House Bill 1011, entitled the Democracy in Education Act 2011, would have empowered city voters to decide the issue of a partially elected school board at the November 2011 election.

The Baltimore City House Delegation, during its weekly Annapolis meeting this past Friday, March 25, 2011, considered the bill and voted on whether or not to give it their support. Though 10 of the 18 city delegates sponsored the measure, the bill was voted unfavorable by a vote of 7 to 5 essentially sealing its fate for the year.

Here is video from the hearing and vote:

Delegate Melvin Stukes

This past Friday I was blessed with the opportunity to testify in Annapolis before the Baltimore City Delegation of state representatives. I was there voicing my support and urging the support of City Delegates for House Bill 1140, a bill sponsored by Delegate Jill Carter that would prohibit the planning and construction of yet another Youth Jail in Baltimore “until adequate structures are in place and adequate funding is dedicated to meet the educational, recreational, and social services needs of juvenile residents in Baltimore City.”

The bill is bold and in a straightforward way expresses the concern of many people in this city who perceive that the “political powers that be” seem always ready to invest in the criminalization of Black youth in Baltimore while at the same time being reluctant to embrace audacious ideas that would promote the healthy development of youth in the city. If it is true that “revolution” involves the redistribution of resources, then this bill is a revolutionary bill. Instead of continuing to feed the monster of failed and immoral policy (i.e. the over-incarceration, criminalization, and dehumanization of Black youth), the legislation points us toward the type of society that most of us envision – one where every child has a great school, robust recreational opportunities, and employment options irrespective of the color of their skin or the particulars of their zip code.

The hearing on the bill went well with many of the delegates raising valid questions related to the bill and how something like this would even be accomplished. Delegates Mary Washington, Barbara Robinson, Shawn Tarrant, and others probed the particulars of the legislation while expressing support for the concept. However, there was one question that caught me off guard.

Delegate Melvin Stukes (D-44), someone who has maintained a noncommittal position on this issue since last year despite repeated attempts to secure his support, suddenly piped up at the hearing and wondered aloud about where the people and particularly the parents were in relation to this bill. Citing the years he spent on the Baltimore City Council, he recalled that when an idea was proposed to build the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (known colloquially as “Baby Bookings”) back in the early 2000′s, “thousands” of parents came out to express support for the construction of that facility. He wondered why people weren’t speaking up in equal force against the building of this new $100+ million dollar youth jail.

His inquiry caught me off guard particularly because there has been sustained demonstrations, protests, and other actions that clearly reflect the will of city residents -including parents who are saying that we don’t need this youth jail. A year to the day of Stukes’ question, thousands of city residents, including youth and parents marched in the streets to Baby Bookings and engaged in civil disobedience demanding that $100 million be spent on youth jobs not jails.

I wonder how did Melvin Stukes miss this?

Maybe he was out of town that week.

But what about three months later when a protest happened again – this time at City Hall? Did he miss this too? Perhaps.

But he couldn’t have missed what happened four months after that when hundreds of City Residents came together again to protest this youth jail project – this time meeting in the exact neighborhood where they are planning to build this thing. Dubbing the event “Youth Justice Sunday,” hundreds of parents, students, concerned citizens and others gathered on a Sunday afternoon to voice their opposition. The crowd marched to the fence that surrounds the site of the proposed youth jail, engaged in civil disobedience, and planted text books on the grounds where the foundation of the youth jail was to be laid in a symbolic call for better educational opportunities.

How could Delegate Melvin Stukes have missed waves of protest in the city throughout last year which called for the dismissal of this project and the redirection of the funds? I know that he knows about the plan to build this youth jail because I personally spoke with him about it last fall and even then he wouldn’t commit to join the diverse amalgamation of city residents who oppose this youth jail. (Watch my interview with him from 4:03 – 4:11 in this video.)

How Delegate Melvin Stukes missed a year’s worth of vocal opposition to this project in Baltimore is a mystery to me. All I know now is that he is requesting to hear from people and particularly parents who disagree with the state’s plans to build a $100+ million dollar youth jail in Baltimore City.

Please take a moment to call (800-492-7122 ext. 3544) or email Delegate Melvin Stukes with this simple message:

“HELLO, MY NAME IS _________________. I’M FROM ________________ AND I OPPOSE THE STATE’S PLAN TO BUILD A YOUTH JAIL IN BALTIMORE CITY.”

