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.
Sen. Kevin Harris
Sponsored bills
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 summaryHB 1092 requires the Maryland 9-1-1 Board to create training standards for public safety answering point personnel that include high-quality telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction. This training must follow current national emergency care guidelines, cover recognition protocols for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and teach compression-only CPR techniques. The bill also updates the 9-1-1 Trust Fund to allow money from this source to pay for these specific CPR training costs. These changes aim to better equip 9-1-1 operators to provide life-saving guidance during cardiac emergencies.