MarylandStarting October 2026, Maryland requires police training on autism and dementia
Starting October 1, 2026, Maryland police training must cover ways to search for and reunite people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and autism.
What it does
Police training must cover people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and autism. In-service training is included as the Commission decides.
Argument forTraining on searches, sensory-aware approaches, and reunification could help officers respond more effectively when people with these conditions go missing.
Argument againstBecause the Commission decides how in-service training is handled, officers may receive different amounts of this training across police schools.
More detail
The Commission must require police training about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and autism. The requirement covers entrance-level training and, as the Commission decides, in-service training at State, county, and city police training schools. The Commission decides whether to require this training for in-service courses. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 658Became Law
- Apr 13Returned Passed
- Apr 13Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Apr 8Favorable Adopted Second Reading PassedMinor
- Apr 8Favorable Report by Judicial ProceedingsMinor
- Mar 19Referred Judicial ProceedingsMinor
- Mar 18Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Mar 17Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 17Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Mar 16Favorable with Amendments Report by JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 30Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 30First Reading JudiciaryIntroduced
Public SafetyDisability Rights