The Task Force was created in the 2021 legislative session by HB18, the passage of which made the Maryland General Assembly the second state legislature in the country to provide statewide access to counsel in eviction proceedings for income-eligible tenants.
The Task Force is responsible for:
studying potential funding sources,
making recommendations to improve the implementation of the access to counsel program, including necessary policy and statutory changes, and
evaluating the provision of services provided as a result of the program.
Contact the Task Force at a2c@oag.state.md.us
1/5/2022 - Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force Releases Annual Report
11/17/2021 - Task Force Asks Governor Hogan to Dedicate Federal Funds to Initial Implementation of Access to Counsel in Evictions Program
8/17/2021- Attorney General Frosh Announces Members to the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force
Task Force meetings are currently being held via videoconference unless otherwise noted. For information about joining the meetings, or if you are interested in receiving email notifications about future meetings of the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force, please email a2c@oag.state.md.us.
Upcoming Meetings
No meetings scheduled at this time.
Past Meetings
Monday, October 31, 2022, 11:00am – 12:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 10/28/22)
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 12pm- 1:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 12pm- 1:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO
Monday, October 3, 2022, 12pm- 1:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO
September 20, 2022, 12pm- 1:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO
May 9, 2022 at 8am AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 4/29/22)
December 9, 2021 from 4pm-7pm AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 12/2/21)
November 15, 2021 from 4-5:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 11/4/21)
November 10, 2021 3:30-5:30pm; Frederick County Association of Realtors (FCAR) Classroom, 478 Prospect Blvd, Frederick, MD 21701 (Microsoft Teams link will also be available) AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 11/1/21)
October 22, 2021 from 12-1:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO • Meeting Materials (notice posted 10/8//21)
October 12, 2021 from 12-1:30pm AGENDA • VIDEO • Meeting Materials (notice posted 9/29/21)
October 11, 2021 from 10am-12pm AGENDA • VIDEO • Meeting Materials (notice posted 10/01/21)
October 8, 2021 from 9-10:30am AGENDA • VIDEO • Meeting Materials (notice posted 9/29/21)
October 7, 2021 from 11am-1pm AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 9/28/21)
September 20, 2021 from 8:30-9:30am AGENDA • VIDEO (notice posted 9/13/21)
By statute, the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force consists of 15 members appointed by the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Frosh has selected the following members to serve:
NameTask Force RoleAffiliationReena ShahTask Force ChairMaryland Access to Justice CommissionLaTonya AbromTenant representativeMontgomery county residentJason ButlerTenant representativeBaltimore county residentNicholas KatzCommunity group representativeCASA of MarylandJessica KaufmanTenant advocacy group representativeOffice of the Attorney General (Housing Unit)Luke LancianoLandlord representativeBernstein ManagementCharisse LueCommunity group representativePublic Justice CenterPam NewlandLandlord representativeHendersen-Webb, Inc.Kelley O'ConnorJudiciary representativeMaryland judiciaryPam OrtizJudiciary representativeMaryland judiciaryKarla RodriguezTenant representativePrince George's county residentLisa SarroCommunity group representationArundel Community Development Services, Inc.Deb SeltzerMLSC representativeMaryland Legal Services CorporationVicki SchultzDesignated organization representativeMaryland Legal Aid
The Council is staffed by Tara Miles of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
To focus on specific aspects of the Task Force's work, the Chair of the Task Force created three committees. Those committees, comprised of both Task Force members and other key stakeholders from across the State, met regularly to consider the primary areas within the Task Force's purview: outreach and assessment, implementation, and funding.
Committee Members
Outreach and Assessment Committee
Implementation Committee
Funding Committee
Upcoming Meetings
As with Task Force meetings, committee meetings are open to the public and announced in advance. There are no meetings scheduled at this time.
Outreach and Assessment Committee: December 3, 2021 at 10:30am AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/29/21)
Implementation Committee: December 1, 2021 at 1:00pm AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/11/21)
Funding Committee: November 30, 2021 at 3:00pm AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/17/21)
Implenentation Committee: November 24, 2021 at 1:00pm AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/11/21)
Outreach and Assessment Committee: November 19, 2021 at 10:30am AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/4/21)
Implementation Committee: November 17, 2021 at 1:00pm AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/11/21)
Outreach and Assessment Committee: November 12, 2021 at 10:30am AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/4/21)
Outreach and Assessment Committee: November 5 , 2021 at 10:30am AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 11/4/21)
Implementation Committee: November 3, 2021 at 1:00pm AGENDA • Meeting Materials • MINUTES (notice posted 10/25/21)
Outreach and Assessment Committee: October 29, 2021 at 10:30am AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 10/25/21)
Funding Committee: October 27, 2021 at 9:00am AGENDA • MINUTES (notice posted 10/25/21)
The COVID-19 Acccess to Justice Task Force was a partnership between the Maryland Attorney General's Office and the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, developing strategies and solutions addressing the significant civil legal challenges facing Marylanders in the wake of COVID-19. The Task Force is now under the auspices of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission.
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