ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore this week signed legislation that aims to support victims of crime, build stronger pipelines to law enforcement jobs, and tackle the gun violence epidemic in the state.

“When we entered office, we made public safety our number one priority, and we said we were going to move differently on this issue–because the status quo wasn’t working,” said Gov. Moore. “Today, we make Maryland safer by signing bills to support victims, build stronger pipelines to law enforcement jobs, and tackle the gun violence epidemic, head-on. We’re making progress, but our work is far from done. Together, we will continue to take an all-of-the-above approach to public safety.”

One of the new laws creates a Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention in the Maryland Department of Health. This new center will work with local governments, advocates, and medical professionals to better coordinate Maryland’s public health approach to preventing gun violence.

Another new law reforms the state’s behavioral health services to make sure that Marylanders have access to these services when they need them. This includes the legalization of Assisted Outpatient Treatment, which is a process used in 47 other states to allow for court-ordered outpatient treatment for people with severe mental illness who are not complying with treatment.

The Victim Compensation Reform Act also modernizes Maryland’s victims’ compensation program, making it easier for victims to receive the support they need. This law aims to remove unnecessary barriers to make sure that victims have access to the compensation they need as soon as possible.

The Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act aims to address the problem of police departments across the state facing challenges with hiring and retaining officers. This new law proposes ways to reform the existing apprenticeship model for public safety officers to make apprenticeships a more viable option for law enforcement.

The Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act also strengthens funding for the Baltimore Tech Hub. This new law will also create the Pava LaPere Innovation Acceleration Grant Program and the Baltimore Innovation Initiative. These two programs will provide capital and support to the Baltimore Tech Hub in its research into artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via the Maryland Governor’s Office