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