EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0596*
HOUSE BILL 596
R2, J1 3lr2528
CF SB 511
By: Delegate Kerr
Introduced and read first time: February 3, 2023
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Health and Human Services Transpo rtation Improvement Act of 2023 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Rural Nonemergency Medical Transportation 3
Program; repealing a certain cap on the amount of grants that may be awarded by 4
the Maryland Transit Administration under the Maryland Senior Rides Program; 5
repealing a certain cap on funding for the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program 6
and requiring the Governor to provide funding for the Rural Nonemergency Medical 7
Transportation Program in the State budget; establishing the State Coordinating 8
Committee for Health and Human Services Transportation; and generally relating 9
to transportation for health and human services in the State. 10
BY adding to 11
Article – Health – General 12
Section 13–4801 through 13–4805 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 48. Rural 13
Nonemergency Medical Transportation Program” 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Transportation 18
Section 7–1002 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
Article – Transportation 23
Section 7–1102 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 26
BY repealing 27 2 HOUSE BILL 596
Article – Transportation 1
Section 7–1107 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 4
BY adding to 5
Article – Transportation 6
Section 7–1107 and 7–1109 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 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 – General 12
SUBTITLE 48. RURAL NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. 13
13–4801. 14
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
INDICATED. 16
(B) “ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 17
(1) DOES NOT QUALIFY TO R ECEIVE STATE OR FEDERAL FUND ING 18
FOR TRANSPORTATION R ELATED TO RECEIVING MEDICAL SERVICES BEC AUSE THE 19
INDIVIDUAL: 20
(I) RESIDES IN A LOCATION THAT DISQUALIFIES TH E 21
INDIVIDUAL FROM QUAL IFYING FOR THE FUNDI NG; 22
(II) OWNS A CAR; 23
(III) RECEIVED TRANSPORTATI ON FROM A VOLUNTEER , BUT 24
THE INDIVIDUAL NO LO NGER HAS ACCESS TO T HAT TRANSPORTATION ; 25
(IV) HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY THE 26
INDIVIDUAL FOR THE F UNDING; 27
(V) HAS A TEMPORARY DISAB ILITY THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY 28
THE INDIVIDUAL FOR T HE FUNDING; OR 29
(VI) DOES NOT LIVE WITHIN THE REQUIRED DISTANC E OF A 30
PUBLIC BUS STOP TO Q UALIFY THE INDIVIDUA L FOR THE FUNDING ; 31 HOUSE BILL 596 3
(2) NEEDS TRANSPORTATION TO OR FROM MEDICAL S ERVICES 1
WHERE EACH TRIP EITH ER BEGINS OR ENDS IN A RURAL COUNTY ; AND 2
(3) A HOSPITAL CARE COORDI NATOR DETERMINES HAS A MEDICAL 3
NEED FOR WHICH THE I NDIVIDUAL REQUIRES T RANSPORTATION SERVIC ES 4
THROUGH THE PROGRAM. 5
(C) “HOSPITAL” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19–301 OF THIS ARTICLE. 6
(D) “HOSPITAL CARE COORDIN ATOR” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE OF A HOSPITAL 7
WHO COOR DINATES TRANSPORTATI ON RELATED TO MEDICA L SERVICES FOR 8
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS SUBTITLE. 9
(E) “NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO N” MEANS AN ORGANIZATIO N THAT: 10
(1) IS: 11
(I) DESCRIBED IN § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE 12
CODE; AND 13
(II) EXEMPT FROM INCOME TA X UNDER § 501(A) OF THE 14
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; AND 15
(2) PROVIDES TRANSPORTATI ON SERVICES TO ELIGI BLE 16
INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A PROGRAM ADOPTED BY A HOSPITAL. 17
(F) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE RURAL NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL 18
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. 19
(G) “RURAL COUNTY ” MEANS: 20
(1) ALLEGANY COUNTY; 21
(2) CALVERT COUNTY; 22
(3) CAROLINE COUNTY; 23
(4) CARROLL COUNTY; 24
(5) CECIL COUNTY; 25