If you could let us know once you’ve called or emailed that would be a great help as well.

Thank you!

From L to R: Senator Catherine Pugh, Delegate Barbara Robinson, Delegate Shawn Tarrant, Delegate Frank Conaway, Jr., City Councilman Carl Stokes

The fight for the destiny of Black Children in Baltimore has intensified as hundreds of city residents, including high school students, college students, clergy, community activists, and many others, are voicing their firm opposition to Governor Martin O’Malley’s plan to build a $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail at 600 E. Monument Street in a community already saturated with “correctional” facilities.

In overwhelming fashion, community members agree that this is not the best use of state tax dollars and there are more productive ways to engage issues surrounding youth offenders specifically and public safety generally. The truth of the matter is that 40% of all prison and correctional facilities in the state of Maryland are found in Baltimore City. Given that, outside observers might be led to conclude that Baltimore City has to be one of the safest places in the state given the mountain of resources that have been thrown into building barns with bars for all the “bad guys”. Those closer to the situation know differently and even without the statistical data or the political polish, most Black Baltimoreans especially know instinctively that building more jails does not mean increasing public safety. We also know that if resources are invested on the front-end of life; then the need for these types of facilities diminishes greatly.

Despite this common wisdom that permeates many Black communities in Baltimore; there seems to be a disconnect between the will of Black Baltimoreans and the actions of Black politicians. While community members and grassroots activists have been vocal in stating and demonstrating their opposition to Governor Martin O’Malley’s $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail; far too many Black Politicians in Baltimore have offered up only muted support or worse. The majority of Black elected officials in Baltimore City have been virtually silent on this issue causing many to believe that they have made a pact with the devil (so to speak) to gain political favor in exchange for their betrayal of their own community. (Delegate Jill Carter from District 41 being the notable and laudable exception. Thank you, Del. Carter!)

In the throes of a contentious gubernatorial election, rumors abound that Governor Martin O’Malley’s campaign team has been contacting youth-serving organizations, advocacy groups, and politicians in the city requesting their silence on the issue of the youth jail scheduled to be built in East Baltimore. While these claims have yet to be fully substantiated; one wonders how else it can be explained that persons who are accustomed to being “in the know” and on top of the latest and largest things going on in the city have yet to say much at all about a $100 million dollar-plus project coming to East Baltimore. It is almost as if the project doesn’t exist.

Of particular interest are the elected officials who represent the district where this Youth Jail is slated to be built. While the area is represented by Congressman Elijah Cummings and Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin on the federal level; it’s the state and local elected officials who are of particular concern. These are the individuals whom one would think have a greater finger on the pulse of the community and a greater readiness to respond to the will of those they were elected to serve. These are the ones who meet the neighbors, attend community meetings, get to know families, receive calls from those in need, and are invited to community events, pushed to the microphone and applauded. Surely, one would assume that they are in lock-step with the souls of Black Folks in District 40 (councilmanic district 12) – knowing their yearnings, their unmet needs, and being in tune with the community desire for itself. However, this does not seem to be the case.

SENATOR CATHERINE PUGH

The State Senator for District 40, Senator Catherine Pugh, is in the position of traditional legislative leadership for that district and there is no published comment anywhere that she offers up in relation to the $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail. She’s not publicly spoken on the project either way. This is particularly unsettling because she is also the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland which is holding its Annual Conference beginning two days after next week’s mid-term election. One of the primary objectives of the caucus is to “act as a legislative body on behalf of the Black community” and advocate policies that serve the best interest of the Black community. One wonders if she thinks that building this Youth Jail serve the interest of the Black community. Her deafening silence belies her complicity in O’Malley’s dastardly plot to yet again secure political advantage and curry corporate favor on the backs of Black children. Pugh’s lack of leadership on this issue not only undermines the destiny of her district, but also gives heads up as to what we can expect from the Black Caucus in the coming years.

DELEGATE BARBARA ROBINSON

Much of the same can be said for Delegate Barbara Robinson who also “represents” District 40 and “serves” as the 2nd Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland along with Pugh. After repeated attempts to contact her for comment on the issue of the youth jail being built in her district, she offers no comment.

