A violent assault and abduction of an elderly Seaford woman prompted legislation that was signed into law Wednesday morning during a ceremony in Gov. Matt Meyer’s Legislative Hall office.
State Sens. Stephanie Hansen (D-Middletown) & Bryant Richardson (R-Seaford) and State Rep. Danny Short (R-Seaford) were the prime sponsors of Senate Bill 292, also known as the Grace Peterson Act.
The new law is intended to close a gap in how reentry housing operators handle former offenders transitioning back into society after serving their sentences.
The measure is named for former Seaford councilwoman Grace Peterson, who was carjacked, kidnapped, robbed, assaulted, and driven over 30 miles south into Wicomico County in her own car. She was bound, pistol-whipped, thrown into the Wicomico River, and left for dead. She was 80 years old at the time of the attack.
Immediately prior to the incident, the 26-year-old assailant had been evicted from the House of Mercy, a reentry house in Seaford located in Ms. Peterson’s neighborhood. The eviction was carried out without any discharge plan, transportation, or notification of local police and Corrections officials.
Rep. Short said that for the last three years, Ms. Peterson has advocated for closing the legal loophole that created the circumstances leading to the crimes committed against her.
The new law, which will take effect in six months, will require reentry housing operators to help tenants develop a discharge plan before carrying out an eviction when the tenant’s rent is fully or partially paid with state money. The plan must include an effort to directly connect the tenant with shelter and another support arrangement to help ensure continuity.
The legislation also mandates that, in the event of an eviction, the landlord notify the entity making the housing payments and, if the tenant is under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, inform that agency and local law enforcement.
Nearly half of the General Assembly sponsored or co-sponsored the bipartisan bill.
