Maryland Attorney General Seeks Applicants for the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office issued the following news release on May 8, 2024:
Attorney General Anthony Brown is accepting membership applications for the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) invites anyone who represents or advocates for individuals impacted by hate in Maryland to apply.

The Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention is charged with the development of strategies to address hate crimes and hate bias activity and the evaluation of Maryland laws and policies related to hate crimes. The Commission submits annual reports to the State Department of Education and Maryland General Assembly with policy and legislative recommendations to address hate crimes in schools and the broader community. Since the Commission was formed last year, current members have assisted with the creation of an OAG
hate crimes reporting web portal, which is expected to launch soon. Commission members also participated in the ongoing series of statewide Hate Bias Incident Reporting Forums led by the
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the OAG.

Last month, the General Assembly enacted legislation that changed the composition of the Commission and ended the terms of its current members effective June 1, 2024. Under the new
legislation, the Attorney General will appoint new members to the Commission, some requiring the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate. While the legislation is not yet law, the process
of selecting Commission members is underway.

“The work of the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention is vital to ensuring Marylanders can live free of fear in their homes and in the community,” said Attorney
General Brown. “Membership on the Commission is an opportunity to make an impact, so my Office is working to ensure the Commission can get back to work.”

The new Commission will be composed of 25 members. As reorganized, 15 members will be selected based on their representation or advocacy on behalf of a class of persons identified under Maryland’s current hate crimes law, including race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and homelessness. These 15 members must be confirmed by the Maryland Senate. Eight members will be appointed from specified organizations and two members will be appointed from the general public.

The Commission is composed of five subcommittees on which members are expected to serve.
These include:
• Addressing Hate Incidents in Schools
• Law Enforcement Training and Engagement
• Restorative Justice
• Community Engagement
• Online and Cyberbullying

All Commission members are required to abide by the Operating Guidelines.

Applications will be evaluated for appointment based on the following criteria: membership in, or advocacy for, a protected group identified in the statute; a demonstrated commitment to advocacy in Maryland; geographic diversity; willingness and ability to participate in the work of the Commission; and a commitment to the Commission’s rules and values. Applicants are also
asked if they are willing to share if they have been the victim of hate and are willing to speak about that experience to inform the work of the Commission.

The link to the application can be found here: https://bit.ly/44u401E.

Each applicant must submit the following materials:
• A fully completed application form
• A resume
• The applicant’s handles on public social media channels (ex. @NAME)
• Three references
At the close of the application period, a panel will review the applications submitted and schedule interviews, as needed.
Certain members appointed to serve on the Commission must be confirmed by the Maryland Senate, and those members will serve in an acting status until the completion of the confirmation
process. Members will be appointed to one-, two-, or three-year staggered terms. In an acting capacity, the Commission will continue the work already underway to ensure there is no home
for hate in Maryland.

The application period closes on May 31, 2024.