DELEGATE SHAWN TARRANT

To the credit of Delegate Shawn Tarrant, he was interviewed on the Marc Steiner show on WEAA 88.9FM over the summer and came out against the project, however, since that time has not publicly demonstrated his opposition to O’Malley’s Youth Jail. While his verbal support is appreciated and is much more than his colleagues have offered up; what you say on the radio only takes us so far. With all the talk radio shows in Baltimore, thousands of people have the opportunity everyday to pick up the phone and voice their opinion. But in this town “radio revolutionaries” come a dime a dozen. We need more people who hang up the phone, get off the radio, and get in the streets.

DELEGATE FRANK CONAWAY, JR.

Delegate Frank Conaway, Jr. is puzzling in terms of his lack of attention to this issue. Though he comes from a political family known for speaking out on controversial issues,he too has been publicly silent. His father in particular, Frank Conaway, Sr. who is Clerk of City Courts, is remembered for his public clashes and critique of Martin O’Malley when he was Mayor of Baltimore. Frank “The Son”, however, has not followed in Dad’s footsteps on this point.

CITY COUNCILMAN CARL STOKES

Finally, City Councilman and former Baltimore Mayoral Candidate, Carl Stokes who represents the same neighborhood as his state-level colleagues listed above, has not publicly spoken out either. Private emails convey his disagreement with the project, but one would think that he would seize the opportunity to publicly demonstrate his commitment to the community particularly given the speculation around town that he’s considering a run for Mayor next year.

IN CLOSING

All in all, the entire team receives a failing grade on this issue for their convenient silence and in some cases outright complicity in partnering with Governor Martin O’Malley to build a $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail in their community. Many conclude that the Prison Industrial Complex and the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” represents the 21st Century version of slavery in this country for American Africans and Latinos in particular. If that is true, then a brand new slave ship is being built in East Baltimore and those whom Bro. Malcolm X might characterize as “House Negroes” are standing by and letting it happen.

In addressing the Vietnam War, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “there comes a time when silence is betrayal.” These Black Politicians (and their silent colleagues) are in danger of tarnishing their would-be legacies and becoming known as the ones who were curiously and conveniently asleep at the switch at a time when Black Youth needed them most.

It’s election season in Baltimore so that means incumbents are making their rounds attempting to remind people how good life is with them in office and hopeful newbies are hitting the pavement making the case as to why they should be catapulted to political office. Admittedly, I am a bit disenchanted with electoral politics these days. I understand voting to be ONE tool which can be used in the empowerment of my people, but the tool is quite rusty. American Afrikans in Baltimore vote and vote and vote and still our communities drown in a toxic mix of divestment, occupation, and hopelessness.

I don’t give much weight to politicians speeches anymore. As Jesus recommends by way of scripture, I examine their fruit. (You shall know a tree by the fruit it bears.) Sadly, there are orchards of corrupt and corroding trees in the political landscape of Baltimore City.

However, every now and then I see a glimmer of hope in someone whose fruit suggests that they won’t genuflect to the political establishment, but will stand firm and advocate for the uplift of their community.

Currently, I see this glimmer in Mr. Rodney Burris, candidate for State Delegate in the 43rd District. Mr. Burris is charismatic, grounded in the community in which he lives, and active in local organizations. There’s good fruit on the tree. And while we have a personal relationship, I don’t extend my support based on that. (This isn’t high school!) I extend my support to Mr. Burris because of his alignment with a political agenda that I embrace. While I sense that he is still developing a rootedness in self-determination for American Afrikans in Baltimore (the clear majority people in this city); I’ve heard enough as it relates to his publicly expressed support of agenda items to pull the lever for him in the voting booth.

Currently, State Delegate Jill Carter (D-41) is the only Baltimore politician who has proven year in and year out to be committed to the uplift of the Black community without reservation, but if Rodney Burris stays on the path, remains committed to his community, and draws near to the example of Carter, he just might march into a comparable legacy of his own.

I support Mr. Rodney Burris for State Delegate in Baltimore’s 43rd District.

There I was. Standing on the House Floor at the State Capital with Speaker Michael Busch…yes that Michael Busch. How did I get there?

