EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0615*
HOUSE BILL 615
J2 3lr2199
By: Delegate Amprey
Introduced and read first time: February 3, 2023
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Workgroup on Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, and Other 2
Underrepresented Behavioral Health Professionals – Extension of Dates 3
FOR the purpose of extending the reporting and termination dates for the Workgroup on 4
Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, and Other Underrepresented 5
Behavioral Health Professionals; and generally relating to the Workgroup on Black, 6
Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, and Other Underrepresented Behavioral 7
Health Professionals. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Chapter 318 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Chapter 318 of the Acts of 2022 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That: 15
(a) There is a Workgroup on Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, and 16
Other Underrepresented Behavioral Health Professionals. 17
(b) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 18
(1) the President of Bowie State University, or the President’s designee; 19
(2) the President of Coppin State University, or the President’s designee; 20
(3) the President of Morgan State University, or the President’s designee; 21
2 HOUSE BILL 615
(4) the President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore, or the 1
President’s designee; and 2
(5) the following members, appointed by the Secretary of Health: 3
(i) one representative each from at least three different hospital 4
networks in the State that primarily serve Black, Latino, or Asian American Pacific 5
Islander communities; 6
(ii) three representatives from the behavioral health profession in 7
the State; 8
(iii) three individuals who provide social services in the State; and 9
(iv) at least two but not more than four representatives of 10
organizations, networks, or associations of behavioral health professionals that: 11
1. are composed of a majority of Black, Latino, Asian 12
American Pacific Islander, or other underrepresented behavioral health professionals; and 13
2. primarily work to represent and support Black, Latino, 14
Asian American Pacific Islander, or other underrepresented behavioral health 15
professionals. 16
(c) The Secretary of Health shall designate the chair of the Workgroup. 17
(d) The University System of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Health 18
jointly shall provide staff for the Workgroup. 19
(e) A member of the Workgroup or any subgroup established under subsection (g) 20
of this section: 21
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Workgroup or 22
subgroup; but 23
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 24
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 25
(f) The Workgroup shall: 26
(1) identify and study the shortage of behavioral health professionals in 27
the State who are Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, or otherwise 28
underrepresented in the behavioral health profession; and 29
(2) assess and make recommendations on incentives or other methods to 30
increase the number of: 31
HOUSE BILL 615 3
(i) students who are Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, 1
or otherwise underrepresented in the behavioral health profession who study at an 2
institution of higher education in the State to be behavioral health professionals; and 3
(ii) behavioral health professionals who are Black, Latino, Asian 4
American Pacific Islander, or otherwise underrepresented in the behavioral health 5
profession who provide behavioral health services in the State, especially in underserved 6
communities. 7
(g) (1) The Workgroup may establish a subgroup within the Workgroup to 8
assist the Workgroup in carrying out its duties, including by conducting research and 9
producing reports. 10
(2) A subgroup established under paragraph (1) of this subsection may 11
include an individual who is not a member of the Workgroup, including a representative of 12
an insurance carrier or any other relevant expert. 13
(h) On or before July 1, [2023] 2024, the Workgroup shall report its findings 14
and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 15
Government Article, the General Assembly. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of [2] 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 18
[2024] 2025, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 19
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 21
1, 2023. 22