Bill > SB140

This bill, titled "Criminal Law - Benefits Exploitation," aims to create new criminal offenses related to the exploitation of government benefits. It defines key terms such as "coercion," which includes threats of bodily harm, confinement, exposure of sensitive information, providing controlled dangerous substances to compel actions, causing financial harm, or depriving someone of medical care; "deception," involving false impressions or promises not intended to be kept; "exploitation," meaning the illegal or improper use of an individual or their government benefits through undue influence, harassment, duress, false representation, or similar means for personal gain; "government benefits," which encompasses a wide range of programs like Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, SNAP, Social Security, SSDI, veterans benefits, pensions, TDAP, and PAA; and "isolation," defined as preventing contact with others without consent. The bill makes it a felony for a person to knowingly recruit, harbor, transport, or obtain another individual to appropriate their government benefits for personal benefit or the benefit of another, through deception, coercion, exploitation, isolation, or any other means. It also prohibits knowingly benefiting financially from participation in such a venture and makes it illegal to aid, abet, or conspire in these violations. Violators face imprisonment up to 25 years, a fine up to $15,000, or both, with each violation considered a separate offense and sentences potentially running consecutively or concurrently with other crimes. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0140?ys=2026RS