WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 170

SB 170 — Criminal Law: Benefits Exploitation

Status: Hearing scheduled 1/21 at 2:30 p.m. | Introduced: January 23, 2025
Effective date (per bill text): October 1, 2025

Purpose and intent

SB 170 creates a new felony offense to target schemes that recruit, obtain, transport, harbor, or isolate people for the purpose of appropriating their government benefits. The measure is aimed at organized or individual conduct that exploits vulnerable adults (including elderly or disabled persons) or others to divert public benefits for another’s financial advantage.

Key provisions

  • Prohibited conduct
    • It is unlawful for any person, by deception, coercion, exploitation, isolation, or any other means, to knowingly recruit, harbor, transport, or obtain an individual for the purpose of appropriating that individual’s government benefits for personal gain or to benefit another.
    • It is unlawful to knowingly benefit financially (or receive anything of value) from participation in such a venture, and to aid, abet, or conspire to commit the offense.
  • Definitions (selected)
    • “Government benefits” explicitly includes Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, SNAP, Social Security, SSDI, veterans’ benefits, pension benefits, Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP), and Public Assistance to Adults (PAA).
    • “Coercion” includes threatening or causing bodily harm; restraining or confining; exposing or threatening to expose information that would subject someone to criminal or immigration proceedings or public ridicule; confiscating passports/ID; providing drugs to compel action; causing or threatening financial harm or exerting financial control over an elderly/disabled adult; and depriving medical care.
    • “Deception,” “exploitation,” and “isolation” are defined to cover false representations, undue influence, harassment, and preventing contact with family/authorities.
  • Penalties
    • Violation is a felony punishable by up to 25 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine up to $15,000.
    • Each violation is a separate offense; conviction under this statute does not merge with other crimes based on the same acts.
  • Reporting / other requirements
    • (No civil restitution mechanism appears in the bill text; enforcement falls to criminal prosecution.)

Who would be affected

  • Primary targets: individuals and organizations that run or participate in schemes to exploit others’ public benefits (e.g., trafficking victims’ benefits, identity-fraud benefit diversion).
  • Secondary effects: victims whose benefits are appropriated (elderly, disabled, immigrants, low-income program recipients); prosecutors and courts (criminal enforcement); law enforcement investigations into related trafficking or fraud.
  • Service providers and benefit administrators may see increased investigative referrals; victims may require outreach and restoration assistance (not addressed directly in this bill).

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Maryland fiscal analysis (legislative staff) estimates a minimal state fiscal impact: a one-time Judiciary programming cost of $1,434 in FY 2026 to implement system changes. Otherwise the bill is not anticipated to materially affect state finances or local operations.
  • Effective date in bill text: October 1, 2025.
  • Procedural status: hearing scheduled (1/21 at 2:30 p.m. as listed).

Practical impact summary

SB 170 creates a standalone felony tailored to punish and deter the recruitment and exploitation of people for the purpose of diverting public benefits. It closes a gap by targeting conduct that mixes elements of trafficking, elder/disabled exploitation, identity misuse, and benefit fraud, and enables prosecutors to pursue lengthy imprisonment and fines for organizers and beneficiaries of such schemes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.