EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1208*
HOUSE BILL 1208
J2, Q3 2lr0907
By: Delegate Kelly Delegates Kelly, Bagnall, Belcastro, Bhandari, Carr, Chisholm,
Cullison, Hill, Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Kipke, Landis, R. Lewis, Morgan,
Pena–Melnyk, Pendergrass, Reilly, Rosenberg, Saab, Sample –Hughes,
Szeliga, and K. Young
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 10, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations – Health Care Workforce Expansion 2
FOR the purpose of establishing requirements on the State Board of Nursing related to the 3
expansion of the workforce in nursing–related fields; establishing a State income tax 4
credit for certain licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners advanced practice 5
registered nurses, and registered nurses; establishing the Licensed Practical Nurse 6
and Registered Nurse Preceptorship Tax Credit Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; 7
requiring the Maryland Department of Health to work with the Division of 8
Workforce Development and Adult Learning in the Maryland Department of Labor 9
to convene a stakeholder workgroup to study expanding the State apprenticeship 10
programs to the health care workforce; requiring the Maryland Department of 11
Health to convene a workgroup to study how the State can implement a certain loan 12
repayment assistance program; and generally relating to expansion of the health 13
care workforce in the State. 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Health Occupations 16
Section 8–205, 8–312(c), and 8–6A–05(b) 8–6A–05(a) and (b) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume) 19
BY adding to 20 2 HOUSE BILL 1208
Article – Health Occupations 1
Section 8–205.2 and 8–514 8–6A–14(g) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2021 Replacement Volume) 4
BY adding to 5
Article – Tax – General 6
Section 10–739.1 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Health Occupations 12
8–205. 13
(a) In addition to the powers and duties set forth elsewhere in this title, the Board 14
has the following powers and duties: 15
(1) To adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this title; 16
(2) To set standards for the practice of registered nursing, advanced 17
practice registered nursing, licensed practical nursing, certified nursing assistants, 18
certified medication technicians, electrology, direct–entry midwifery, and certified 19
midwifery; 20
(3) To adopt rules and regulations for the performance of delegated medical 21
functions that are recognized jointly by the State Board of Physicians and the State Board 22
of Nursing, under § 14–306(d) of this article; 23
(4) To adopt rules and regulations for the performance of additional 24
nursing acts that: 25
(i) May be performed under any condition authorized by the Board, 26
including emergencies; and 27
(ii) Require education and clinical experience; 28
(5) To adopt rules and regulations for registered nurses to perform 29
independent nursing functions that: 30
(i) Require formal education and clinical experience; and 31
(ii) May be performed under any condition authorized by the Board, 32
including emergencies; 33 HOUSE BILL 1208 3
(6) To adopt rules and regulations for licensed practical nurses to perform 1
additional acts in the practice of registered nursing that: 2
(i) Require formal education and clinical experience; 3
(ii) May be performed under any condition authorized by the Board, 4
including emergencies; and 5
(iii) Are recognized by the Nursing Board as proper for licensed 6
practical nurses to perform; 7
(7) TO ADOPT RULES AND RE GULATIONS FOR CLINIC AL EXTERN 8
CERTIFICATES AUTHORI ZED UNDER § 8–514 OF THIS TITLE; 9
[(7)] (8) To keep a record of its proceedings; 10
[(8)] (9) To submit to the Governor, the Secretary, and, in accordance 11
with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, an annual report 12
that includes [the]: 13
(I) THE following data calculated on a fiscal year basis: 14
[(i)] 1. The number of initial and renewal licenses and certificates 15
issued; 16
[(ii)] 2. The number of positive and negative criminal history 17
records checks results received; 18
[(iii)] 3. The number of individuals denied initial or renewal 19
licensure or certification due to positive criminal history records checks results; 20
[(iv)] 4. The number of individuals denied licensure or certification 21