(6) CHARLES COUNTY; 26 4 HOUSE BILL 596
(7) DORCHESTER COUNTY; 1
(8) FREDERICK COUNTY; 2
(9) GARRETT COUNTY; 3
(10) HARFORD COUNTY; 4
(11) KENT COUNTY; 5
(12) QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY; 6
(13) SOMERSET COUNTY; 7
(14) ST. MARY’S COUNTY; 8
(15) TALBOT COUNTY; 9
(16) WASHINGTON COUNTY; 10
(17) WICOMICO COUNTY; OR 11
(18) WORCESTER COUNTY. 12
13–4802. 13
(A) THERE IS A RURAL NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION 14
PROGRAM. 15
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS FOR HOSPIT ALS TO COORDINATE 16
TRANSPORTATION PROVI DED BY A NONPROFIT O RGANIZATION TO OR FR OM 17
MEDICAL SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS . 18
13–4803. 19
(A) A PROGRAM ADOPTED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL : 20
(1) COORDINATE TRANSPORTA TION PROVIDED BY A N ONPROFIT 21
ORGANIZATION FOR AN ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL TO TRAVEL TO OR FROM MEDICAL 22
SERVICES; 23
HOUSE BILL 596 5
(2) INCLUDE A MONTHLY BUD GET SET BY EACH NONP ROFIT 1
ORGANIZATION PARTICI PATING IN A PROGRAM ADOPT ED BY A HOSPITAL 2
ESTABLISHING THE TOT AL AMOUNT OF TRANSPO RTATION SERVICES THE 3
ORGANIZATION WILL PR OVIDE TO ELIGIBLE IN DIVIDUALS WHO ARE PA TIENTS AT 4
THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE PROGRAM; AND 5
(3) PROVIDE INFORMATION T O A NONPROFIT ORGANI ZATION ABOUT 6
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS THAT THE CARE COORDINATOR HAS SELECTED TO RECEIVE 7
TRANSPORTATION SERVI CES THROUGH THE PROGRAM IN A MANNER T HAT 8
COMPLIES WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PRI VACY LAWS. 9
(B) A PROGRAM MAY NOT PROVI DE TRANSPORTATION : 10
(1) TO AN ELIGIBLE INDIVI DUAL FOR MO RE THAN 120 DAYS AT A 11
TIME; OR 12
(2) TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO REQUESTS TRANSPORTAT ION BUT DOES 13
NOT USE THE TRANSPOR TATION PROVIDED ON M ORE THAN ONE OCCASIO N. 14
13–4804. 15
(A) A HOSPITAL MAY ADOPT A PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS 16
SUBTITLE. 17
(B) IF A HOSPITAL ADOPTS A PROGRAM, THE HOSPITAL SHALL : 18
(1) CONTRACT WITH A NONPR OFIT ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE 19
TRANSPORTATION TO EL IGIBLE INDIVIDUALS W HO ARE PATIENTS AT T HE HOSPITAL 20
IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS SUBTITLE; AND 21
(2) ESTABLISH AND ADOPT A PROCESS OF NOTIFYING PATIENTS AT 22
THE HOSPITAL ABOUT S ERVICES AVAILABLE TH ROUGH THE PROGRAM. 23
(C) A HOSPITAL CARE COORDI NATOR SHALL: 24
(1) DETERMINE WHICH PATIE NTS OF THE HOSPITAL WHO ARE 25
INTERESTED IN RECEIV ING TRANSPORTATION S ERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM 26
ARE ELIGIBLE INDIVID UALS; 27
(2) DETERMINE WHICH ELIGI BLE INDIVIDUALS WILL RECEIVE 28
TRANSPORTATION THROU GH THE PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BUDGET 29
PROVIDED BY THE NONP ROFIT ORGANIZATION ; AND 30
6 HOUSE BILL 596
(3) COORDINATE TRANSPORTA TION FOR AN ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL 1
WHO THE HOSPITAL CAR E COORDINATOR SELECTS TO RECEIVE TRANSPORTATI ON 2
TO TRAVEL TO AND FRO M RECEIVING MEDICAL SERVICES IN ACCORDAN CE WITH 3
THIS SUBTITLE. 4
(D) IF A HOSPITAL ENTERS INTO A CONTRACT WITH A NONPROFIT 5
ORGANIZATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDIN G TRANSPORTATION THR OUGH 6
THE PROGRAM, A HOSPITAL SHALL REP ORT THE NAME AND CON TACT INFORMATION 7
OF THE NONPROFIT ORG ANIZATION TO THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER 8
THE DATE ON WHICH TH E CONTRACT IS SIGNED . 9
13–4805. 10
(A) IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , THE 11
GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET BI LL AN APPROPRIATION OF 12
AT LEAST $1,000,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PU RPOSES OF CARRYING O UT 13
THIS SUBTITLE. 14
(B) EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DIST RIBUTE THE FUNDS 15
APPROPRIATED UNDER S UBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION: 16
(1) TO EACH NONPROFIT ORG ANIZATION THAT PROVI DES SERVICES 17
THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AS REPORTED UNDER § 13–4804(D) OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 18
AND 19
(2) IN AN AMOUNT PROPORTI ONAL TO THE NONPROFI T 20
ORGANIZATION ’S ESTIMATED ANNUAL B UDGET FOR PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION 21
UNDER THE PROGRAM. 22
Article – Transportation 23
7–1002. 24
(a) There is a Maryland Senior Rides Program in the Administration. 25
(b) The purpose of the Program is to encourage regional providers to provide 26
door–to–door transportation for low–income to moderate–income seniors. 27
(c) The Administration shall award grants to qualified Program applicants, as 28
provided in § 7–1003 of this subtitle, for the operation of transportation services as specified 29
in this section. 30
(d) To be eligible for a grant under § 7–1003 of this subtitle, a Program applicant 31
shall: 32
HOUSE BILL 596 7
(1) Provide door–to–door transportation for low –income to 1
moderate–income seniors who have difficulty accessing or using other existing 2
transportation systems; 3
(2) Use primarily volunteer drivers who drive their own vehicles; 4
(3) Use a dispatcher system to respond quickly to requests from 5
low–income to moderate–income seniors for door–to–door transportation; and 6
(4) Define a geographic area for which door–to–door transportation is 7
provided. 8
(e) A Program participant may provide door–to–door transportation to an eligible 9
senior who does not reside in the geographic area defined by the Program participant under 10
subsection (d)(4) of this section when applying to participate in the Program, so long as 11
service is not diminished to an eligible senior who does reside in the defined geographic 12
area. 13
(f) A Program participant shall expend a matching fund of at least 25% of the 14
total capital or operating costs associated with providing door–to–door transportation for 15
low–income to moderate–income seniors. 16
(g) [The Administration may not award more than $500,000 in grants per year. 17
(h)] A Program participant may charge reasonable fees for door –to–door 18
transportation provided by the Program participant. 19
[(i)] (H) Nothing in this section prohibits a Program participant from providing 20
services in addition to those described in subsection (d) of this section. 21
7–1102. 22
There is a Job Access and Reverse Commute Program in the Administration. 23
[7–1107. 24
Funds for the Program shall be as provided by the Governor in the State budget, not 25
to exceed $400,000 annually.] 26
7–1107. 27
THE GOVERNOR SHALL PROVID E FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IN THE STATE 28
BUDGET. 29
7–1109. 30
8 HOUSE BILL 596
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWIN G WORDS HAVE THE MEA NINGS 1
INDICATED. 2
(2) “STATE AGENCY” MEANS AN EXECUTIVE D EPARTMENT , AGENCY, 3
OR OFFICE OF THE STATE. 4
(3) “TRANSPORTATION –DISADVANTAGED ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL 5
WHO QUALIFIES FOR FE DERALLY CONDUCTED OR FEDERALLY ASSISTED 6
TRANSPORTATION –RELATED PROGRAMS OR SERVICES, AS IMPLEMENTED AND 7
COORDINATED BY A STATE AGENCY , DUE TO DISABILITY , INCOME, OR ADVANCED 8
AGE. 9
(B) THERE IS A STATE COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH AND 10
HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION . 11
(C) THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE FOLL OWING MEMBERS : 12
(1) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 13
(2) THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES, OR THE SECRETARY’S 14
DESIGNEE; 15
(3) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 16
(4) THE SECRETARY OF AGING, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 17
(5) THE SECRETARY OF DISABILITIES, OR THE SECRETARY’S 18
DESIGNEE; 19
(6) THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , 20
OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 21
(7) THE SECRETARY OF PLANNING, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 22
(8) THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OR THE SECRETARY’S 23
DESIGNEE; 24
(9) THE SECRETARY OF LABOR, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 25
