Maryland 2024 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB1092 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 03/17/2024

                     
 
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. 
          *sb1092*  
  
SENATE BILL 1092 
J1, R4   	4lr1874 
      
By: Senator Guzzone 
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024 
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation 
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments 
Committee amendments withdrawn, March 2, 2024 
Senate action: Adopted with substitute committee amendments, March 2, 2024 
Read second time: March 2, 2024 
 
CHAPTER ______ 
 
AN ACT concerning 1 
 
Vehicle Registration – Emergency Medical System Surcharge – Increase and 2 
Distribution of Funds  3 
Emergency Services – Funding 4 
 
FOR the purpose of increasing the motor vehicle registration emergency medical system 5 
surcharge for certain motor vehicles; providing for the distribution of revenues 6 
derived from the surcharge; and generally relating to the emergency medical system 7 
surcharge for motor vehicle registration altering certain provisions of law related to 8 
the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund, including provisions related to the 9 
contents and sources of the funding, transfer of money from the Fund, and the 10 
methodology used to determine eligibility for disbursements from the Fund; 11 
increasing the fines for certain violations of the Maryland Vehicle Law related to 12 
driving while impaired; altering the authorized uses of the Maryland Emergency 13 
Medical System Operations Fund; stating that it is the intent of the General 14 
Assembly that the annual appropriation to the Senator William H. Amoss Fire, 15 
Rescue, and Ambulance Fund be increased to at least a certain amount beginning in 16 
a certain fiscal year; and generally relating to the funding for emergency services.  17 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,  18 
 Article – Health – General  19 
 Section 19–101  20 
 Annotated Code of Maryland  21 
 (2023 Replacement Volume)  22 
  2 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,  1 
 Article – Health – General  2 
 Section 19–130  3 
 Annotated Code of Maryland  4 
 (2023 Replacement Volume) 5 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6 
 Article – Public Safety 7 
 Section 8–102(a) 8 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 9 
 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 10 
 
BY adding to 11 
 Article – Public Safety 12 
 Section 8–102(g) 13 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 14 
 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)  15 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16 
 Article – Transportation 17 
Section 13–954 and 21–902(a) through (d) 18 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 19 
 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 20 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21 
 Article – Transportation 22 
Section 13–955 23 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 24 
 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 25 
 
 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26 
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 27 
 
Article – Health – General 28 
 
19–101. 29 
 
 In this subtitle, “Commission” means the Maryland Health Care Commission. 30 
 
19–130. 31 
 
 (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 32 
 
 (2) “Fund” means the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund. 33 
 
 (3) “Maryland Trauma Specialty Referral Centers” means: 34 
   	SENATE BILL 1092 	3 
 
 
 (i) The Johns Hopkins Health System Burn Program; 1 
 
 (ii) The Eye Trauma Center at the Wilmer Eye Institute at The 2 
Johns Hopkins Hospital; and 3 
 
 (iii) The Curtis National Hand Center at Union Memorial Hospital. 4 
 
 (4) “REASONABLE COMPENSATI ON EQUIVALENT” MEANS THE 5 
LIMITATION ON THE CO ST ESTABLISHED BY TH E CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND 6 
MEDICAID SERVICES THAT A PROVI DER MAY CLAIM FOR CO MPENSATION OF 7 
SERVICES. 8 
 
 [(4)] (5) “Rehabilitation hospital” means a facility classified as a special 9 
rehabilitation hospital as described in § 19–307 of this title that is affiliated with a trauma 10 
center by common ownership. 11 
 
 [(5)] (6) (i) “Trauma center” means a facility designated by the 12 
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems as: 13 
 
 1. The State primary adult resource center; 14 
 
 2. A Level I trauma center; 15 
 
 3. A Level II trauma center; 16 
 
 4. A Level III trauma center; 17 
 
 5. A pediatric trauma center; or 18 
 
 6. The Maryland Trauma Specialty Referral Centers. 19 
 
 (ii) “Trauma center” includes an out–of–state pediatric trauma 20 
center that has entered into an agreement with the Maryland Institute for Emergency 21 
Medical Services Systems. 22 
 
 (7) “TRAUMA HEALTH CARE PR ACTITIONER” MEANS A HEALTH CARE 23 
PRACTITIONER LICENSE D UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE WHO 24 
PROVIDES CARE IN A T RAUMA CENTER OR IN A REHABILITATION HOSPI TAL TO 25 
TRAUMA PATIENTS ON T HE STATE TRAUMA REGISTRY AS DEFINED BY THE 26 
MARYLAND INSTITUTE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS. 27 
 