due to reasons other than a positive criminal history records check; 22
[(v)] 5. The number of new complaints received; 23
[(vi)] 6. The number of complaints carried over from year to year; 24
[(vii)] 7. The most common grounds for complaints; and 25
[(viii)] 8. The number and types of disciplinary actions taken 26
by the Board; AND 27
(II) BY ANALYZING INFORMAT ION GATHERED FROM RE NEWAL 28
APPLICATIONS SUBMITT ED UNDER § 8–312 OF THIS TITLE, AN EVALUATION OF THE 29 4 HOUSE BILL 1208
STATE’S NURSING WORKFORCE BY CERTIFICATION LEV EL, REGION, AND TYPE OF 1
WORKPLACE , INCLUDING HOSPITALS AND HOME HEALTH WORK ERS; 2
[(9)] (10) To enforce the employment record requirements of this title; 3
[(10)] (11) To keep separate lists, which lists are open to reasonable public 4
inspection, of all: 5
(i) Registered nurses licensed under this title; 6
(ii) Licensed practical nurses licensed under this title; 7
(iii) Nurse midwives certified under this title; 8
(iv) Nurse practitioners certified under this title; 9
(v) Nurse anesthetists certified under this title; 10
(vi) Clinical nurse specialists certified under this title; 11
(vii) Certified medication technicians certified under this title; 12
(viii) Electrologists licensed under this title; 13
(ix) Direct–entry midwives licensed under this title; 14
(x) Certified midwives licensed under this title; and 15
(xi) Other licensees with a nursing specialty that is certified under 16
this title; 17
[(11)] (12) To collect any funds of the Board; 18
[(12)] (13) To report any alleged violation of this title to the State’s Attorney 19
of the county where the alleged violation occurred; 20
[(13)] (14) In accordance with the State budget, to incur any necessary 21
expense for prosecution of an alleged violation of this title; 22
[(14)] (15) On receipt of a written and signed complaint, including a referral 23
from the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, conduct an unannounced inspection of the 24
office of a nurse in independent practice, other than an office of a nurse in independent 25
practice in a hospital, related institution, freestanding medical facility, or a freestanding 26
birthing center, to determine compliance at that office with the Centers for Disease Control 27
and Prevention’s guidelines on universal precautions; 28
HOUSE BILL 1208 5
[(15)] (16) To maintain a nurse aide registry that complies with federal law; 1
[(16)] (17) To appoint standing and ad hoc committees from among Board 2
members as necessary; and 3
[(17)] (18) To delegate to the executive director of the Board the authority 4
to discharge Board duties deemed appropriate and necessary by the Board and to hold the 5
executive director accountable to the Board. 6
(b) With regard to any list kept by the Board under subsection [(a)(10)] (A)(11) 7
of this section, upon written request from an individual licensee the Board shall delete that 8
individual’s name from any licensee list purchased from the Board. 9
(c) (1) The Board is the only unit of the Department that is responsible for 10
adopting rules and regulations to determine: 11
(i) Individuals to whom any act of the practice of registered nursing 12
and licensed practical nursing may be delegated; and 13
(ii) The acts that may be delegated safely. 14
(2) The Department shall retain its authority to require training for 15
nonlicensed patient care personnel under § 19–308.1 of the Health – General Article. 16
8–205.2. 17
THE BOARD SHALL: 18
(1) CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A MARKETING PLA N TO ATTRACT 19
INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK LICENSURE AND CERTIF ICATION UNDER THIS T ITLE; AND 20
(2) CREATE AND MAINTAIN O N ITS PUBLICLY ACCES SIBLE WEBSITE A 21
SINGLE LOCATION THAT HAS INFORMATION FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING LICENSURE 22
OR CERTIFICATION UND ER THIS TITLE ON: 23
(I) PATHWAYS TO LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION ; 24
(II) FUNDING AND FINANCING OPTIONS TO PAY FOR R EQUIRED 25
EDUCATION AND TRAINI NG; AND 26
(III) ACCREDITED SCHOOLS AN D TRAINING PROGRAMS . 27
8–312. 28
(c) Before a license expires, the licensee periodically may renew it for an 29
additional term, if the licensee: 30 6 HOUSE BILL 1208
(1) Otherwise is entitled to be licensed; 1
(2) Pays to the Board: 2
(i) A renewal fee set by the Board; or 3
(ii) A renewal fee that is set by the Board if the licensee certifies to 4
