Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB340 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		hb0340
9	6
10	7		HOUSE BILL 340
11	8		J1 3lr1174
12		-	~~CF SB 890~~
	9	+
13	10		By: Delegate Cullison
14	11		Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2023
15	12		Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
16		-	Committee Report: Favorable
17		-	House action: Adopted
18		-	Read second time: February 25, 2023
19	13
20		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	14	+	A BILL ENTITLED
21	15
22	16		AN ACT concerning 1
23	17
24	18		Maryland Department of Health – 2–1–1 Maryland – Oversight 2
25	19
26	20		FOR the purpose of defining the term “Health and Human Services Referral System” for 3
27	21		the purposes of certain provisions of law governing the System to mean a certain 4
28	22		coordinated system for health and human resources that is accessible to State 5
29	23		residents, rather than a certain telephone service; altering the definition of “2–1–1 6
30	24		Maryland” to clarify that it is the entity that administers the 2–1–1 system in the 7
31	25		State; repealing the requirement that the Maryland Department of Health evaluate 8
32	26		the performance of certain call centers and make certain recommendations regarding 9
33	27		the quality of service provided by call centers; specifying that a certain agency that 10
34	28		establishes a public information telephone line or hotline is required to consult with 11
35	29		2–1–1 Maryland on certain matters only when appropriate in the agency’s discretion; 12
36	30		and generally relating to 2–1–1 Maryland. 13
37	31
38	32		BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
39	33		Article – Health – General 15
40	34		Section 24–1201 through 24–1204 16
41	35		Annotated Code of Maryland 17
42	36		(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 18
43	37
44	38		SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
45	39		That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
46	40
47	41		Article – Health – General 21
48		-	2 HOUSE BILL 340
	42	+
	43	+	24–1201. 22
	44	+
	45	+	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
	46	+
	47	+	(b) “Health and Human Services Referral System” means [telephone service that 24 2 HOUSE BILL 340
49	48
50	49
51		-	24–1201. 1
	50	+	automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 2–1–1 to an established information 1
	51	+	and referral answering point] A COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN 2
	52	+	SERVICE RESOURCES AC CESSIBLE TO ALL STATE RESIDENTS THROUGH 2–1–1 AND 3
	53	+	OTHER DESIGNATED TEC HNOLOGY SYSTEMS . 4
52	54
53		-	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 2
	55	+	(c) “2–1–1” means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal 5
	56	+	Communications Commission for consumer access to community information and referral 6
	57	+	services. 7
54	58
55		-	(b) “Health and Human Services Referral System” means [telephone service that 3
56		-	automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 2–1–1 to an established information 4
57		-	and referral answering point] A COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN 5
58		-	SERVICE RESOURCES AC CESSIBLE TO ALL STATE RESIDENTS THROUGH 2–1–1 AND 6
59		-	OTHER DESIGNATED TEC HNOLOGY SYSTEMS . 7
	59	+	(d) “2–1–1 Maryland” means the Maryland Information Network, 2 –1–1 8
	60	+	Maryland, a 501(c)(3) corporation in the State THAT ADMINISTERS THE 2–1–1 SYSTEM. 9
60	61
61		-	(c) “2–1–1” means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal 8
62		-	Communications Commission for consumer access to community information and referral 9
63		-	services. 10
	62	+	(e) “2–1–1 Maryland call center” means a nonprofit agency or organization 10
	63	+	designated by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 services. 11
64	64
65		-	(d) “2–1–1 Maryland” means the Maryland Informati on Network, 2–1–1 11
66		-	Maryland, a 501(c)(3) corporation in the State THAT ADMINISTERS THE 2–1–1 SYSTEM. 12
	65	+	24–1202. 12
67	66
68		-	(e) “2–1–1 Maryland call center” means a nonprofit agency or organization 13
69		-	designated by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 services. 14
	67	+	(a) The General Assembly: 13
70	68
71		-	24–1202. 15
	69	+	(1) Recognizes the importance of a statewide information and referral 14
	70	+	system for health and human services; 15
72	71
73		-	(a) The General Assembly: 16
	72	+	(2) Recognizes that an integrated [telephone] TECHNOLOGY system 16
	73	+	would provide ACCESS TO a single source for information and referral to health and human 17
	74	+	services, community preparedness, and [crisis information] BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE 18
	75	+	COORDINATION and could be accessed toll free from anywhere in Maryland, 24 hours a 19
	76	+	day, 365 days a year; 20
74	77
75		-	(1) Recognizes the importance of a statewide information and referral 17
76		-	system for health and human services; 18
	78	+	(3) Acknowledges that the three–digit number, 2–1–1, is a nationally 21
	79	+	recognized and applied telephone number which may be used for information and referral 22
	80	+	and eliminates delays caused by lack of familiarity with health and human services 23
	81	+	numbers and by understandable confusion in circumstances of crisis; and 24
77	82
78		-	(2) Recognizes that an integrated [telephone] TECHNOLOGY system 19
79		-	would provide ACCESS TO a single source for information and referral to health and human 20
80		-	services, community preparedness, and [crisis information] BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CA RE 21
81		-	COORDINATION and could be accessed toll free from anywhere in Maryland, 24 hours a 22
