State Roundup, April 11, 2016

UNRESOLVED: Several critical issues, including income tax cuts and an overhaul of Maryland’s criminal justice system, remain unresolved as the General Assembly enters the marathon finale today to its annual 90-day session, reports Michael Dresser and Erin Cox of the Sun. Also hanging in the balance are broad changes in the way police departments hold officers responsible for misconduct and stiffer sanctions for drunk drivers.

• Maryland lawmakers are scrambling to send bills to Gov. Larry Hogan before the required end of the 90-day legislative session at midnight, report Fenit Nirappil, Ovetta Wiggins and Josh Hicks for the Post. Negotiations are still underway between the Senate and House of Delegates on big-ticket bills from drunk driving penalties to police reform to tax relief. Other bills, such as criminal-justice reform, are just awaiting final votes.

JUSTICE REFORM: Maryland lawmakers are poised to vote on sweeping reforms to the state’s criminal justice system in the final hours of their annual legislative session today, reports Pamela Wood for the Sun. The Justice Reinvestment Act will push more low-level drug offenders into treatment, create an easier path for some inmates to be released sooner, limit the amount of time parole violators spend behind bars, remove some mandatory minimum sentences and allow people to expunge more convictions from their criminal record…….

READ THE REST HERE AT MARYLAND REPORTER