Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 874: State Board of Long-Term Care Administrators - Requirements for Assisted Living Managers

This Maryland bill updates regulations for assisted living managers, primarily by extending the deadline for mandatory licensing and modifying training requirements. It allows managers to delay full licensure until July 1, 2026, while also reducing the required training hours from 80 to a mix of in-person and virtual options, provided the training includes direct faculty interaction. The legislation also clarifies rules for interim managers who step in temporarily and adjusts the composition of the State Board of Long-Term Care Administrators to include more assisted living managers. Additionally, the bill maintains penalties for facilities that fail to employ qualified managers and ensures approved training courses remain affordable and accessible.

Dana Stein (D) Mary Lehman (D) Kevin Harris (D) Nicole Williams (D) Jamila Woods (D)

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 687: Criminal Procedure - Bail Bonds - Seventh Judicial Circuit

This bill updates Maryland laws regarding bail bonds specifically for the Seventh Judicial Circuit by repealing and amending existing statutes. It allows circuit courts to establish their own rules for bail bond terms, fees, and the qualifications of bail bondsmen, while also permitting defendants or private sureties to post full penalty amounts with a small deposit. The legislation clarifies that anyone acting as a surety must be approved by the court and properly licensed, and it outlines how courts can use collected fees and forfeited bonds to cover administrative expenses. Additionally, the bill modifies provisions related to property bonds, ensuring that agents authorized by property bondsmen can legally execute bonds secured by real estate.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 678: Income Tax - Technical Corrections

This bill makes technical corrections to Maryland's income tax laws by removing outdated rules and fixing an incorrect reference to a repealed section. It directly affects the state Comptroller, who manages tax revenue distribution, and municipalities that previously received specific tax allocations. The legislation repeals obsolete provisions regarding how tax money was shared with local areas and updates a cross-reference in the tax code to ensure it points to the correct, current sections. Additionally, it clarifies the section number for a housing credit available to individuals and businesses for construction and rehabilitation projects. These changes are administrative adjustments designed to align the tax code with current statutes rather than altering tax rates or rates of revenue collection.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1098: Correctional Services - Diminution Credits - Sexual Offenses

This Maryland bill prohibits incarcerated individuals convicted of first-degree rape from earning time-reduction credits known as diminution credits. The law specifically targets those serving sentences for sexual offenses against victims under the age of 16, as well as those whose crimes occurred on or after October 1, 2024. By removing these credits, the legislation ensures that the full length of their sentences remains in effect without deductions for time spent in local correctional facilities before or after their official sentencing. This change applies to both state and local correctional facilities and takes effect on October 1, 2024.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1122: Maryland Health Care Commission – Nursing Homes – Acquisitions

This bill establishes a new process requiring anyone buying a nursing home in Maryland to notify the Maryland Health Care Commission at least 60 days before closing the deal. The law defines an acquisition as any transfer of stock or assets that changes who controls the facility, or the transfer of more than 25% of ownership. Before finalizing the purchase, buyers must submit a request for approval that includes the seller's quality ratings, evidence of past quality committees, inspection reports, and records of any lawsuits involving the facility. The Commission will review these details and provide written findings to the Office of Health Care Quality, with the option for judicial review if the Commission denies the acquisition. Additionally, the bill mandates that new owners submit regular reports to the Commission after taking over the facility.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 381: State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Criminal History Records Checks

This bill requires individuals applying for a new optometry license or renewing an existing one in Maryland to undergo a criminal history records check. To complete this process, applicants must submit fingerprints and pay the necessary fees to obtain both state and national criminal history information from the Central Repository. The State Board of Examiners in Optometry will use these records to evaluate whether an applicant poses a threat to public health or safety, considering factors such as the age and nature of any past crimes. Additionally, the law mandates that the board request updated criminal history information if new records are discovered after the initial check is performed.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 991: Behavioral Health - Language Assistance Services Pilot Program

This bill establishes a pilot program within Maryland's Behavioral Health Administration to help local authorities pay for language assistance services for children and their parents who have limited English proficiency. The program operates through a competitive grant process that funds licensed behavioral health providers to offer interpretation and translation services, ensuring these individuals can access care and make informed health decisions. To receive reimbursement, providers must submit a detailed plan outlining how they identify language needs, train staff, and communicate effectively with non-English speakers. The legislation allocates $120,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to fund at least three grants each year, with strict reporting requirements to track the number of individuals served and the specific languages involved. The program is set to run for four years, ending on June 30, 2028, after which it will expire automatically.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 651: St. Mary's County - Alcoholic Beverages - Beer, Wine, and Liquor Tasting Permit

This bill creates a new tasting permit for establishments in St. Mary's County that already hold a Class A alcohol license. It allows these venues to let customers sample beer, wine, and liquor on-site for tasting purposes only, with specific daily limits on how much each person can consume. Permit holders can choose a duration of 26, 52, or 365 days and must notify the licensing board at least seven days in advance for shorter terms. The legislation also sets specific fees for each permit duration, ranging from $200 to $300.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1134: Hospitals and Related Institutions – Residential Treatment Centers – Accreditation

This Maryland law expands the definition of an accredited residential treatment center to include facilities certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Council on Accreditation, in addition to those already recognized by the Joint Commission. By updating state health codes, the bill ensures that these additional organizations are treated with the same regulatory respect as the primary accrediting body when determining a facility's status. Consequently, residential treatment centers accredited by these new organizations will be subject to the same inspection and enforcement procedures as previously recognized centers if serious patient care issues are identified. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and apply to all relevant health care facilities under the state's general health regulations.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1100: Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - 46th Alcoholic Beverages District - Revisions

This bill updates regulations for alcoholic beverage licenses in Baltimore City's 46th district, specifically allowing the Board of License Commissioners to issue a limited number of new licenses within a defined area near South Locust Point. It permits existing licenses to be moved to new locations only if they remain at least 300 feet away from schools or places of worship, and it prohibits transferring licenses into the newly designated zone. The legislation also enables certain restaurants to convert from beer-and-wine licenses to full liquor licenses if they meet specific criteria, such as generating over 51% of revenue from food sales and signing a community agreement. Additionally, the bill extends the expiration date of some existing licenses to facilitate their transfer and restricts new licenses from being granted to recipients of certain state grants.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 830: State Board of Physicians - Performance of X-Ray Duties Without a License

This bill establishes a new licensing system for limited licensed radiologic technologists in Maryland, allowing individuals without a full medical license to perform specific X-ray duties under the supervision of a licensed physician or radiologic technologist. The law restricts these unlicensed individuals from performing advanced procedures like CT scans, fluoroscopy, mammograms, or radiation therapy, permitting them only to take standard X-rays of the chest, spine, and extremities. To qualify, applicants must complete a specific educational program with at least 115 hours of training and 480 hours of clinical practice, pass a board-approved exam, and maintain their registration through continuing education. Additionally, the bill alters the composition of the state advisory committee overseeing radiation therapy and radiography to include representatives for this new limited license category.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1358: Natural Resources - Gwynns Falls State Park - Focus Group, Advisory Committee, and Report

This bill establishes Gwynns Falls State Park as a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Baltimore City, creating a shared unit of the state park system focused on outdoor recreation and education. The park will include specific existing properties such as Leakin Park and the Gwynns Falls Trail, with a formal agreement defining the financial and operational roles of both the state and the city. To guide development, the law requires the state and city to conduct community surveys, hold focus group meetings, and create an advisory committee comprised of neighborhood, environmental, and historic preservation representatives. Additionally, the bill mandates a summer conservation jobs program for high school students and requires a detailed report to be submitted to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, outlining suitable properties and funding needs.

Bill results