82		-	day, 365 days a year; 23
	83	+	(4) Recognizes a demonstrated need for an easy to remember, easy to use 25
	84	+	telephone number that will enable individuals in need to be directed to available 26
	85	+	community resources. 27
83	86
84		-	(3) Acknowledges that the three–digit number, 2–1–1, is a nationally 24
85		-	recognized and applied telephone number which may be used for information and referral 25
86		-	and eliminates delays caused by lack of familiarity with health and human services 26
87		-	numbers and by understandable confusion in circumstances of crisis; and 27
	87	+	(b) The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the three–digit number, 2–1–1, as 28
	88	+	the primary information and referral telephone number for health and human services in 29
	89	+	the State. 30
88	90
89		-	(4) Recognizes a demonstrated need for an easy to remember, easy to use 28
90		-	telephone number that will enable individuals in need to be directed to available 29
91		-	community resources. 30
	91	+	24–1203. 31
92	92
93		-	(b) The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the three–digit number, 2–1–1, as 31
94		-	the primary information and referral telephone number for health and human services in 32
95		-	the State. 33
96		-	HOUSE BILL 340 3
97		-
98		-
99		-	24–1203. 1
100		-
101		-	(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agency or organization 2
102		-	shall be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland as a 2–1–1 Maryland call center in order to provide 3
103		-	2–1–1 services in the State. 4
104		-
105		-	(b) When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider: 5
106		-
107		-	(1) The ability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider to meet the national 6
108		-	2–1–1 standards recommended by: 7
109		-
110		-	(i) The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adopted 8
111		-	by the National 2–1–1 Collaborative; or 9
112		-
113		-	(ii) An equivalent entity; 10
114		-
115		-	(2) The financial stability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 11
116		-
117		-	(3) Any community support for the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 12
118		-
119		-	(4) Any experience that the proposed 2–1–1 service provider has with other 13
120		-	information and referral services; 14
121		-
122		-	(5) The degree to which the county in which the proposed call center is to 15
123		-	be located has dedicated substantial resources to the establishment of a single telephone 16
124		-	source for non–emergency inquiries regarding county services; and 17
125		-
126		-	(6) Any other criteria that 2–1–1 Maryland considers appropriate. 18
127		-
128		-	(c) If [a unit] AN AGENCY of the State that provides health and human services 19
129		-	establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the [unit] AGENCY shall, WHEN 20
130		-	APPROPRIATE IN THE A GENCY’S DISCRETION, consult with 2–1–1 Maryland about 21
131		-	using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information. 22
132		-
133		-	24–1204. 23
134		-
135		-	(a) The Department shall, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, as appropriate: 24
136		-
137		-	(1) Maintain public information available from State agencies, programs, 25
138		-	and departments that provide health and human services; 26
139		-
140		-	(2) Support projects and activities that further the development of 2–1–1 27
141		-	Maryland; 28
142		-
143		-	(3) Examine and make recommendations to maximize the use of 29
144		-	information technology in making 2–1–1 services available throughout the State; 30
145		-	4 HOUSE BILL 340
146		-
147		-
148		-	[(4) Evaluate the performance of each 2–1–1 Maryland call center; 1
149		-
150		-	(5) Make recommendations to 2–1–1 Maryland regarding the quality of 2
151		-	service provided by call centers or the performance of call centers when issues related to 3
152		-	service quality and performance are presented to the Department;] 4
153		-
154		-	[(6)] (4) Make recommendations regarding corrective action to be taken 5
155		-	by a call center, as appropriate; and 6
156		-
157		-	[(7)] (5) Make recommendations to 2 –1–1 Maryland regarding the 7
158		-	establishment of an opt–in mental health services phone call program that: 8
159		-
160		-	(i) Requires a call center to call individuals who have opted in to the 9
161		-	mental health services phone call program on a periodic basis, as determined by 2–1–1 10
162		-	Maryland; and 11
163		-
164		-	(ii) Attempts to connect individuals to a provider of mental health 12
165		-	services if the individual requests to speak to a mental health provider during a call with 13
166		-	2–1–1 Maryland. 14
167		-
168		-	(b) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to the 15
169		-	Department in an amount sufficient to carry out subsection [(a)(7)] (A)(5) of this section. 16
170		-
171		-	(c) On or before December 31, 2005, and every year thereafter, the Department, 17
172		-	in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 18
173		-	of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities performed under 19
174		-	subsection (a) of this section. 20
175		-
176		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 21
177		-	October 1, 2023. 22
	93	+	(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agency or organization 32
	94	+	shall be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland as a 2–1–1 Maryland call center in order to provide 33
	95	+	2–1–1 services in the State. 34 HOUSE BILL 340 3
178	96
179	97
180	98
181		-	Approved:
182		-	________________________________________________________________________________
183		-	Governor.