the Board that the licensee provides professional services only as a volunteer; and 5
(3) Submits to the Board by paper application or electronic means: 6
(i) A renewal application on the form that the Board requires THAT 7
INCLUDES WORKFORCE D ATA INFORMATION NECE SSARY FOR THE REPORT 8
REQUIRED UNDER § 8–205(A) OF THIS TITLE; and 9
(ii) Satisfactory evidence of completion of: 10
1. 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 5–year 11
period immediately preceding the date of renewal; 12
2. A course of instruction, commonly known as a refresher 13
course, approved by the Board; 14
3. A preceptorship program provided by an employer and 15
approved by the Board; or 16
4. A minimum number of continuing education units as 17
required by regulations adopted by the Board. 18
8–514. 19
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “CLINICAL EXTERN ” MEANS A STUDENT AT A N 20
ACCREDITED SCHOOL OF NURSING APPROVED BY THE BOARD WHO HAS BEEN 21
CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD TO AUGMENT THE HEALTH SERVICES WORK FORCE. 22
(B) THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE A C LINICAL EXTERN CERTIFICATE TO A 23
NURSING STUDENT WHO : 24
(1) SUBMITS TO THE BOARD: 25
(I) AN APPLICATION ON THE FORM REQUIRED BY THE BOARD; 26
AND 27
(II) A SUPERVISOR AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE APPLIC ANT’S 28
PROPOSED LICENSEE SU PERVISOR; 29 HOUSE BILL 1208 7
(2) HAS MET THE EDUCATION AL CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE 1
BOARD; AND 2
(3) MEETS ANY OTHER CRITE RIA ESTABLISHED BY T HE BOARD FOR 3
CERTIFICATION AS A C LINICAL EXTERN . 4
(C) A CLINICAL EXTERN MAY : 5
(1) PRACTICE AT A HOSPITA L OR AUXILIARY TREAT MENT SITE 6
APPROVED BY THE BOARD; 7
(2) PERFORM HEALTH CARE SERVICES APPROVED BY THE BOARD 8
ONLY UNDER THE DIREC T SUPERVISION OF THE LICENSEE SUPERVISOR APPROVED 9
BY THE BOARD; AND 10
(3) PROVIDE HEALTH CARE S ERVICES IN ACCORDANC E WITH THE 11
CLINICAL EXTERN ’S TRAINING AND TO TH E EXTENT OF THE CLIN ICAL EXTERN’S 12
COMPETENCY AS DETERM INED BY THE CLINICAL EXTERN’S LICENSEE SUPERVISO R. 13
(D) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS NECESSARY T O CARRY OUT 14
THIS SECTION. 15
8–6A–05. 16
(a) The Board shall adopt regulations establishing: 17
(1) Categories of certified nursing assistants, including geriatric nursing 18
assistants, home health aides, school health aides, dialysis technicians, individuals 19
working in developmental disabilities administration facilities, and medicine aides; 20
(2) Qualifications for each category of certified nursing assistant; 21
(3) Qualifications for certified medication technicians; [and] 22
(4) Standards for qualification of applicants for certification, including the 23
applicant’s criminal history, work record, and prohibitions against behavior which may be 24
potentially harmful to patients; AND 25
(5) STANDARDS FOR THE ONL INE PROVISION OF ALL ASPECTS OF A 26
NURSING ASSISTANT TR AINING PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMEN TS 27
ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD. 28
8 HOUSE BILL 1208
(b) (1) To qualify for certification as a nursing assistant, a nursing assistant 1
in a specific category, or a medication technician, an applicant shall meet the requirements 2
set by the Board. 3
(2) REQUIREMENTS SET BY T HE BOARD UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF 4
THIS SUBSECTION REGA RDING QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION AS A 5
GERIATRIC NURSING ASSISTANT SH ALL INCLUDE PROVISIO NS TO ALLOW AN 6
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS B EEN PRACTICING AS A TEMPORARY NURSING ASSISTANT 7
WITHOUT CERTIFICATIO N BY THE BOARD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HE WAIVER OF 8
THE REQUIREMENTS OF 42 C.F.R. § 483.35(D) ISSUED BY THE CENTERS FOR 9
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES ON MARCH 6, 2020, TO APPLY ON–THE–JOB 10
EXPERIENCE AS A NURS ING ASSISTANT TOWARD THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TRAINING 11
HOURS REQUIRED FOR C ERTIFICATION AS A GERIATRIC NURSI NG ASSISTANT. 12
8–6A–14. 13
(G) THE BOARD SHALL APPROVE T HE USE OF A NURSING ASSISTANT 14
TRAINING SITE BY A N URSING ASSISTANT TRA INING PROGRAM WITHIN 14 DAYS 15
AFTER THE NURSING AS SISTANT TRAINING PRO GRAM APPLIES FOR APP ROVAL IF 16
THE NURSING ASSISTAN T TRAINING PROGRAM H AD PREVIOUSLY BEEN A PPROVED 17
TO USE THE TRAINING SITE BY THE BOARD. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 19
