2032

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 562

CHAPTER 562

(Senate Bill 475)

AN ACT concerning

Police Authority - Hostage and Barricade Situations

FOR the purpose of permitting telephone company employees
and certain law enforcement officers to interrupt,
reroute, divert, or otherwise control telephone
communications service in certain hostage and barricade
situations; providing certain procedures for those
actions; and relating generally to police authority in
hostage and barricade situations.

BY adding to

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 10-413

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1979 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

10-413.

(A)  THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OF THIS STATE OR
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE OR THE COMMANDER
OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
OF THIS STATE MAY DESIGNATE ONE OR MORE OF THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS UNDER HIS COMMAND AS A HOSTAGE AND
BARRICADE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST.

(B)  EACH TELEPHONE COMPANY PROVIDING SERVICE TO
MARYLAND RESIDENTS SHALL DESIGNATE ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS
TO PROVIDE LIAISON WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.

(C)  THE SUPERVISING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WHO HAS
JURISDICTION IN ANY SITUATION IN WHICH THERE IS PROBABLE
CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE OF HOSTAGE
HOLDING IS OCCURRING OR THAT A PERSON HAS BARRICADED HIMSELF
WITHIN A STRUCTURE AND POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT OF PHYSICAL
INJURY TO OTHERS, MAY ORDER A TELEPHONE COMPANY, OR A
TELEPHONE COMPANY EMPLOYEE, OFFICER, OR DIRECTOR, OR A
HOSTAGE AND BARRICADE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST OR TO
INTERRUPT, REROUTE, DIVERT, OR OTHERWISE CONTROL ANY
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE INVOLVED IN THE HOSTAGE OR
BARRICADE SITUATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING TELEPHONE
COMMUNICATION BY A HOSTAGE HOLDER OR BARRICADED PERSON WITH