Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 806: Physician Assistants - Revisions (Physician Assistant Modernization Act of 2024)

This Maryland bill modernizes the practice of physician assistants by requiring them to hold a collaboration agreement with a patient care team physician instead of a delegation agreement. It also updates the scope of practice and education requirements for licensure, while allowing federal government physician assistants to perform their duties during specific disasters. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the State Board of Physicians regularly review and update the list of advance duties available to physician assistants. These changes aim to clarify professional responsibilities and streamline how physician assistants operate within the state's healthcare system.

Jamila Woods (D) Harry Bhandari (D) Deni Taveras (D) Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D) Nic Kipke (R)

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 144: Medical Records - Fees - Attorneys Representing Patients

This Maryland law prohibits healthcare providers from charging fees when attorneys request copies of patient medical records for specific legal purposes. The change directly affects patients who hire lawyers to help them file claims or appeal denials of Social Security disability income or benefits. Previously, only patients, their personal representatives, and representatives from nonprofit legal services organizations were exempt from these fees. Now, attorneys representing patients are added to the list of individuals who can obtain these records without paying a charge, provided the records are used for Social Security-related claims. The new rule takes effect on October 1, 2024.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 814: Juvenile Law - Reform

This Maryland law reform bill updates the state's juvenile justice system by changing how courts handle older children accused of crimes and modifying procedures for detention and probation. It establishes new government offices to oversee child welfare and crime prevention while creating a new cabinet to coordinate services for youth. The legislation also expands rules allowing registered sex offenders to enter schools and adjusts requirements for various oversight committees that monitor juvenile facilities.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 952: Assisted Living Programs - Assisted Living Referrers - Requirements and Prohibitions

This Maryland law establishes new rules for assisted living referrers, who are individuals or agencies that recommend people to assisted living facilities in exchange for compensation. The bill requires these referrers to register with the state, maintain liability insurance, and ensure their employees undergo criminal background checks. Additionally, referrers must provide clear written agreements and service descriptions to clients, facilitate tours of the facilities they recommend, and stop selling client data without explicit consent. The legislation also prohibits referrers from receiving referral fees more than two years after making a recommendation and mandates that they only refer clients to licensed programs. Finally, the state will maintain a public database of licensed assisted living programs to help referrers verify facility status.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 22: Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - Board of License Commissioners

This bill transfers the authority to appoint and remove members of Baltimore City's Board of License Commissioners from local city officials to the Governor, requiring Senate approval for these appointments. It also mandates that board members be residents of the city and clarifies that they must follow state ethics rules instead of local ones. Additionally, the law ensures that board members and employees cannot have financial interests in businesses selling alcohol and must resign if they seek other government roles that create a conflict of interest.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 905: Public Safety – Extreme Risk Protective Orders – Review of Court Records

This Maryland law allows researchers from colleges and universities to review confidential court records related to extreme risk protective orders for academic or policy studies. To access these records, the institution must sign an agreement with the state judiciary that ensures the data remains secure, is used only for the specific research project, and is never shared with unauthorized individuals. The legislation also permits researchers to publish statistical summaries of the data as long as no individual's identity is revealed. Violations of the confidentiality agreement could result in legal penalties or court injunctions to stop unauthorized disclosures.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 404: Public Safety - Wellness Checks - Requirements (Gabriel's Law)

This law, known as Gabriel's Law, requires Maryland law enforcement and emergency medical services to immediately respond to wellness check requests from healthcare providers or others with credible information about a life-threatening safety concern. When a life-threatening condition is reported, fire, rescue, or emergency medical teams must conduct the check at the same time as police officers. The bill applies to individuals within the agency's jurisdiction and mandates that requests be forwarded without delay to the appropriate agency if the person is located elsewhere. These provisions take effect on October 1, 2024, and aim to streamline the process for ensuring the well-being of individuals in crisis.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1063: Criminal Organizations - Underlying Crime

This Maryland bill updates the state's laws regarding criminal organizations by clarifying definitions and adjusting legal procedures for civil actions and asset forfeiture. It specifically defines a criminal organization as any group, formal or informal, that engages in a pattern of organized crime activity with a command structure and primary objectives involving serious underlying crimes such as violence, fraud, drug offenses, and child pornography. The legislation establishes a five-year statute of limitations for civil lawsuits seeking damages from participation in these groups, counting from the date the criminal activity ends. Additionally, it provides specific procedures for seizing property connected to these organizations and expands the list of underlying crimes to include various federal and interstate offenses.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 496: Criminal Law - Sexual Crimes - Definition of Consent and Repeal of Force

This Maryland bill redefines consent in sexual crime laws to mean a clear and voluntary agreement, explicitly stating that past relationships, clothing choices, or submission due to fear do not constitute consent. It removes the requirement for force or threats to prove a crime, instead making the lack of consent a standalone element that can be shown through words or actions. The law also clarifies that consent can be withdrawn at any time and cannot be documented in writing. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Maryland Judiciary report annual statistics on sexual crime charges and convictions, broken down by county and demographic factors, until 2029.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1079: Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - License Extensions

This bill extends the expiration dates of two specific alcohol beverage licenses in Baltimore City until July 1, 2025, to allow for their transfer or renewal under new conditions. The extension applies to a license on Harford Road and another on East Fayette Street, but only if the current license holder signs an agreement with their respective local community associations. These agreements require a public input process for the transfer, restrict the new owner to selling only beer and wine for the first year, and mandate specific public safety measures such as improved lighting, noise control, and trash management. The law is set to expire automatically on July 31, 2025, without needing further legislative action.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1329: Division of Parole and Probation – Private Home Detention Monitoring – Earned Compliance Credits

This Maryland law allows individuals under probation or parole supervision to earn time off their sentences by following rules and meeting specific goals. To qualify for these earned compliance credits, a person must show consistent compliance, avoid new arrests, stay current on court-ordered payments, and complete community requirements. The program specifically includes those monitored by private home detention agencies and grants a 20-day reduction for every month of good behavior. Once a person has served their full term plus earned credits, they move to a status called abatement, where they no longer need to report regularly or pay supervision fees unless they break the rules. Additionally, the law requires private monitoring agencies to report to the state division and mandates that a portion of the financial savings from this program be returned to the state.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 614: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Prostheses (So Every Body Can Move Act)

This Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover orthoses and prostheses starting in 2025. It defines orthoses as custom or prefabricated devices used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions and mandates that these devices be considered essential health benefits. The bill also sets specific rules for replacing devices, ensuring they are not subject to higher copayments or separate annual limits, and prohibits denial of coverage based on a patient's disability status. Additionally, it establishes that coverage decisions must align with federal Medicare standards and allows for replacements if repairs would cost more than 60% of a new device.

Bill results