184		-	________________________________________________________________________________
185		-	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
186		-	________________________________________________________________________________
187		-	President of the Senate.
	99	+	(b) When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider: 1
	100	+
	101	+	(1) The ability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider to meet the national 2
	102	+	2–1–1 standards recommended by: 3
	103	+
	104	+	(i) The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adopted 4
	105	+	by the National 2–1–1 Collaborative; or 5
	106	+
	107	+	(ii) An equivalent entity; 6
	108	+
	109	+	(2) The financial stability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 7
	110	+
	111	+	(3) Any community support for the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 8
	112	+
	113	+	(4) Any experience that the proposed 2–1–1 service provider has with other 9
	114	+	information and referral services; 10
	115	+
	116	+	(5) The degree to which the county in which the proposed call center is to 11
	117	+	be located has dedicated substantial resources to the establishment of a single telephone 12
	118	+	source for non–emergency inquiries regarding county services; and 13
	119	+
	120	+	(6) Any other criteria that 2–1–1 Maryland considers appropriate. 14
	121	+
	122	+	(c) If [a unit] AN AGENCY of the State that provides health and human services 15
	123	+	establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the [unit] AGENCY shall, WHEN 16
	124	+	APPROPRIATE IN THE A GENCY’S DISCRETION, consult with 2–1–1 Maryland about 17
	125	+	using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information. 18
	126	+
	127	+	24–1204. 19
	128	+
	129	+	(a) The Department shall, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, as appropriate: 20
	130	+
	131	+	(1) Maintain public information available from State agencies, programs, 21
	132	+	and departments that provide health and human services; 22
	133	+
	134	+	(2) Support projects and activities that further the development of 2–1–1 23
	135	+	Maryland; 24
	136	+
	137	+	(3) Examine and make recommendations to maximize the use of 25
	138	+	information technology in making 2–1–1 services available throughout the State; 26
	139	+
	140	+	[(4) Evaluate the performance of each 2–1–1 Maryland call center; 27
	141	+
	142	+	(5) Make recommendations to 2–1–1 Maryland regarding the quality of 28
	143	+	service provided by call centers or the performance of call centers when issues related to 29
	144	+	service quality and performance are presented to the Department;] 30 4 HOUSE BILL 340
	145	+
	146	+
	147	+
	148	+	[(6)] (4) Make recommendations regarding corrective action to be taken 1
	149	+	by a call center, as appropriate; and 2
	150	+
	151	+	[(7)] (5) Make recommendations to 2 –1–1 Maryland regarding the 3
	152	+	establishment of an opt–in mental health services phone call program that: 4
	153	+
	154	+	(i) Requires a call center to call individuals who have opted in to the 5
	155	+	mental health services phone call program on a periodic basis, as determined by 2–1–1 6
	156	+	Maryland; and 7
	157	+
	158	+	(ii) Attempts to connect individuals to a provider of mental health 8
	159	+	services if the individual requests to speak to a mental health provider during a call with 9
	160	+	2–1–1 Maryland. 10
	161	+
	162	+	(b) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to the 11
	163	+	Department in an amount sufficient to carry out subsection [(a)(7)] (A)(5) of this section. 12
	164	+
	165	+	(c) On or before December 31, 2005, and every year thereafter, the Department, 13
	166	+	in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 14
	167	+	of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities performed under 15
	168	+	subsection (a) of this section. 16
	169	+
	170	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
	171	+	October 1, 2023. 18