The House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to send Jessica’s Law to the floor for a vote.
House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank, the lead sponsor of the bill, applauded the committee’s work, “by passing this bill out to the House Floor my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee have taken an important step to protect Maryland’s children.”
“A unanimous vote by the Judiciary Committee on this important legislation is a tremendous accomplishment”, said Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell.
HB 930 – Jessica’s Law – Parole Eligibility and Mandatory Minimum Sentences denies parole eligibility during the mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for offenders convicted of first degree rape or sexual offences against a child under age 13.
“Final passage of this bill will ensure that those convicted of the most heinous crimes against our children will not see the light of day for at least 25 years”, said Delegate Shank, “I urge my colleagues in the House of Delegates to take the next step to enact this legislation”.