HB 1227
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
House Bill 1227 (Delegate Rosenberg)
Judiciary
Public Safety - Task Force on Preventing and Countering Domestic Terrorism
This bill establishes the Task Force on Preventing and Countering Domestic Terrorism to
be staffed by the Department of Legislative Services (DLS). The task force is required to
study and make recommendations regarding optimal policies and practices for preventing
and countering domestic terrorism. The task force must submit a report of its findings and
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2021. The
bill takes effect July 1, 2021, and terminates June 30, 2022.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: Any expense reimbursements for task force members and staffing costs for
DLS are assumed to be minimal and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.
Revenues are not affected.
Local Effect: The bill does not materially affect local government operations or finances.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Bill Summary: The task force must study and make recommendations regarding optimal
policies and practices for preventing and countering domestic terrorism, including:
 the role of the State;
 the level of resources to be expended;
 ways to provide transparency to the public;
 funding mechanisms;
 oversight measures; and
 ways to counter and prosecute online extremism while balancing First Amendment
concerns.
The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates must jointly
designate the chair of the task force. Task force members may not receive compensation
but are entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the standard State travel regulations.
Current Law: Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2331), domestic terrorism means activities
that (1) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States; (2) involve
acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States
or of any state; and (3) appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population,
influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of
a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: SB 864 (Senator Hettleman) - Judicial Proceedings.
Information Source(s): Harford, Talbot, and Wicomico counties; Governor’s Office;
Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy; Judiciary (Administrative
Office of the Courts); Office of the Public Defender; Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - March 5, 2021
rh/aad
Analysis by: Donavan A. Ham Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 1227/ Page 2