EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0340*
HOUSE BILL 340
J1 3lr1174
By: Delegate Cullison
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2023
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Department of Health – 2–1–1 Maryland – Oversight 2
FOR the purpose of defining the term “Health and Human Services Referral System” for 3
the purposes of certain provisions of law governing the System to mean a certain 4
coordinated system for health and human resources that is accessible to State 5
residents, rather than a certain telephone service; altering the definition of “2–1–1 6
Maryland” to clarify that it is the entity that administers the 2–1–1 system in the 7
State; repealing the requirement that the Maryland Department of Health evaluate 8
the performance of certain call centers and make certain recommendations regarding 9
the quality of service provided by call centers; specifying that a certain agency that 10
establishes a public information telephone line or hotline is required to consult with 11
2–1–1 Maryland on certain matters only when appropriate in the agency’s discretion; 12
and generally relating to 2–1–1 Maryland. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Health – General 15
Section 24–1201 through 24–1204 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Health – General 21
24–1201. 22
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
(b) “Health and Human Services Referral System” means [telephone service that 24 2 HOUSE BILL 340
automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 2–1–1 to an established information 1
and referral answering point] A COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN 2
SERVICE RESOURCES AC CESSIBLE TO ALL STATE RESIDENTS THROUGH 2–1–1 AND 3
OTHER DESIGNATED TEC HNOLOGY SYSTEMS . 4
(c) “2–1–1” means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal 5
Communications Commission for consumer access to community information and referral 6
services. 7
(d) “2–1–1 Maryland” means the Maryland Information Network, 2 –1–1 8
Maryland, a 501(c)(3) corporation in the State THAT ADMINISTERS THE 2–1–1 SYSTEM. 9
(e) “2–1–1 Maryland call center” means a nonprofit agency or organization 10
designated by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 services. 11
24–1202. 12
(a) The General Assembly: 13
(1) Recognizes the importance of a statewide information and referral 14
system for health and human services; 15
(2) Recognizes that an integrated [telephone] TECHNOLOGY system 16
would provide ACCESS TO a single source for information and referral to health and human 17
services, community preparedness, and [crisis information] BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE 18
COORDINATION and could be accessed toll free from anywhere in Maryland, 24 hours a 19
day, 365 days a year; 20
(3) Acknowledges that the three–digit number, 2–1–1, is a nationally 21
recognized and applied telephone number which may be used for information and referral 22
and eliminates delays caused by lack of familiarity with health and human services 23
numbers and by understandable confusion in circumstances of crisis; and 24
(4) Recognizes a demonstrated need for an easy to remember, easy to use 25
telephone number that will enable individuals in need to be directed to available 26
community resources. 27
(b) The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the three–digit number, 2–1–1, as 28
the primary information and referral telephone number for health and human services in 29
the State. 30
24–1203. 31
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agency or organization 32
shall be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland as a 2–1–1 Maryland call center in order to provide 33
2–1–1 services in the State. 34 HOUSE BILL 340 3
(b) When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider: 1
(1) The ability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider to meet the national 2
2–1–1 standards recommended by: 3
(i) The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adopted 4
by the National 2–1–1 Collaborative; or 5
(ii) An equivalent entity; 6
(2) The financial stability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 7
(3) Any community support for the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 8
(4) Any experience that the proposed 2–1–1 service provider has with other 9
information and referral services; 10
(5) The degree to which the county in which the proposed call center is to 11
be located has dedicated substantial resources to the establishment of a single telephone 12
source for non–emergency inquiries regarding county services; and 13
(6) Any other criteria that 2–1–1 Maryland considers appropriate. 14
(c) If [a unit] AN AGENCY of the State that provides health and human services 15
establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the [unit] AGENCY shall, WHEN 16
APPROPRIATE IN THE A GENCY’S DISCRETION, consult with 2–1–1 Maryland about 17
using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information. 18
24–1204. 19
(a) The Department shall, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, as appropriate: 20
(1) Maintain public information available from State agencies, programs, 21
and departments that provide health and human services; 22
(2) Support projects and activities that further the development of 2–1–1 23
Maryland; 24
(3) Examine and make recommendations to maximize the use of 25
information technology in making 2–1–1 services available throughout the State; 26
[(4) Evaluate the performance of each 2–1–1 Maryland call center; 27
(5) Make recommendations to 2–1–1 Maryland regarding the quality of 28
service provided by call centers or the performance of call centers when issues related to 29
service quality and performance are presented to the Department;] 30 4 HOUSE BILL 340
[(6)] (4) Make recommendations regarding corrective action to be taken 1
by a call center, as appropriate; and 2
[(7)] (5) Make recommendations to 2 –1–1 Maryland regarding the 3
establishment of an opt–in mental health services phone call program that: 4
(i) Requires a call center to call individuals who have opted in to the 5
mental health services phone call program on a periodic basis, as determined by 2–1–1 6
Maryland; and 7
(ii) Attempts to connect individuals to a provider of mental health 8
services if the individual requests to speak to a mental health provider during a call with 9
2–1–1 Maryland. 10
(b) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to the 11
Department in an amount sufficient to carry out subsection [(a)(7)] (A)(5) of this section. 12
(c) On or before December 31, 2005, and every year thereafter, the Department, 13
in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 14
of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities performed under 15
subsection (a) of this section. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2023. 18