as follows: 20
Article – Tax – General 21
10–739.1. 22
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 23
INDICATED. 24
(2) “ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE” HAS THE SAME 25
MEANING STATED IN § 8–101 OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 26
(3) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 27
HEALTH. 28
(3) (4) “LICENSED PRACTICAL NU RSE” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED 29
IN § 8–101 OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 30
(4) “NURSE PRACTITIONER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 8–101 31
OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 32
HOUSE BILL 1208 9
(5) “PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM ” MEANS AN ORGANIZED S YSTEM OF 1
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE THAT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF A TTAINING SPECIFIED 2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES , PAIRS A LICENSED PRA CTICAL NURSE OR REGI STERED 3
NURSE STUDENT ENROLL ED IN A NURSING EDUC ATION PROGRAM THAT I S 4
RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING WITH A LICENS ED PRACTICAL 5
NURSE, NURSE PRACTITIONER ADVANCED PRACTICE RE GISTERED NURSE , OR 6
REGISTERED NURS E WHO MEETS THE QUAL IFICATIONS AS A PREC EPTOR. 7
(6) “REGISTERED NURSE ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 8–101 OF 8
THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 9
(B) (1) SUBJECT TO THE LIMITA TIONS OF THIS SECTIO N, A LICENSED 10
PRACTICAL NURSE , NURSE PRACTITIONER ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED 11
NURSE, OR REGISTERED NURSE MAY CLAIM A CREDIT A GAINST THE STATE INCOME 12
TAX IN THE AMOUNT ST ATED ON THE TAX CRED IT CERTIFICATE ISSUE D UNDER 13
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR IN WHICH THE LICENSED 14
PRACTICAL NURSE , NURSE PRACTITIONER ADVANCED PRACTICE RE GISTERED 15
NURSE, OR REGISTERED NURSE SERVED WITHOUT COMPE NSATION AS A PRECEPT OR 16
IN A PRECEPTORSHIP P ROGRAM APPROVED BY T HE STATE BOARD OF NURSING AND 17
WORKED: 18
(I) A MINIMUM OF THREE R OTATIONS, EACH CONSISTING OF A T 19
LEAST 100 HOURS OF COMMUNITY –BASED CLINICAL TRAIN ING; AND 20
(II) IN AN AREA OF THE STATE IDENTIFIED AS H AVING A 21
HEALTH CARE WORKFORC E SHORTAGE BY THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION 22
WITH THE GOVERNOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. 23
(2) (I) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF T HE CREDIT ALLOWED UND ER THIS 24
SECTION FOR ANY TAXA BLE YEAR MAY NOT EXC EED THE STATE INCOME TAX 25
IMPOSED FOR THAT TAX ABLE YEAR. 26
(II) ANY UNUSED AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT FOR ANY T AXABLE 27
YEAR MAY NOT BE CARR IED OVER TO ANY OTHE R TAXABLE YEAR . 28
(C) (1) ON APPLICATION BY A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE , NURSE 29
PRACTITIONER ADVANCED PRACTICE RE GISTERED NURSE , OR REGISTERED NURSE , 30
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSU E A CREDIT CERTIFICA TE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000 31
FOR EACH STUDENT ROT ATION OF THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS REQU IRED 32
UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(1)(I) OF THIS SECTION FOR WHICH THE LICENSED 33
PRACTICAL NURSE , NURSE PRACTITIONER ADVANCED PRACTICE RE GISTERED 34
NURSE, OR REGISTERED NURSE SERVED AS A PRECEPTO R WITHOUT 35
COMPENSATION . 36
10 HOUSE BILL 1208
(2) THE APPLICATION SHALL CONTAIN: 1
(I) THE NAME OF T HE APPLICANT; 2
(II) INFORMATION IDENTIFY ING THE PRECEPTORSHI P IN 3
WHICH THE APPLICANT PARTICIPATED ; 4
(III) THE NUMBER AND NAMES OF THE STUDENTS FOR WHOM 5
THE INDIVIDUAL SERVE D AS A PRECEPTOR WIT HOUT COMPENSATION ; AND 6
(IV) ANY OTHER INFORMATIO N THAT THE DEPARTMENT 7
REQUIRES. 8
(3) FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR , THE AMOUNT OF TAX CR EDIT STATED IN 9
THE TAX CREDIT CERTI FICATE MAY NOT EXCEE D $10,000. 10
(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 11
(I) APPROVE ALL APPLICAT IONS THAT QUALIFY FO R A TAX 12
CREDIT CERTIFICATE U NDER THIS SUBSECTION ON A FIRS T–COME, FIRST–SERVED 13
BASIS; AND 14
(II) NOTIFY A TAXPAYER WI THIN 45 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF T HE 15
TAXPAYER’S APPLICATION OF ITS APPROVAL OR DENIAL . 16
(5) (I) FOR EACH TAXABLE YEAR , THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TAX 17