 [(6)] (8) “Trauma physician” means a physician who provides care in a 28 
trauma center or in a rehabilitation hospital to trauma patients on the State trauma 29 
registry as defined by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. 30 
  4 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
 [(7)] (9) “Uncompensated care” means care provided by a trauma 1 
physician OR A TRAUMA HEALTH C ARE PRACTITIONER to a trauma patient on the State 2 
trauma registry who: 3 
 
 (i) Has no health insurance, including Medicare Part B coverage; 4 
 
 (ii) Is not eligible for medical assistance coverage; and 5 
 
 (iii) Has not paid the trauma physician OR TRAUMA HEALTH CAR E 6 
PRACTITIONER for care provided by the trauma physician OR TRAUMA HEALTH CAR E 7 
PRACTITIONER , after documented attempts by the trauma physician OR TRAUMA 8 
HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER to collect payment. 9 
 
 (b) (1) There is a Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund. 10 
 
 (2) The purpose of the Fund is to subsidize the documented costs: 11 
 
 (i) Of uncompensated care incurred by a trauma physician OR 12 
TRAUMA HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER in providing trauma care to a trauma patient on 13 
the State trauma registry; 14 
 
 (ii) Of undercompensated care incurred by a trauma physician OR 15 
TRAUMA HEALTH CARE P RACTITIONER in providing trauma care to an enrollee of the 16 
Maryland Medical Assistance Program who is a trauma patient on the State trauma 17 
registry; 18 
 
 (iii) Incurred by a trauma center to maintain trauma physicians  19 
on–call as required by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems; 20 
 
 (iv) Incurred by the State primary adult resource center to maintain 21 
trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists on–call and 22 
on standby as required by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems; 23 
and 24 
 
 (v) Incurred by the Commission and the Health Services Cost 25 
Review Commission to administer the Fund and audit reimbursement requests to assure 26 
appropriate payments are made from the Fund. 27 
 
 (3) The Commission and the Health Services Cost Review Commission 28 
shall administer the Fund. 29 
 
 (4) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 30 
the State Finance and Procurement Article. 31 
   	SENATE BILL 1092 	5 
 
 
 (5) Interest on and other income from the Fund shall be separately 1 
accounted for and credited to the Fund, and are not subject to § 6–226(a) of the State 2 
Finance and Procurement Article. 3 
 
 (c) The Fund consists of [motor]: 4 
 
 (1) MOTOR vehicle registration surcharges paid into the Fund in 5 
accordance with § 13–954(b)(2) of the Transportation Article; 6 
 
 (2) AT LEAST 10% OF THE FINES COLLECTED UNDE R § 21–902(A)(1), 7 
(B)(2), (C)(2), AND (D)(1) OF THE TRANSPORTATION ARTICLE; AND  8 
 
 (3) ANY OTHER MONEY TRANS FERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF 9 
THE STATE. 10 
 
 (d) (1) Disbursements from the Fund shall be made in accordance with a 11 
methodology established jointly by the Commission and the Health Services Cost Review 12 
Commission to calculate costs incurred by trauma physicians and trauma centers that are 13 
eligible to receive reimbursement under subsection (b) of this section. 14 
 
 (2) The Fund shall transfer to the Maryland Department of Health an 15 
amount sufficient to fully cover the State’s share of expenditures for the costs of 16 
undercompensated care incurred by a trauma physician in providing trauma care to an 17 
enrollee of the Maryland Medical Assistance Program who is a trauma patient on the State 18 
trauma registry. 19 
 
 (3) The methodology developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection 20 
shall: 21 
 
 (i) Take into account: 22 
 
 1. The amount of uncompensated care provided by trauma 23 
physicians; 24 
 
 2. The amount of undercompensated care attributable to the 25 
treatment of Medicaid enrollees in trauma centers; 26 
 
 3. The cost of maintaining trauma physicians on–call; 27 
 
 4. The number of patients served by trauma physicians in 28 
trauma centers; 29 
 
 5. The number of Maryland residents served by trauma 30 
physicians in trauma centers; and 31 
  6 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
 6. The extent to which trauma–related costs are otherwise 1 
subsidized by hospitals, the federal government, and other sources; and 2 
 
 (ii) Include an incentive to encourage hospitals to continue to 3 
subsidize trauma–related costs not otherwise included in hospital rates. 4 
 
 (4) The methodology developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 5 
use the following parameters to determine the amount of reimbursement made to trauma 6 
physicians and trauma centers from the Fund: 7 
 
 (i) 1. The cost incurred by a Level II trauma center to maintain 8 
trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons on–call shall be reimbursed: 9 
 