Well, it all started with a call from Delegate Jill Carter inviting me to come and accept an award on behalf of one of the greatest clergy/activists that Baltimore has ever seen – Rev. Vernon Dobson.

On the last day of Black History Month, the Maryland House of Delegates, at the behest of Del. Jill Carter, produced a resolution in honor of Dobson. And it was truly my honor to stand and accept it on his behalf with one of the most dedicated delegates that Baltimore has ever seen standing on my immediate right. (Though she is actively being marginalized by the power structure in Annapolis and even by the other representatives of the 41st district like Del. Sandy Rosenberg, she is, in fact, one that the Baltimore community can really count on.) Standing to my left was the gentleman who had not long ago attempted to broadside Carter by stripping her of her subcommittee chairmanship (or chairwomanship?) which prompted a flurry of posts from this blogger. There I was standing in between the two. (You can’t tell me that God doesn’t have a sense of humor.)

However, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to stand in Dobson’s shoes – even if for but a moment. It was the type of honor that challenged me to be better.

Dobson was one of the members of the vaunted “Goon Squad” of Baltimore – a grouping of clergy, lawyers, politicians, and activists who stirred much trouble for justice in Baltimore during the late 60′s while fighting segregation.

Dobson was not only an activist, but he is a scholar whose life was molded by the likes of Mordacai Johnson, Benjamin Mays, Howard Thurman, Ralph Bunche, Thurgood Marshall among others. While age and some health challenges have slowed Rev. Dobson down a bit, the work that he has done still speaks loudly for him. The Maryland Food Bank, Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (B.U.I.L.D.), and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance were either created or enhanced with Dobson’s hand in the mix.

For years now, I’ve been praying and working for the development of another Goon Squad here in Baltimore modeled after the squad of Dobson’s day. We desperately need a coagulation of dedicated community servants working together to engage the issues of our time. I tried to manufacture and force it a few years back with a group called Young Clergy for Social Change, but that group had a short-lived season. Now, however, I see the seedlings of something on the horizon that excites me. I see God orchestrating the lives of some pretty impressive local servants even as The Almighty continues to settle me in my new charge as a pastor. Some of my colleagues are being positioned to begin pastoring themselves. Others are contemplating running for political office. It’s not all together yet, but in the fullness of time, I do sense that God will bring what’s needed and use the willing to make a difference here.

It was great to stand in Dobson’s shoes for that moment and prayerfully, I’ll be granted the opportunity to follow the best of his legacy for many years to come.

Ask most Marylanders today which of their bills most quickly drives their blood pressure to its boiling point and there is a great likelihood that they’ll talk to you about their energy bill – probably using very colorful 4-letter words.

Well, Tuesday, March 3, 2009, many activists are hoping that residents will direct some of that outrage at the Senate Finance Committee in Annapolis. The Committee will be hearing Senate Bill 795; a bill which many believe will re-regulate energy rates in the state and bring our bills back down to reasonable levels.

To let your voice be heard on this issue, please flood the offices of the members of the Senate Finance Committee with calls and emails…or…just …continue cursing out the BGE Customer Service Reps every other day. (I’d go with grabbing the ear of the Senators if I were you.)

But how did we get here?

The Maryland Coalition for BGE Reregulation recently published an interesting bulletin answering that very question:

Is your BGE bill too high?

BLAME DELEGATE SANDY ROSENBERG.
Rosenberg is the only Baltimore City sponsor of hb 703 currently serving in the legislature. Hold him accountable.

THE BILL (1999 Deregulation bill, hb 703, created the problem)

THE VOTE COUNT (These Baltimore legislators voted for the bill that created the our problem: Delegate Ann Marie Doory, Del. Maggie McInstosh, Del. Peter Hammen, Del. Harrison, Del. Carolyn Krysiak,)

Hold them accountable in 2010. Vote them out!

*Only one Baltimore senator voted for the senate deregulation bill, sb 300, Nathaniel McFadden.

OUR ONLY HOPE:

Baltimore Delegates Jill P. Carter and Melvin Stukes are working to lower your BGE rates. They are co-sponsoring a REREGULATION Bill in the current 2009 session, cross-filed in the senate by Senators Pipkin and Rosepepe. Support them and support their bill!

***Del. McDonough, and others, are also co-sponsors of reregulation worthy of mention and support. This post focuses on Baltimore City legislators. Del. McDonough represents Baltimore County.