CREDIT CERTIFICATES THAT MAY BE ISSU ED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS 18
SECTION MAY NOT EXCE ED THE LESSER OF : 19
1. THE TOTAL FUNDS IN T HE LICENSED PRACTICAL 20
NURSE AND REGISTERED NURSE PRECEPTORSHIP TAX CREDIT FUND FOR THAT 21
YEAR; OR 22
2. $100,000. 23
(II) IF THE AGGREGATE AMOU NT OF TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATES 24
ISSUED UNDER THIS SE CTION DURING A TAXAB LE YEAR TOTALS LESS THAN THE 25
AMOUNT AUTHORIZED UN DER THIS PARAGRAPH , ANY EXCESS AMOUNT MA Y BE 26
ISSUED UNDER TAX CRE DIT CERTIFICATES IN THE NEXT TAXABLE YEA R. 27
(D) (1) IN THIS SECTION , “FUND” MEANS TH E LICENSED PRACTICAL 28
NURSE AND REGISTERED NURSE PRECEPTORSHIP TAX CREDIT FUND 29
ESTABLISHED UNDER PA RAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 30
HOUSE BILL 1208 11
(2) THERE IS A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE AND REGISTERED 1
NURSE PRECEPTORSHIP TAX CREDIT FUND. 2
(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 3
(4) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THE TAX 4
CREDIT AVAILABLE UND ER THIS SECTION. 5
(5) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 6
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 7
(6) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 8
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 9
(7) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 10
(I) FEDERAL FUNDING PROV IDED UNDER: 11
1. THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND 12
ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT; 13
2. THE FEDERAL CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS 14
ACT, 2021; OR 15
3. ANY OTHER FEDERAL COVID–19 PANDEMIC RELIEF 16
FUNDING; 17
(II) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 18
FUND; AND 19
(III) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 20
FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. 21
(8) THE MONEY IN THE FUND SHALL BE INVESTE D AND REINVESTED 22
BY THE STATE TREASURER, AND INTEREST AND EAR NINGS SHALL BE CREDI TED TO 23
THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 24
(9) (I) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS PARA GRAPH, 25
MONEY CREDITED OR AP PROPRIATED TO THE FUND SHALL REMAIN IN THE FUND. 26
(II) 1. WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE END O F EACH CALENDAR 27
QUARTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTI FY THE COMPTROLLER AS TO EAC H 28
CREDIT CERTIFICATE I SSUED DURING THE QUA RTER. 29
12 HOUSE BILL 1208
2. ON NOTIFICATION THAT A CREDIT CERTIFICATE HAS 1
BEEN ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT , THE COMPTROLLER SHALL TRA NSFER AN 2
AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE CREDIT AMOUNT STATED IN THE TAX CREDIT CE RTIFICATE 3
FROM THE FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 4
(E) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31 EACH TAXABLE YEAR , THE DEPARTMENT 5
SHALL: 6
(1) REPORT TO THE COMPTROLLER ON THE TA X CREDIT 7
CERTIFICATES ISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION D URING THE PRIOR TAXA BLE YEAR; 8
AND 9
(2) REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10
2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE UTILIZAT ION OF THE 11
CREDIT ESTABLISHED U NDER THIS SECTION . 12
(F) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR’S 13
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS TO CARRY OUT 14
THE PROVISIONS OF TH IS SECTION, INCLUDING THE CRITER IA AND PROCEDURES 15
FOR APPLICAT ION FOR, APPROVAL OF , AND MONITORING ELIGI BILITY FOR THE TAX 16
CREDIT AUTHORIZED UN DER THIS SECTION . 17
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 18
(a) The Maryland Department of Health shall work with the Division of 19
Workforce Development and Adult Learning in the Maryland Department of Labor to 20
convene a stakeholder workgroup to: 21
(1) study expanding the State apprenticeship programs to the health care 22
workforce; and 23
(2) make recommendations on: 24
(i) health care fields that could be best served by introducing a 25
health care apprenticeship program, including health–related fields that do not require 26
licensure or certification under the Health Occupations Article; 27
(ii) options to provide incentives to experienced health care 28
practitioners to work with health care apprentices; 29
(iii) safeguards needed to ensure the safety of the public when 30
receiving health care services from health care apprentices; and 31