 A. At a rate of up to [30%] 60% of the reasonable [cost 10 
equivalents] COMPENSATION EQUIVALENT hourly rate for the specialty, inflated to the 11 
current year by the physician compensation component of the Medicare economic index as 12 
designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and 13 
 
 B. For the minimum number of trauma physicians required 14 
to be on–call, as specified by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services 15 
Systems in its criteria for Level II trauma centers; 16 
 
 2. The cost incurred by a Level III trauma center to maintain 17 
trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists on–call shall 18 
be reimbursed: 19 
 
 A. At a rate of up to [35%] 60% of the reasonable [cost 20 
equivalents] COMPENSATION EQUIVALENT hourly rate for the specialty, inflated to the 21 
current year by the physician compensation component of the Medicare economic index as 22 
designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and 23 
 
 B. For the minimum number of trauma physicians required 24 
to be on–call, as specified by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services 25 
Systems in its criteria for Level III trauma centers; 26 
 
 3. The cost incurred by a Level I trauma center or pediatric 27 
trauma center to maintain trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons  28 
on–call when a post–graduate resident is attending in the trauma center shall be 29 
reimbursed: 30 
 
 A. At a rate of up to [30%] 60% of the reasonable [cost 31 
equivalents] COMPENSATION EQUIVALENT hourly rate for the specialty, inflated to the 32 
current year by the physician compensation component of the Medicare economic index as 33 
designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and 34 
   	SENATE BILL 1092 	7 
 
 
 B. When a post –graduate resident is [permitted] 1 
AUTHORIZED to be in the trauma center, as specified by the Maryland Institute for 2 
Emergency Medical Services Systems in its criteria for Level I trauma centers or pediatric 3 
trauma centers; 4 
 
 4. The cost incurred by a Maryland Trauma Specialty 5 
Referral Center to maintain trauma surgeons on–call in the specialty of the Center when a 6 
post–graduate resident is attending in the Center shall be reimbursed: 7 
 
 A. At a rate of up to [30%] 60% of the reasonable [cost 8 
equivalents] COMPENSATION EQUIVALENT hourly rate for the specialty, inflated to the 9 
current year by the physician compensation component of the Medicare economic index as 10 
designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and 11 
 
 B. When a post –graduate resident is [permitted] 12 
AUTHORIZED to be in the Center, as specified by the Maryland Institute for Emergency 13 
Medical Services Systems in its criteria for a Maryland Trauma Specialty Referral Center; 14 
and 15 
 
 5. A. A Level II trauma center is eligible for a maximum 16 
of [24,500] 26,280 hours of trauma on–call per year; 17 
 
 B. A Level III trauma center is eligible for a maximum of 18 
35,040 hours of trauma on–call per year; 19 
 
 C. A Level I trauma center shall be eligible for a maximum of 20 
4,380 hours of trauma on–call per year; 21 
 
 D. A pediatric trauma center shall be eligible for a maximum 22 
of 4,380 hours of trauma on–call per year; and 23 
 
 E. A Maryland Trauma Specialty Referral Center shall be 24 
eligible for a maximum of 2,190 hours of trauma on–call per year; 25 
 
 (ii) The cost of undercompensated care incurred by a trauma 26 
physician in providing trauma care to enrollees of the Maryland Medical Assistance 27 
Program who are trauma patients on the State trauma registry shall be reimbursed at a 28 
rate of up to 100% of the Medicare payment for the service, minus any amount paid by the 29 
Maryland Medical Assistance Program; 30 
 
 (iii) The cost of uncompensated care incurred by a trauma physician 31 
in providing trauma care to trauma patients on the State trauma registry shall be 32 
reimbursed at a rate of 100% of the Medicare payment for the service, minus any recoveries 33 
made by the trauma physician for the care; 34 
  8 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
 (iv) The Commission, in consultation with the Health Services Cost 1 
Review Commission, may establish a payment rate for uncompensated care incurred by a 2 
trauma physician in providing trauma care to trauma patients on the State trauma registry 3 
that is above 100% of the Medicare payment for the service if: 4 
 
 1. The Commission determines that increasing the payment 5 
rate above 100% of the Medicare payment for the service will address an unmet need in the 6 
State trauma system; and 7 
 
 2. The Commission reports on its intention to increase the 8 
payment rate to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government 9 
Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, at 10 
least 60 days before any adjustment to the rate; 11 
 
 (v) The Commission shall develop guidelines for the reimbursement 12 
of the documented costs of the State primary adult resource center under subsection 13 
(b)(2)(iv) of this section; [and] 14 
 
