Ch. 640                                   1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

certain court costs, fines, restitution payments, probation fees, and other judicial
fees; authorizing the State Court Administrator Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services to enter into certain contracts; establishing a deadline for the
contract required by this Act; providing that a contract shall be awarded through
competitive sealed proposals; requiring a request for proposal to comply with
certain requirements; establishing rules concerning the reimbursement
compensation of a private contractor; requiring a private contractor to offer
employment to certain government employees; establishing program requirements
for a private contractor; establishing a priority for the disbursement of money;
authorizing the appointment of a standing master to hold hearings concerning
collection matters; establishing procedures for the standing master; authorizing the
standing master to issue a report; authorizing a private contract or to collect certain
fees requiring private contractors to offer employment to employees who are
affected by the transfer of collection responsibilities under this Act, on certain
terms, for a certain duration, and at a certain salary and benefit level; requiring a
private contractor to adopt a certain grievance procedure for certain employees;
requiring the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services to assist certain
employees in identifying certain positions to which the employee may apply for
transfer; providing that an employee who declines an offer of employment under
this Act is considered laid off and is entitled to certain rights; providing that certain
current State employees who are employed by the contractors may return to State
service at the termination of the Program under certain conditions; requiring the
cooperation of State government units; requiring a certain report; providing for the
expansion of the pilot program to an additional county; providing for the
termination of this Act; and generally relating to the collection of judicial fees.

BY adding to

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 7-406

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1995 Replacement Volume and 1996 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

7-406.

(A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, IN BALTIMORE
CITY HARFORD COUNTY AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY THERE IS A PILOT PROGRAM
TO ALLOW A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TO COLLECT THE FOLLOWING:

(1) EXCEPT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES THAT ARE NOT REFERRED
TO THE DIVISION OF PAROLE AND PROBATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, FOR CRIMINAL CASES IN THE DISTRICT
COURT AND CIRCUIT COURT SYSTEMS:

(I) COURT COSTS, INCLUDING CRIMINAL INJURIES
COMPENSATION COSTS;

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