Bill > H5293

This bill, titled "Promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment" (The PROTECT Act), aims to enhance protections for individuals interacting with the legal and immigration systems. Key provisions include requiring correctional facilities to provide detained individuals with written notices about their rights, including the right to counsel and to decline interviews, and ensuring confidential attorney-client communications through dedicated phone lines. It also mandates that facilities maintain updated records of detained individuals with contact information for counsel and family, and that these records are accessible to them. The bill restricts local law enforcement agencies from inquiring about or enforcing federal civil immigration matters, with exceptions for specific criminal offenses and requiring strict oversight for any agreements that deputize local personnel for immigration enforcement. Furthermore, it mandates that employers notify employees within 48 hours of receiving an inspection notice from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding employment records. The bill also introduces new regulations for civil arrests within courthouses, requiring a judicial warrant and limiting such arrests to specific circumstances, and establishes a reporting mechanism for these warrants. Finally, it creates a framework for certifying victims of criminal activity and human trafficking to assist them in obtaining nonimmigrant visas, prohibiting retaliation against those seeking certification and requiring timely responses from certifying entities.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5293