 (VI) THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HEALTH 15 
SERVICES COST REVIEW COMMISSION, MAY CHANGE THE PERCE NTAGE OF THE 16 
REASONABLE COMPENSAT ION EQUIVALENT PAID TO TRAUMA HOSPITALS IF: 17 
 
 1. THE COMMISSION DETERMINES THAT THE 18 
PROJECTED REVENUE TO BE COLLECTED IN THE FUND IS ADEQUATE TO S UPPORT 19 
THE PROPOSED INCREAS E IN THE PERC ENTAGE OF REASONABLE COMPENSATION 20 
EQUIVALENT INFLATED TO THE CURRENT YEAR BY THE PHYSICIAN COM PENSATION 21 
COMPONENT OF THE MEDICARE ECONOMIC IND EX; AND 22 
 
 2. THE COMMISSION REPORTS ON ITS INTENTION TO 23 
CHANGE THE PERCENTAG E OF REASONABLE COMP ENSATION EQUIVA LENT TO BE 24 
PAID FOR ON–CALL COSTS TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE 25 
HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH §  26 
2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, AT LEAST 60 DAYS BEFORE ANY 27 
ADJUSTMENT TO THE AL LOWABLE HOURS ; 28 
 
 (VII) THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HEALTH 29 
SERVICES COST REVIEW COMMISSION, MAY CHANGE THE NUMBE R OF ALLOWABLE 30 
HOURS OF TRAUMA ON –CALL EACH YEAR IF TH E COMMISSION REPORTS ON ITS 31 
INTENTION TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF ALLOWA BLE HOURS TO THE SENATE 32 
FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 33 
COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 34 
ARTICLE, AT LEAST 60 DAYS BEFORE ANY ADJU STMENT TO THE ALLOWA BLE HOURS;  35 
   	SENATE BILL 1092 	9 
 
 
 (VIII) THE COMMISSION MAY MODIFY THE PERCENTAGE PAID , 1 
AND THE MAXIMUM NUMBER O F HOURS ALLOWED , FOR ON–CALL CARE NOT MORE 2 
THAN ONCE EACH YEAR ; AND 3 
 
 [(vi)] (IX) The total reimbursement to emergency physicians from 4 
the Fund may not exceed $300,000 annually. 5 
 
 (5) In order to receive reimbursement, a trauma physician OR TRAUMA 6 
HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER in the case of costs of uncompensated care under 7 
subsection (b)(2)(i) of this section, or a trauma center in the case of on–call costs under 8 
subsection (b)(2)(iii) of this section, shall apply to the Fund on a form and in a manner 9 
approved by the Commission and the Health Services Cost Review Commission. 10 
 
 (6) (i) The Commission and the Health Services Cost Review 11 
Commission shall adopt regulations that specify the information that trauma physicians, 12 
TRAUMA HEALTH CARE P RACTITIONERS , and trauma centers must submit to receive 13 
money from the Fund. 14 
 
 (ii) The information required shall include: 15 
 
 1. The name and federal tax identification number of the 16 
trauma physician rendering the service; 17 
 
 2. The date of the service; 18 
 
 3. Appropriate codes describing the service; 19 
 
 4. Any amount recovered for the service rendered; 20 
 
 5. The name of the trauma patient; 21 
 
 6. The patient’s trauma registry number; and 22 
 
 7. Any other information the Commission and the Health 23 
Services Cost Review Commission consider necessary to disburse money from the Fund. 24 
 
 (iii) It is the intent of the General Assembly that trauma physicians 25 
and trauma centers shall cooperate with the Commission and the Health Services Cost 26 
Review Commission by providing information required under this paragraph in a timely 27 
and complete manner. 28 
 
 (e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and 29 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, expenditures from the Fund for costs incurred 30 
in any fiscal year may not exceed revenues of the Fund. 31 
  10 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
 (2) (i) The Commission, in consultation with the Health Services Cost 1 
Review Commission and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, 2 
shall develop a process for the award of grants to LEVEL I, Level II, and Level III trauma 3 
centers [in the State to be used for equipment primarily used] in the delivery of trauma 4 
care. 5 
 
 (ii) 1. The Commission shall issue grants under this paragraph 6 
from any balance carried over to the Fund from prior fiscal years. 7 
 
 2. [The total amount of grants awarded under this 8 
paragraph in a fiscal year may not exceed 10% of the balance remaining in the Fund at the 9 
end of the fiscal year immediately prior to the fiscal year in which grants are awarded] 10 
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF G RANTS AWARDED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH IN A FISCAL 11 
YEAR MAY NOT REDUCE THE BALANCE REMAININ G IN THE FUND AT THE END OF TH E 12 
FISCAL YEAR TO LESS THAN 15% OF THE REVENUE COLLE CTED IN THAT FISCAL 13 
YEAR. 14 
 
