WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 283
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Chapter 283
(House Bill 111)
AN ACT concerning
Maryland Medical Assistance Program , and, Maryland Children’s Health
Program, and Social Services Programs – Eligibility and Enrollment, and
Workgroup on Low–Income Utility Assistance
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to establish an Express
Lane Eligibility Program to enroll individuals, based on certain eligibility, in the
Maryland Medical Assistance Program and the Maryland Children’s Health
Program; requiring the Workgroup on Low–Income Utility Assistance to submit a
final report to certain committees of the General Assembly on or before a certain date
with certain recommendations; requiring the Department of Human Services to
enroll individuals, based on certain eligibility, in the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program; requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs to enroll
individuals, based on certain eligibility, in certain Office of Home Energy Programs
assistance programs; altering the eligibility requirements for the electric universal
service program; and generally relating to eligibility for and enrollment in the
Maryland Medical Assistance Program and, social services programs the Maryland
Children’s Health Program, and the Workgroup on Low–Income Utility Assistance.
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Health – General
Section 15–103(a)(1)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
BY adding to
Article – Health – General
Section 15–103(a)(5)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Human Services
Section 5–501 and 5–5A–07
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Human Services
Section 5–5A–01(a) and (d)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) Ch. 283 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Public Utilities
Section 7–512.1(a)(1)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Chapter 638 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021
Section 3(a)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Chapter 638 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021
Section 3(g)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Chapter 639 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021
Section 3(a)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Chapter 639 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2021
Section 3(g)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Health – General
15–103.
(a) (1) The Secretary shall administer the Maryland Medical Assistance
Program.
(5) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, SUBJECT TO THE LIMIT ATIONS
OF THE STATE BUDGET, AND AS PERMITTED BY FEDERAL LAW , THE DEPARTMENT :
(I) SHALL ESTABLISH AN EXPRESS LANE ELIGIBILITY
PROGRAM TO ENROLL IND IVIDUALS IN THE MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND MARYLAND CHILDREN’S HEALTH PROGRAM BASED ON ELIG IBILITY
FINDINGS BY THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM;
(II) MAY NOT CONSIDER ANY OTHER INC OME OR ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS ;
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 283
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(III) TO THE EXTENT THAT A WAIVER IS NEEDED TO MAXIMIZE
THE NUMBER OF STATE RESIDENTS WHO M AY QUALIFY FOR THE EXPRESS LANE
ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM, SHALL APPLY TO THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID SERVICES FOR A WAIVER ONE OR MORE WAIVERS UNDER § 1115 OF THE
FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO IMPLEMENT THE EXPRESS LANE ELIGIBILITY
PROGRAM; AND
(IV) SHALL MAKE ALL REASON ABLE EFFORTS TO EXPE DITE
ENROLLMENT OF ELIGIB LE INDIVIDUALS IN TH E EXPRESS LANE ELIGIBILITY
PROGRAM, PROVIDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROPOS E OR IMPLEMENT THE
USE OF EXPRESS LANE ELIGIBILITY FOR RENEW ALS BEFORE PROPOSING OR
IMPLEMENTING THE USE OF EXPRESS LANE ELIGIBILITY FOR INITI AL
ENROLLMENT .
Article – Human Services
5–501.
(a) (1) The Department may implement a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program in accordance with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(2) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shall include:
(i) a Restaurant Meals Program in accordance with § 5–505 of this
subtitle; and
(ii) a Heat and Eat Program in accordance with § 5–506 of this
subtitle.
(b) The State shall bear the nonfederal portion of the administrative costs of the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for each county.
(c) Each local department shall administer the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program:
(1) under the supervision and control of the Department; and
(2) in accordance with the regulations of the Department and federal law.
(d) If a household includes an individual who is at least 62 years old and receives
a federally funded benefit in an amount less than $40 per month under the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program, the State shall provide a supplement to increase the total
benefit to $40 per month.
Ch. 283 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENRO LL IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ANY INDIVIDUA L WHO MEETS THE FINA NCIAL ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS ESTABLI SHED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR A RECI PIENT OF
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.
5–5A–01.
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(d) “Office” means the Office of Home Energy Programs.
5–5A–07.
(a) (1) The Office shall:
(i) carry out an energy emergency crisis intervention program to
prevent low–income households, including the near poor, the elderly, households with
children, and those on fixed incomes from experiencing danger to health or survival as a
result of an energy emergency;
(ii) establish intake procedures for those experiencing an energy
emergency;
(iii) establish guidelines for the income and program eligibility of
applicants; and
(iv) identify local public or private agencies to administer the crisis
intervention program.
(2) (i) The Office shall make payments to fuel vendors and utility
vendors that have provided service to persons qualifying for the crisis intervention
program.
(ii) The amount of assistance shall be based on need.
(b) (1) The Office shall carry out one or more fuel and utility assistance
programs to make payments on behalf of qualified households to defray fuel and utility
costs.
(2) (I) The Office shall determine program and income eligibility
guidelines.
(II) THE OFFICE SHALL ENROLL I N ANY FUEL AND UTILI TY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM A NY INDIVIDUAL WHO M EETS THE FINANCIAL E LIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS ESTABLI SHED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR A RECI PIENT OF: WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 283
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1. THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM;
2. TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES;
3. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME; OR
4. MEANS–TESTED VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFITS .
(3) The amount of assistance shall be based on need.
(c) For fiscal year 2023 only, the Governor shall appropriate to the Office an
amount equal to the unexpended appropriation to the Office for fiscal year 2021 funding
that was included in Supplemental Budget No. 5.
Article – Public Utilities
7–512.1.
(a) (1) The Commission shall establish an electric universal service program
to assist electric customers with annual incomes[:
(i) at or below 175% of the federal poverty level; or
(ii) for a customer at least 67 years of age,] at or below 200% of the
federal poverty level.
Chapter 638 of the Acts of 2021
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
(a) There is a Workgroup on Low–Income Utility Assistance.
(g) (1) The Workgroup shall submit [a] AN INITIAL report of the study,
findings, and recommendations, including recommended legislation and regulatory
changes, to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee, in
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on or before January 1, 2022.
(2) THE WORKGROUP SHALL SUBMI T A FINAL REPORT OF THE STUDY,
FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS , INCLUDING RECOMMENDE D LEGISLATION AND
REGULATORY CHANGES , TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE
ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024.
Ch. 283 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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Chapter 639 of the Acts of 2021
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
(a) There is a Workgroup on Low–Income Utility Assistance.
(g) (1) The Workgroup shall submit [a] AN INITIAL report of the study,
findings, and recommendations, including recommended legislation and regulatory
changes, to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee, in
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on or before January 1, 2022.
(2) THE WORKGROUP SHALL SUBMI T A FINAL REPORT OF THE STUDY,
FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS , INCLUDING RECOMMENDE D LEGISLATION AND
REGULATORY CHANGES , TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE
ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDA NCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2023.
Approved by the Governor, May 3, 2023.