The Maryland Senate unanimously approved a criminal justice bill on Thursday that would significantly change how drug offenders are sentenced, shifting the focus to treatment rather than prison.

The vote came after a long debate about whether the measure goes far enough to reduce prison costs and population.

“This is the largest reform of the criminal justice system passed in a generation,” said Sen. Michael J. Hough (R-Frederick), who worked with Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County) on amendments to the bill in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

But several lawmakers, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), said they are hoping for changes in the House of Delegates that will provide additional state savings.

“This is a small step,” said Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), “and I think many people hoped for a big step.”

Last week, an analyst found that changes made to the bill by the Senate judicial committee would reduce the amount of money the state would save on prison costs. Instead of saving nearly $250 million over 10 years as initially projected, the analysis showed that the state would save $34 million during the same time period.

[‘Landmark’ criminal justice bill delayed as its impact is questioned]

Miller delayed a vote on the bill after he saw the analysis. The judicial committee then reversed one of its changes. After a member of the Legislative Black Caucus asked for a postponement, Miller delayed the bill again.

On Thursday, Miller said he was “thrilled” to see the measure moving forward and called the legislation “a 100 percent improvement from where we are.”

“With some further changes, I think it could make all of our constituent groups happy,” he said.

Under the original bill, there would be strict limits on what sentences could be given to parole violators: 15 days for the first revocation and up to 45 days for the third revocation. The Senate committee voted to do away with the caps, allowing judges to impose longer sentences if they feel the parolee poses a public safety risk or “for other good cause.” After an outcry, the committee dropped the “good cause” language from the amendment.

The legislation, modeled after laws that have been enacted elsewhere, would send people charged with drug possession to treatment instead of prison; eliminate disparities in penalties for offenses involving crack and powder cocaine; make it easier to have drug-possession convictions expunged; and offer drug offenders the same number of credits to reduce their sentences that are given to other nonviolent offenders.

It would also allow people who are serving mandatory minimums for drug offenses to appeal their sentences. At the same time, it would increase the penalties for second-degree murder and kidnapping.

Also on Thursday, the Senate sent a bill to the governor’s desk that secures future funding for Prince George’s Hospital Center as it transitions to a planned regional medical center.

The legislation was sponsored by Miller, who criticized Gov. Larry Hogan (R) earlier this year for withholding $15 million in hospital funding. Hogan later agreed to allocate the money.

The Senate also gave preliminary approval to a pay-equity bill, delayed earlier this week, after Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) offered an amendment to address concerns that legislators expressed about the impact the bill would have on small businesses.

Middleton’s amendment removed a provision that would have allowed people to file a complaint within three years from the time they discover they may have been a victim of discrimination. He replaced it with language that requires a complaint to be filed within three years from the time a person leaves a job.

The Senate also gave preliminary approval to a bill that would require drug prescribers and pharmacists to register with and use a prescription-monitoring database that helps identify abuse of medications. The measure is similar to a proposal Hogan made this year as part of his plans to address a growing heroin epidemic stemming from widespread painkiller addiction.

Both chambers of the legislature appointed delegates to the conference committee that will reconcile differences between the state operating budgets that the House and Senate approved in recent weeks.

The delegates will be Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore City), Tawanna P. Gaines (D-Prince George’s), Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), Kirill Reznik (D-Montgomery) and Wendell R. Beitzel (R-Garrett), while the senators will be Madaleno, Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Howard), James E. DeGrange Sr. (D-Anne Arundel), Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery) and George C. Edwards (R-Garrett).

The House also gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow public safety employees such as police and firefighters to exclude up to $15,000 in retirement income from taxes after the age of 55.

Josh Hicks contributed to this report.