HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                         3853

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Governor is requested to appoint a task force to address the
federal recommendations and examine the State's current response
to problems encountered by victims of crime in the State; and, be
it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force should examine and report on:

(1) Legislation to ensure that addresses of victims
and witnesses are not made public or available to the defense;
absent a clear need as determined by the court;

(2) Legislation to ensure that designated victim
counseling is legally privileged and not subject to defense
discovery or subpoena;

(3) Legislation to ensure that hearsay is admissible
and sufficient in preliminary hearing, so that victims need not
testify in person;

(4) Legislation to open parole release hearings to
victims/or surviving family members;

(5) Legislation to accomplish or improve upon the
following:

(i) Victim impact statements at sentencing;

(ii) Protection of victims and witnesses from
intimidation;

(iii) Development and implementation of

guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses;
and

(iv) Prohibition of a criminal from making any
profit from the sale of the story of the crime;

(6) Legislation to establish or expand employee

assistance programs for victims of crime employed by government;

(7) Legislation to ensure that sexual assault victims
are not required to assume the cost of physical examinations and
materials used to obtain evidence legislation relating to
victims' and witnesses' rights; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Task Force shall make recommendations
for implementation of more effective and comprehensive responses
to the problems encountered by victims of crime in the State; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force consist of the following 11
members: