Please click here for more information on the bills below, including MPS position statements.

During the 2020 Session over 2800 bills were introduced by Maryland legislators. MPS reviewed close to 100 bills, which is about 3% of all legislation introduced. The MPS supported 19 bills, opposed 12 bills, offered amendments on 7 bills and followed 11 others. MPS provided oral testimony three bills; on two scope of practice bills and the physician assisted suicide bill.

For the first time since the Civil War, the Maryland General Assembly adjourned on March 18^th, which was before its official end date due to the coronavirus. Maryland’s 188 lawmakers passed about 500 bills in a matter of days and adjourned nearly three weeks early. The next opportunity to finish work will be during a special session tentatively slated for the last week in May. The Senate president said it would be officially called to respond to the coronavirus.

Also, worth noting was HB 1208, which passed and was amended to capture mental health in response to COVID-19.

 

SUPPORT:

 

SB 453/HB 374: Maryland Department of Health – Children With Mental Disorders – List of Available Services: Bill passed the Senate with Amendments, but did not move in the House, so the bill failed.

SB 1015/HB 1504: Task Force to Study Access to Mental Health Care in Higher Education: Neither the Senate or the House voted on this bill in Committee, bill failed.

SB 565/HB 736: Police Officers – Mental Health – Employee Assistance Programs: The House bill passed the House with amendments but did not get a vote in the Senate along with its cross-file, bill failed.

SB 545/HB 656: Pharmacists – Administration of Self–Administered Medications and Maintenance Injectable Medications: The House bill passed the House with amendments, but did not get a vote in the Senate along with its cross-file – bill failed

SB 305/HB 607: Public Safety – Crisis Intervention Team Center of Excellence: Bill passed

SB 454/HB 1470: First Responders – Mandatory Mental Health Training: Neither bill received a vote in their committee of origin – bill failed.

HB 1461: Behavioral Health Programs – Outpatient Mental Health Centers – Medical and Clinical Directors:  This was a priority bill for MPS that was very contentious.  A middle ground could not be found and so the bill did not receive a vote from the committee of origin – bill failed.

SB 441/HB 332: Mental Health – Confidentiality of Medical Records and Emergency Facilities List (both bills passed with amendments)

HB 262: Criminal Procedure – Examination of Defendant by Maryland Department of Health – Access to Judicial Records: Bill passed

HB 1121: Maryland Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Registry and Referral System: Bill passed but was vetoed by the Governor.  Gubernatorial Veto Override, February 12, 2021.

SB 904/HB 1515: Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans – Establishment: Neither bill received a vote in their committee of origin – bill failed.

SB 475/HB 447: Health Insurance – Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders – Coverage: Bill passed in an amended form.

SB 637: Children – Therapeutic Child Care Program – Funding: Bill passed the Senate but did not receive a hearing in the House – bill failed.

SB 334/HB 455: Health Insurance – Mental Health Benefits and Substance Use Disorder Benefits – Reports on Nonquantitative Treatment Limitations and Data: Bill passed but was heavily amended.

SB 324: Veterans – Behavioral Health Services – Mental Health First Aid: Bill passed the Senate but did not get a hearing or a vote in the House, bill failed.

OPPOSE:

 

SB 541/HB 317: Mental Health – Involuntary Admissions – Procedures: This was one of MPS’s biggest fights this session.  Both bills died in committee.

SB 502: Telehealth – Delivery of Mental Health Services: Bill was heavily amended because of COVID-19 and passed.

SB 296: Child Abuse or Neglect – Statute of Limitation: Bill passed the Senate but was not heard in the House, bill failed.

SB 611/HB 782: Consent – Mental Health Access Initiative: Bill passed the Senate with Amendments, but neither bill moved in the House, ultimately the bill failed.

HB 639: Public Health – Health Care Professionals – Cultural Competency Coursework or Training: Bill was withdrawn by sponsor.

SB 519: Public Health – Behavioral Health Programs and Health Care Facilities – Safety Plan: Bill did not receive a vote from its assigned Committee, thus the bill failed.

SB 520: Opioid Treatment Services – Limitation on Licenses: Bill passed the Senate with Amendments, but did not move in the House, ultimately the bill failed.

SB 521: Behavioral Health – Opioid Treatment Services Programs – Medical Director: Bill did not receive a vote from its assigned Committee, and thus failed.

HB 1516: Washington County – Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program – Prohibition on Establishment: Bill did not receive a vote from its assigned Committee and failed.

SB 701/HB 643: End-of-Life Options Act: The Senate had a hearing on the bill, but it was not voted out of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.  The House was waiting on the Senate to move the bill and did not vote, thus this bill failed.

HB 26: Students – Lawful Absences – Mental Illness: Bill withdrawn by sponsor.

 

SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS:

SB 166/HB 512: Drugs and Devices – Electronic Prescriptions – Controlled Dangerous Substances: Bill passed with Amendments, however MPS’s amendment did not get on the final version of the bill.  The committee and the MDH vowed to get our issue resolved through regulations.  If that does not happen, the subcommittee in the House will introduce a bill on MPS’s behalf next year to get the DoD carve out.

HB 1476: Independent Oversight and Review Board for Health Care of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities – Establishment: Bill did not receive a committee vote and died in the House.

SB 789: Public Health – Maryland Suicide Fatality Review Committee: Bill did not receive a committee vote and died in the Senate.

HB 666: Workgroup on Screening Related to Adverse Childhood Experiences: Bill did not receive a committee vote and died in the House.

SB 106: Health Care Facilities – Certificate of Need – Exception for State-Owned Facilities: This departmental bill did not receive a committee vote and died in the Senate.