Del. Jeff Long

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated. It requires peace officers to transport people needing emergency evaluation to a nearby facility rather than strictly the nearest one, and it allows psychiatric nurse practitioners to conduct these evaluations alongside physicians. The legislation also mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to follow a treatment plan if they refuse voluntary care. Additionally, the bill ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these proceedings and permits electronic submission of necessary petitions.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill officially changes the common name of the northern snakehead to "Patuxent Fish" or "Chesapeake Channa" in state laws and department publications. It creates a specific commercial fishing license for catching this fish in tidal waters, allowing the use of bow and arrow or hook and line methods with certain safety restrictions near swimmers and divers. The license costs $15 per year, is valid for one year, and cannot be transferred to another person. The Department of Natural Resources must update all its materials to use the new names by January 1, 2025, while the law itself takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland laws regarding video lottery employee licenses and the valuation of table game chips. It establishes that the face value of a chip used in table games counts as its legal value for theft cases, even if no specific amount is printed on it. Additionally, the legislation creates exceptions to disqualify applicants from holding video lottery licenses if their past convictions involve nonviolent misdemeanors, provided they completed a problem-solving court program or are not working in gaming or security roles. These changes aim to refine how crimes involving moral turpitude are handled in the context of gaming employment while clarifying financial assessments for chip-related theft.