Del. Steve Johnson

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill creates a temporary 9-1-1 Specialist Recruitment and Retention Workgroup to study staffing issues for emergency call operators. The group is composed of state legislators, government officials, and representatives from emergency services organizations, who will meet without pay but can be reimbursed for travel expenses. Their main task is to examine current hiring and retention challenges, such as salary levels, benefits, and training requirements, while reviewing reports from a previous commission. By December 2024 and again in 2025, the workgroup must submit interim and final reports with recommendations to the governor and the state legislature on how to improve the profession. The law is set to expire automatically on December 31, 2025, unless renewed.

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 summaryHB 97, 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 manufacturers must have their food tested monthly by accredited laboratories and report the results to the Maryland Department of Health. Beginning in January 2026, companies must also publish these test results on their websites and include QR codes on product labels that allow consumers to access the data. The law also mandates that consumers report any baby food they believe contains excessive levels of these metals to state health officials.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

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 expands the legal definition of massage therapy to include specific instrument-assisted techniques like cupping and muscle scraping, provided practitioners complete additional training. It also streamlines the process for restoring licenses to massage therapists who have let their credentials lapse, as long as they apply within five years and meet standard renewal requirements. Furthermore, the legislation requires the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners to mandate a physical examination by a designated healthcare provider if there is evidence that a therapist or applicant might harm clients. Finally, the bill establishes that refusing such an examination will be treated as proof of incompetence unless the refusal was beyond the individual's control.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the continuing education rules for certified dialysis technicians to require 3 hours of approved training instead of the previous 3-hour requirement. It directly affects dialysis technicians in the state who need to renew their professional certificates every two years. The law mandates that renewing technicians must complete at least 16 hours of practical work and the updated 3 hours of continuing education before their license expires. This change ensures technicians stay current with industry standards while maintaining the existing requirement for an active national certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's Opioid Restitution Fund by creating a formal process for how money from the fund is distributed to local communities. It requires the state health department to share its funding decisions with an advisory council and to publish those decisions online for public transparency. The legislation also mandates that at least 25% of the fund's money each year goes to community-based recovery organizations. Additionally, the bill clarifies which specific programs, such as overdose prevention and treatment services, are eligible for funding and establishes new reporting rules for local governments that receive these funds.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill creates a pathway for dentists trained outside the United States and Canada to obtain a limited license to practice, specifically to serve adults in public health clinics and federally qualified health centers. To qualify, applicants must hold a foreign dental degree, complete a two-year pediatric dentistry residency and fellowship, and commit to providing care for at least two years to Medicaid, uninsured, or indigent patients. The legislation requires approval from local health officials and the University of Maryland Dental School Dean, and it restricts these dentists to working only at the specific facility where they have a contractual obligation. Once the two-year service period is completed, eligible practitioners can apply for a full general dental license by passing additional state and national exams.