This bill requires individuals to be certified as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses before they can practice in Maryland, with specific exceptions for students, federal employees, and temporary visitors. The law also outlines conditions under which nurses can practice while waiting for licensure results or during disaster responses, and it updates provisions regarding multistate nursing licenses. By establishing these certification and licensing standards, the legislation aims to regulate the practice of advanced nursing roles within the state.
This bill, known as the Homecare Worker Rights Act of 2024, changes how Maryland residential service agencies are paid for personal assistance services. Starting in 2026, the state will only provide reimbursement to these agencies if the workers delivering care are officially classified as employees rather than independent contractors. The law aims to ensure that caregivers have the legal protections and benefits associated with employment status. By tying funding directly to employee classification, the bill seeks to standardize working conditions for homecare workers across the state.
This bill, known as Rudy's Law, requires baby food manufacturers in Maryland to test their products for toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury before packaging them for sale. Starting in January 2025, these companies must have their food tested by accredited laboratories at least once a month and share the results with state health officials. Beginning in January 2026, manufacturers must also publish detailed test results on their websites and include QR codes on product labels that allow consumers to access this information and learn about potential health risks. Additionally, the law mandates that any consumer who suspects a product contains unsafe levels of these metals must report it to the Maryland Department of Health. The regulations apply specifically to foods packaged for babies and children under two years old but exclude infant formula.
This bill establishes a Purple Alert Program in Maryland to help locate missing adults who have cognitive impairments, intellectual disabilities, or brain injuries, provided they do not already qualify for the Silver Alert system. The Maryland State Police will create guidelines for issuing these alerts, train local law enforcement, and coordinate with broadcasters, volunteer groups, and highway signs to spread information quickly. Additionally, the program includes a provision allowing high school students to assist in searches under specific educational guidelines. Caregivers or those reporting a missing person must immediately notify local police and the State Police if the individual is found, ensuring the alert is deactivated promptly.
This bill establishes the Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland to address fire risks and promote responsible battery management. The commission will be composed of representatives from various sectors, including state agencies, fire services, manufacturers, recycling groups, and public utilities, who will work together to develop safety standards and guidelines. Its primary tasks include studying best practices for preventing and suppressing battery fires in consumer, transportation, and utility applications, as well as exploring recycling and extended producer responsibility options. The commission is required to submit an interim report by December 1, 2024, and a final report with recommendations by December 1, 2025, before the law expires in late 2025.
This bill requires residential service agencies in Maryland to submit annual reports to the Department of Labor detailing the wage rates paid to personal care aides, including average, highest, and lowest figures. Additionally, it mandates that the Department of Health analyze reimbursement rates against actual service costs and develop a plan to adjust payments so that aide wages reach at least 150% of the state minimum wage. The Department must also consult with various service providers and report its findings and recommendations to the state legislature every two years starting in 2026. These measures aim to improve transparency and ensure fair compensation for workers within the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.
HB 149 updates Maryland laws to extend the time health care providers must retain medical records, laboratory reports, and X-rays before they can be destroyed. The bill requires providers to send a notice via both first-class mail and email, informing patients or guardians of the proposed destruction date and offering a window to retrieve records. Under this legislation, a provider may only destroy records after receiving written authorization from the patient or their parent or guardian. Additionally, if a provider decides to destroy records, they must make those records available for retrieval within 60 days before the destruction date at a designated location. The law also outlines specific procedures for notifying patients when a provider closes their practice or retires, ensuring records can still be accessed.
This bill establishes the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention within the Maryland Department of Health to address gun violence and misuse through a public health approach. The center will be led by an executive director who coordinates efforts with federal, state, and local agencies while actively seeking input from communities disproportionately affected by firearm violence and public health experts. Key responsibilities include developing state plans for violence reduction, issuing guidance on evidence-based strategies, facilitating data sharing, and conducting public awareness campaigns. Funding for the center will be included in the state budget starting in fiscal year 2026, and the law takes effect on October 1, 2024.
This Maryland bill updates the rules for how security guards must report the use of force, specifically clarifying that certain medical interventions in healthcare settings do not count as use of force requiring a report. It mandates that employers of security guards at healthcare facilities submit a weekly summary of specific emergency codes, such as Code Green and Code Purple, to the Secretary of State Police. The law also requires detailed incident reports within 48 hours for actual uses of force, including information on the type of force, location, and demographics of those involved, while excluding protected health information from these records. Additionally, the bill adjusts the effective date of these reporting requirements to January 1, 2025.
SB 45 updates the rules for when businesses with B-D-7 licenses can sell beer, wine, and liquor in specific neighborhoods of Baltimore City. The bill changes the allowed operating hours for stores in two distinct areas, shifting the limit from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Park Heights region and redefining the boundaries for another zone where the 10 p.m. limit applies. All other locations in the city will continue to allow sales from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. the following day. This law takes effect on June 1, 2024.
This bill authorizes Allegany County or its municipalities to grant property tax credits to specific organizations, including the Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation and the Lions Center for Rehabilitation and Extended Care. The legislation amends state tax code to explicitly list these entities as eligible recipients of tax relief on their owned properties. Effective for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2024, the measure allows local governing bodies to legally issue these credits without requiring new legislation for each individual case.
This bill requires Maryland circuit court clerks to maintain and index discharge papers for anyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces, allowing them to be recorded in either a physical book or an electronic system. The legislation explicitly prohibits clerks from charging fees to record or index these military records and confirms that the records or certified copies are admissible as evidence in state and federal courts. While access to the records is restricted to parties in legal proceedings, attorneys, and the individuals themselves, relatives may request inspection or certified copies if at least 70 years have passed since the discharge was recorded and the social security number has been redacted. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, updating how military service documentation is managed and accessed within Maryland's court system.
