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.
*hb0408*
HOUSE BILL 408
J1 4lr2014
CF SB 412
By: Delegates Bagnall, Allen, Buckel, Chang, Fair, Guyton, Hill, Howard, D. Jones,
Kaufman, Kerr, Kipke, Miller, M. Morgan, T. Morgan, Munoz, Pasteur,
Patterson, Pippy, Pruski, Shetty, Vogel, Williams, and Wilson
Introduced and read first time: January 18, 2024
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 23, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Mental Health Law – County Mental Health Advisory Committees – Membership 2
FOR the purpose of altering the membership of a county’s mental health advisory 3
committee by including an individual with experience with mental health care for 4
veterans or individuals serving in the military on the list of groups from which 5
individuals may be appointed to the committee by the governing body of the county; 6
and generally relating to county mental health advisory committees. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Health – General 9
Section 10–309 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2023 Replacement Volume) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Health – General 15
10–309. 16
(a) (1) The mental health advisory committee of each county shall consist of: 17
2 HOUSE BILL 408
(i) As nonvoting ex officio members, the following individuals or 1
their designees: 2
1. The health officer for the county; 3
2. A representative of a State inpatient facility that serves 4
that county, appointed as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection; 5
3. The county mental health director; 6
4. The director of the core service agency or local behavioral 7
health authority, if any; and 8
5. In jurisdictions with designated State inpatient beds 9
located in local general hospitals, a representative from that facility; and 10
(ii) As voting members, appointed by the governing body of the 11
county and representative of the county’s major socio–economic and ethnic groups: 12
1. At least 5, but not more than 7, representatives selected 13
from among the following groups or agencies: 14
A. The governing body; 15
B. The county department of education; 16
C. The local department of social services; 17
D. The practicing physicians; 18
E. Mental health professionals who are not physicians; 19
F. The clergy; 20
G. The legal profession; 21
H. A local law enforcement agency; 22
I. A local general hospital that contains an inpatient 23
psychiatric unit; 24
J. The Department of Aging; 25
K. The Department of Juvenile Services; 26
L. The local alcohol and drug abuse agency; and 27
HOUSE BILL 408 3
M. A local community rehabilitation or housing program; and 1
2. At least 5 individuals selected from among the following 2
groups or organizations and appointed as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection: 3
A. At least 2 individuals who are currently receiving or who 4
have in the past received mental health services; 5
B. Parents or other relatives of adults with mental disorders; 6
C. Parents or other relatives of children or adolescents with 7
emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders the onset of which occurred during childhood or 8
adolescence; 9
D. The local mental health association, if any; [and] 10
E. AN INDIVIDUAL WITH EX PERIENCE WITH MENTAL 11
HEALTH CARE FOR VETE RANS OR INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN THE MILIT ARY; AND 12
F. A member of the general public. 13
(2) If more than one State inpatient facility serves a county, a 14
representative from at least 1 of the facilities shall be appointed by the Director. 15
(3) At least one–half of the voting members shall be appointed from among 16
the individuals listed in paragraph (1)(ii)2A through C of this subsection. 17
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection, if the 18
governing body of Baltimore City or Anne Arundel County designates a core service agency 19
or local behavioral health authority as the mental health advisory committee, the mental 20
health advisory committee shall consist of the governing body of the core service agency or 21
local behavioral health authority. 22
(b) If an intercounty advisory committee is established, the governing body of 23
each participating county shall appoint at least 4 members of the committee. 24
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section, if the governing body of a 25
county establishes a joint mental health and addictions advisory committee, the governing 26
body may appoint any additional members as necessary to advise and advocate about 27
addictions issues. 28
(d) (1) The term of an appointed member is 3 years and begins on July 1. 29
(2) The terms of one–third of the appointed members of each county 30
advisory committee or intercounty advisory committee end each year. 31
4 HOUSE BILL 408
(3) At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve until a successor 1
is appointed and qualifies. 2
(4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 3
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 4
(5) A member who serves 2 consecutive full 3–year terms may not be 5
reappointed for 2 years after completion of those terms. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2024. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.