ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — Legislation intended to make your kids safer in school is progressing through the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. But the bill, which was drafted following a FOX45 News investigation, is running out of time to pass.
With just weeks remaining in this year’s legislative session, Harford County Delegate Lauren Arikan went before the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee. Arikan, on Tuesday, testified in favor of legislation she introduced – The Public and Nonpublic Schools – Employing Individuals Charged With Crimes – Prohibition, or House Bill 1418.
“What we have found in our county, thanks to the reporting of FOX45, is that multiple individuals that were charged with fairly serious crimes were actually in our school systems working,” explained Arikan during the committee meeting.
The bill, according to Del. Lauren Arikan, was written in response to recent Project Baltimore investigations involving Harford County Public Schools (WBFF)
HB 1418 has bipartisan support; it is sponsored by four Republicans and two Democrats from Harford County.
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The bill prohibits public and nonpublic schools from “hiring or retaining” employees charged with certain crimes. That includes, crimes of “moral turpitude”, “distribution” of drugs, certain “federal” crimes and “any felony”. Also, under the bill, any employee who fails to report any of the previously mentioned charges or convictions would be prohibited from working in a school system for five years.
The bill, according to Arikan, was written in response to recent Project Baltimore investigations involving Harford County Public Schools hiring or retaining two now former employees – Lawrence Smith and Kairen Thomas.
Maryland has had other reported issues with hiring practices in schools (WBFF)
FOX45 News, last fall, first reported that HCPS hired Smith in August 2025 to be an 8th grade English teacher at Edgewood Middle School. At the time Smith was hired he was facing 15 federal charges related to wire fraud and income tax evasion. In October, he admitted to a felony charge and stealing $215,000 in overtime from Baltimore City Schools where he once worked as a police officer. After pleading guilty, Smith left Harford County Public Schools. His sentencing is set for April 15.
Weeks later, Project Baltimore broke the news regarding Kairen Thomas, who even after gun conviction in 2024, remained working inside Edgewood Elementary School in Harford County. In 2025, while still employed by HCPS, Thomas was charged with eight additional crimes including drug “distribution” and “Firearms access by minors.” Despite those additional charges, Thomas remained working at HCPS for five months. His trial is set for later this month.
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“We decided to, as the delegation, to pull together a policy that would prevent that from happening not only in our jurisdiction, but in all of your jurisdictions as well,” Arikan told the committee. “This is a statewide bill.”
Maryland has had other reported issues with hiring practices in schools. A report, released by the State Department of Legislative Services in January, found 12 school systems did “not have sufficient policies and procedures to ensure employees” were “properly screened” before working “with children.”
Lawrence Smith and Kairen Thomas are former HCPS employees (WBFF)
“We really want to make sure that the folks that we’re hiring, do not have severe and serious criminal penalties that are pending,” Arikan stated during the hearing.
As for Arikan’s bill there were no questions from the committee. There was also no verbal or written testimony in opposition to the bill. Arikan hopes the bill will soon come up for a vote.
“Any bill that has no opposition should immediately get a vote,” Arikan told Project Baltimore. “It’s a kitchen table issue. We want safe schools – making sure criminals or those that are charged with serious crimes are not in our schools. It’s a very easy thing for families to support. And the legislature should back those parents up.”
Monday, March 23 is crossover day in Annapolis. That is the deadline for bills to pass in one chamber and go to the other chamber for consideration. Meaning, Arikan’s bill only has a few days left to pass in the House before it can go to the Senate.
Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com
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