Thank you to all of those who called Speaker of the House Michael Busch concerning his decision to silence Delegate Jill Carter (D-41) by moving her to a committee other than the Judiciary Committee. Your calls worked and reports are coming out of Annapolis that Del. Carter will remain on the Judiciary Committee where she has served her constituents faithfully. (For those unfamiliar with the legislative process here in Maryland – when a bill is introduced it is assigned to a committee to review and either vote it up or down. In baseball terms, a bill getting to a committee is first base. The committee decides whether or not it goes to second base or gets thrown out at first. That’s why it’s important to have allies on the Committee.)

However, fighting to keep Del. Jill Carter (D-41) on the Judiciary Committee did not come without repercussions. Speaker of the House, Michael Busch did not appreciate at all the flood of calls that came to his office – what he described as “unnecessary shenanigans.” For her punishment, Busch has decided to keep Carter on the Judiciary Committee, but has stripped her of her Sub-Committee Chair position (She Chaired the Estates and Trusts Sub-Committee) and banned her from all “backroom discussions” where real decisions get made. He basically has demoted her to the position of a freshman delegate.

Imagine that. After 6 years of being in office, Delegate Jill Carter has been pushed back down to square one. Can you imagine being on a job for 6 years and making great progress and then all of a sudden being punished because of your track record of doing what your constituents want you to do?

This is the same Michael Busch who came to New Psalmist Baptist Church in January 2005 begging Black Clergy in Baltimore to support him in his efforts to block slots in the State of Maryland. He’ll talk to us when he wants us to get in line behind him. Let’s see if he’ll talk to us now that we want him to get in line with what we want.

We didn’t call and email just so that Del. Jill Carter could keep a seat warm on a committee where she is stripped of all access and responsibility. We called so that she would at least be fully restored to where she was before all of this.

So now it’s time to go to the next phase. Remember, “Power concedes NOTHING without a demand.” Now it’s time to show Mr. Busch that we’re serious. An informal Coalition of the Concerned are looking at taking a trip to Annapolis in the very near future to sit in Busch’s office face to face and let him know what we expect. It’s no time to party. There is yet work to be done. Let me know if you’re interested in taking the trip to Annapolis.

For those in Baltimore, please tune in to The Larry Young Morning Show on WOLB 1010AM on Monday, January 19, 2009 as they will be continuing to discuss this injustice from 6AM – 10AM. Tune in and call in to voice your concern about what is being done to Del. Jill Carter. We’re especially looking for all sororities and female organizations to support. You all stood together strong with City State’s Attorney, Patricia Jessamy in her time of need. We’re praying that you do the same for Del. Jill Carter – another strong sister in the city doing a great work on our behalf.

I just received information that Del. Jill Carter (D-41) is being moved from the House Judiciary Committee to the Environmental Committee as punishment for her outspoken and sincere critique of policies that would harm (or have harmed) Maryland’s Black Community and impoverished community.

As the only Black, female lawyer with a consistent sensitivity and sensibility for the downtrodden and marginalized on the House Judiciary Committee, it is unacceptable to lose her voice on such a critical committee.

Del. Jill Carter is being targeted and isolated because of her track-record of standing up for the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten. Put plainly, I am of the belief that Governor Martin O’Malley – a politician who has publicly stated that he “doesn’t support anything that Del. Carter is for”, is attempting to silence the one consistent voice that Black Baltimoreans especially have come to rely on in Annapolis.

Putting Del. Jill Carter on the Environmental Committee under the Chairmanship of Del. Maggie McIntosh – another Baltimore politician who walks in stride with the Governor even when it will harm her constituents – will effectively limit the flow of information and legislative support that many of us have come to expect from Del. Carter.

How does the leading vote getter in all of Baltimore get treated like this?

How does the highest graded state legislator by far get treated like this? (based on the 2008 NAACP Report Card)

How does a consistent and principled champion of our community get treated like this?

Because we allow it.

We allow the opponents of our community’s agenda to treat the true servants of our people viciously and without regard to the community’s response. They do it because they know we won’t do anything about it. We’ll mourn Del. Jill Carter (D-41) when she’s gone and speak in flowery words about her consistent dedication to our community, but will we fight for her now like she’s fought for us? I pray that we will.

