the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to oversee their implementation. Under this amendment, each jurisdiction will be required to submit its training program, code of conduct, and staff screening policies to MSDE annually. In turn, MSDE will compile this information and report on the progress and compliance of these programs to the Maryland General Assembly. By adding this oversight mechanism, we ensure that policies are not just written but actively enforced and improved upon.

Currently, criminal background checks are required for employees working in Maryland’s schools and child-serving institutions. While this is a crucial step in protecting children, it does not catch all individuals who pose a risk. This bill will mandate that all jurisdictions complete Child Protective Services (CPS) background checks prior to hiring new employees. Unlike traditional criminal background checks, CPS checks identify individuals who have been determined responsible for the maltreatment of a child — even if they do not have a criminal conviction. This additional safeguard will help prevent known child abusers from securing positions where they have access to children.

Protecting children should not stop at the schoolhouse doors. Many child predators seek employment in other child-serving organizations, including day care centers, after-school programs, and youth sports leagues. This legislation expands the requirements of House Bills 1072 and 486 to other child-serving organizations, ensuring that consistent policies are in place across all institutions that work with children. By standardizing and strengthening these requirements, we close loopholes that allow child predators to move from one organization to another undetected.

Every child deserves to learn, play and grow in a safe environment. This legislation represents a critical step forward in ensuring that schools and child-serving organizations have the necessary tools, oversight and accountability to prevent child sexual abuse. My heart aches for every child who is a victim of child sexual abuse. No child should endure such pain, and we must do everything in our power to protect them. We must act now to strengthen our safeguards and prevent child predators from ever having access to our most vulnerable.