(iv) funding needed to support a health care apprenticeship program; 32
and 33
HOUSE BILL 1208 13
(v) nomenclature to describe apprenticeship programs for health 1
care apprentices. 2
(b) On or before December 1, 2022, the Maryland Department of Health shall 3
report the findings and recommendations of the workgroup to the Senate Education, 4
Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Health and Government 5
Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 6
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 7
(a) The Maryland Department of Health shall convene a stakeholder workgroup 8
to examine how the State can implement a loan repayment assistance program for nurses 9
and other health practitioners regulated by the State Board of Nursing to further 10
incentivize the health practitioners to practice in professional shortage areas and medically 11
underserved areas in the State. 12
(b) The workgroup shall consist of the following members: 13
(1) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; 14
(2) one representative of the State Board of Nursing, designated by the 15
Executive Director of the Board; 16
(3) one representative of the Maryland Nurses Association, designated by 17
the President of the Association; 18
(4) one representative of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, 19
designated by the President of the union; 20
(5) one representative of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland, 21
designated by the President of the Association; 22
(6) one representative of the Maryland Hospital Association, designated by 23
the President of the Association; 24
(7) one representative of the LifeSpan Network, designated by the 25
President of the Network; and 26
(8) one representative of Leading Age Maryland, designated by the 27
President of the union. 28
(c) The workgroup shall consult with the Department of Legislative Services 29
when developing its recommendations. 30
(d) The workgroup shall: 31
14 HOUSE BILL 1208
(1) review nursing school debt experienced in the United States and in 1
Maryland; 2
(2) examine other models for recruitment and retention of nurses and other 3
health care practitioners regulated by the State Board of Nursing that operate in other 4
states, including how these models are funded and how a loan repayment assistance 5
program for the health care practitioners could be competitive with other states; 6
(3) examine and recommend methods to incentivize nursing and nursing 7
worker students to commit to practicing in medically underserved areas in the State before 8
entering an educational program or on graduation from nursing school or a program 9
focusing on training for health care practitioners regulated by the State Board of Nursing; 10
and 11
(4) investigate the availability of federal grants to further expand loan 12
repayment and loan forgiveness for nurses and other health care practitioners regulated 13
by the State Board of Nursing in Maryland. 14
(e) (1) On or before December 1, 2022, the workgroup shall submit an interim 15
report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly in accordance with § 16
2–1257 of the State Government Article. 17
(2) On or before December 1, 2023, the workgroup shall submit a final 18
report of its findings and recommendations, including recommendations on the structure 19
of a permanent advisory council and a permanent funding structure for a loan repayment 20
assistance program for nurses and other health care practitioners regulated by the State 21
Board of Nursing, to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 22
Government Article. 23
SECTION 4. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the State Board of Nursing 24
shall adopt the regulations required under § 8–6A–05(b)(2) of the Health Occupations 25
Article, as enacted under Section 1 of this Act, on or before December 31, 2022. 26
SECTION 5. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall 27
take effect June July 1, 2022, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning after 28
December 31, 2021, but before January 1, 2025. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective 29
for a period of 3 years and, at the end of May 31 June 30, 2025, Section 2 of this Act, with 30
no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further 31
force and effect. 32
SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 33
6 of this Act, this Act shall take effect June 1, 2022. 34