We don’t need Del. Jill Carter (D-41) on the Environmental Committee under someone who will work to keep her silent and isolated. We NEED Jill Carter on the Judiciary Committee to continue to speak to those issues that most times have dramatic ramifications on our life under the law.

It’s not just about Del. Jill Carter. It’s about us. It’s about having somebody down there in the midst of those who care nothing for us, to inform, alert, organize, and mobilize the masses on the issues that matter most to us.

Call the Speaker of the House, Michael Busch to demand that Del. Jill Carter (D-41) be kept on the Judiciary Committee! Call him now! His number is: (410) 841-3800.

The message is: KEEP DELEGATE JILL CARTER ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE!

The Struggle Continues,

Rev. Heber Brown, III

According to the Baltimore City NAACP’s report card on the city delegation, Del. Jill P. Carter received a 95 out of 100 – the highest grade of all of her colleagues!

Without a doubt she is the principled freedom fighter that society usually celebrates only after they leave the scene.

However, I opt to give her her flowers while she can yet smell them so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Del. Carter and please continue to honor the legacy of your father and so many others who fought for positive social change for those on the margins of society.

By BRIAN WITTE, The Associated Press
2008-03-18

ANNAPOLIS, Md. –
A measure to expand the collection of DNA samples from people arrested for violent crimes and burglary has run into strong resistance from the NAACP and members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, who walked out of a House caucus meeting Tuesday in frustration.

Opponents are fighting the bill because they say it’s too broad and requires DNA collections from innocent people who haven’t been convicted of any crimes. Initially the bill, which is one of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s priorities this session, would have required that DNA samples be kept by law enforcement – even if people ended up being exonerated.

The measure has been amended so that authorities would have to inform someone of the right to expunge the sample, if the charges are dropped or the person is acquitted.

When the bill was brought up on the House floor Tuesday morning, Delegate Joseph F. Vallario Jr., the Judiciary Committee Chairman, told lawmakers to “feel free” to bring more amendments to the committee.

“Our door is always open,” Vallario said, shortly before action on the bill was put off until Thursday.

The scope of the bill also has been narrowed in response to critics. For example, someone charged with fourth-degree burglary would no longer have a DNA sample taken. But more serious burglary charges would still require samples.

Delegate Aisha Braveboy, D-Prince George’s, is working on more amendments to clarify expungement rules and how local crime labs process samples, which will be stored by the Maryland State Police.

“I think that the amendments are fair, reasonable and make the bill a little bit more comprehensive, so I would hope that the body would be open to those amendments,” Braveboy said.

O’Malley proposed the bill as a crime-fighting tool.

“We are the fourth most violent state in the union and there’s really no good reason for it,” O’Malley testified last month. “We all need to fight back against violent crime, and our state needs to become a much stronger and forward-leaning partner with our local law enforcement.”

Christine Hansen, an O’Malley spokeswoman, said the governor’s staff has been working to address the “legitimate concerns” expressed by the caucus.

To some, though, no amount of amendments will help the bill this year.

Delegate Jill Carter, D-Baltimore, said she hoped the bill would be defeated, because she said it reverses the presumption of innocence and targets certain groups.

“The bill needs to die and go into a task force and come back next year or some future year,” Carter said. “How do you make a bill that reverses presumption of innocence better?”

The Maryland State Conference of the NAACP and the civil rights organization’s Baltimore City branch also have strongly objected to the bill.

“Expansion of sample collection to all those arrested for a felony will further exacerbate the racial bias of the criminal justice system,” the group said in a statement released last week.

Currently, Maryland only takes DNA samples from convicted felons. O’Malley’s proposal, which he has described as one of the most important pieces of his legislative package this year, would require DNA samples to be taken from people arrested for about 15 violent crimes and for burglary.

Attorney General Doug Gansler, who testified with O’Malley in favor of the bill, has said burglary can often lead to violent crime, such as when a someone breaks into a person’s home and finds someone inside unexpectedly.

Eleven states currently have similar DNA sampling requirements, and 22 others have been considering legislation to move in that direction.

Crimes that would require DNA samples under the O’Malley proposal would include abduction, burglary and kidnapping. Other crimes include manslaughter, rape, carjacking and assault.