Maryland House of Delegates passes bills to decriminalize student behavior, overhaul juvenile justice system

The Maryland House of Delegates passed two extensive pieces of juvenile justice legislation Friday — mere days after the 90-day legislative session reached its halfway point. Sponsored by Del. Sheila Ruth, a Democrat representing Baltimore County, House Bill 615 would prohibit school administrators from having students charged with a crime under Maryland’s education code that criminalizes behaviors that disrupt school time.