(10) THE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR THE DEAF AND 26
HARD OF HEARING, OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; 27
HOUSE BILL 596 9
(11) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND 1
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 2
DESIGNEE; 3
(12) THE EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIR OF THE RURAL MARYLAND 4
COUNCIL, OR THE EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIR’S DESIGNEE; AND 5
(13) ANY ADDITIONAL MEMBERS RECOMMENDED BY THE C HAIR OF 6
THE COMMITTEE AND APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE INPUT FRO M 7
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS , EMPLOYERS , AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVIN G 8
PRIORITY POPULATIONS , TRANSPORTATION PROVI DERS, AND CONSUMERS FROM 9
PRIORITY POPULATIONS . 10
(D) (1) THE APPOINTED MEMBERS SERVE AT THE PLEASUR E OF THE 11
GOVERNOR. 12
(2) THE TERM OF AN APPOIN TED MEMBER IS 3 YEARS. 13
(3) THE GOVERNOR MAY STAGGER THE TERMS OF THE APP OINTED 14
MEMBERS. 15
(E) THE SECRETARY, OR THE DESIGNEE OF T HE SECRETARY, SHALL CHAIR 16
THE COMMITTEE. 17
(F) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE COMMITTEE. 18
(G) A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE: 19
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 20
COMMITTEE; BUT 21
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 22
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 23
(H) THE COMMITTEE SHALL: 24
(1) EXAMINE THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF RESIDENTS OF THE 25
STATE WHO: 26
(I) ARE ELDERLY; 27
(II) HAVE A DISABILITY; OR 28
10 HOUSE BILL 596
(III) REQUIRE TRANSPORTATIO N TO ACCESS JOBS , MEDICAL 1
AND OTHER HEALTH –RELATED APPOINTMENTS , SENIOR CITIZEN PROGR AMS, OR 2
OTHER PROGRAMS REQUI RING THE TRANSPORTAT ION OF INDIVIDUALS W HO 3
QUALIFY AS TRANSPORT ATION–DISADVANTAGED ; 4
(2) COORDINATE EFFORTS IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE QUAL ITY 5
HEALTH AND HUMAN SER VICES TRANSPORTATION SERVI CES BY WORKING WITH 6
APPROPRIATE FEDERAL , STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES , TRANSIT CONSUMERS , AND 7
TRANSPORTATION PROVI DERS, TO DEVELOP A COOPERA TIVE AND COORDINATED 8
HEALTH AND HUMAN SER VICES TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM; 9
(3) CONDUCT AN INVENTORY A ND ASSESSMENT OF HEA LTH AND 10
HUMAN SERVICES TRANS PORTATION PROVIDERS IN THE STATE; 11
(4) DEVISE A 5–YEAR HEALTH AND HUMA N SERVICES 12
TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT SETS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES TO HELP 13
TRANSPORTATION –DISADVANTAGED RESIDE NTS OF THE STATE ACCESS JOBS , 14
EDUCATION AND TRAINI NG PROGRAMS , HEALTH CARE SERVICES , AND OTHER 15
ACTIVITIES BY PROVID ING COST–EFFECTIVE, AFFORDABLE , HIGH–CAPACITY, 16
HIGH–QUALITY, EASILY UNDERSTOOD , AND SAFE AND ACCESSI BLE 17
TRANSPORTATION ; AND 18
(5) (I) SERVE AS THE CLEARING HOUSE FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN 19
SERVICES TRANSPORTAT ION COORDINATION ISS UES IN THE STATE; 20
(II) IDENTIFY AND FACILIT ATE RESOLUTION TO ISSUES 21
REGARDING HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TRANS PORTATION, BOTH LOCALLY AND 22
STATEWIDE; 23
(III) PARTICIPATE IN THE ID ENTIFICATION OF POTE NTIAL 24
ALLOCATIONS OF HEALT H AND HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION RESOU RCES 25
DURING EMERGENCY EVA CUATIONS; 26
(IV) EVALUATE COST–SAVING MEASURES ; 27
(V) INVESTIGATE THE NEED FOR THE ESTABLISHMEN T OF 28
STANDARDS FOR VEHICL ES AND DRIVERS WITHI N HEALTH AND HUMAN S ERVICES 29
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS; AND 30
(VI) EXAMINE OTHER APPROPR IATE AREAS TO FACILI TATE THE 31
DEVELOPMENT OF A QUA LITY HEALTH AND HUMA N SERVICES TRANSPORT ATION 32
SYSTEM IN THE STATE. 33
HOUSE BILL 596 11
(I) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE COMMITTEE SHALL 1
REPORT ON ITS ACTIVITIES TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 2
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
October 1, 2023. 5