 (iii) The process developed by the Commission for the award of grants 15 
under this paragraph shall include: 16 
 
 1. Grant applications and review and selection criteria for 17 
the award of grants; 18 
 
 2. Review by the Commission, if necessary, for any project 19 
that exceeds certificate of need thresholds; and 20 
 
 3. Any other procedure determined necessary by the 21 
Commission. 22 
 
 (iv) Before awarding grants under this subsection in a fiscal year, the 23 
Commission shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and 24 
Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 25 
Article, on the process that the Commission has developed for awarding grants in that fiscal 26 
year. 27 
 
 (f) On or before November 1 of each year, the Commission and the Health 28 
Services Cost Review Commission shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with 29 
§ 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on: 30 
 
 (1) The amount of money in the Fund on the last day of the previous fiscal 31 
year; 32 
 
 (2) The amount of money applied for by trauma physicians, TRAUMA 33 
HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONERS, and trauma centers during the previous fiscal year; 34 
   	SENATE BILL 1092 	11 
 
 
 (3) The amount of money distributed in the form of trauma physician, 1 
TRAUMA HEALTH CARE P RACTITIONER, and trauma center reimbursements during the 2 
previous fiscal year; 3 
 
 (4) Any recommendations for altering the manner in which trauma 4 
physicians, TRAUMA HEALTH CARE P RACTITIONERS , and trauma centers are 5 
reimbursed from the Fund; 6 
 
 (5) The costs incurred in administering the Fund during the previous fiscal 7 
year; [and] 8 
 
 (6) The amount that each hospital that participates in the Maryland 9 
trauma system and that has a trauma center contributes toward the subsidization of 10 
trauma–related costs for its trauma center; 11 
 
 (7) THE AMOUNT THE HEALTH SERVICES COST REVIEW 12 
COMMISSION ALLOWED :  13 
 
 (I) IN HOSPITAL RATES FOR TRAUMA STANDBY ;  14 
 
 (II) FOR MAINTAINING MARYLAND INSTITUTE FOR 15 
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS TRAUMA PROTOC OLS; 16 
 
 (III) FOR PROCURING SPECIAL IZED TRAUMA EQUIPMEN T; AND 17 
 
 (IV) FOR PROVIDING TRAUMA EDUCATION AND TRAINI NG; AND 18 
 
 (8) ANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY TRAUMA CENTERS AS A RESULT OF 19 
AN INCREASE IN FUNDI NG. 20 
 
 (G) THE COMMISSION SHALL AWAR D AN ANNUAL GRANT FR OM THE FUND 21 
IN THE AMOUNT UP TO $1,800,000 TO LEVEL I PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CEN TERS AS 22 
FOLLOWS: 23 
 
 (1) UP TO $900,000 TO JOHNS HOPKINS CHILDREN’S CENTER; AND  24 
 
 (2) UP TO $900,000 TO CHILDREN’S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER.  25 
 
Article – Public Safety 26 
 
8–102. 27 
 
 (a) There is a Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund. 28 
  12 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
 (G) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E AN 1 
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION TO THE FUND OF AT LEAST $16,500,000.  2 
 
Article – Transportation 3 
 
13–954. 4 
 
 (a) In this section, “motor vehicle” means a: 5 
 
 (1) Class A (passenger) vehicle; 6 
 
 (2) Class B (for hire) vehicle; 7 
 
 (3) Class C (funeral and ambulance) vehicle; 8 
 
 (4) Class D (motorcycle) vehicle; 9 
 
 (5) Class E (truck) vehicle; 10 
 
 (6) Class F (tractor) vehicle; 11 
 
 (7) Class H (school) vehicle; 12 
 
 (8) Class J (vanpool) vehicle; 13 
 
 (9) Class M (multipurpose) vehicle; 14 
 
 (10) Class P (passenger bus) vehicle; 15 
 
 (11) Class Q (limousine) vehicle; 16 
 
 (12) Class R (low speed) vehicle; or 17 
 
 (13) Vehicle within any other class designated by the Administrator. 18 
 
 (b) (1) In addition to the registration fee otherwise required by this title, the 19 
owner of any motor vehicle registered under this title shall pay a surcharge of [$17.00] 20 
$40.00 per year for each motor vehicle registered. 21 
 
 (2) (I) [$2.50] $7.50 of the surcharge collected under paragraph (1) of 22 
this subsection shall be paid into the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund 23 
established under § 19–130 of the Health – General Article. 24 
 
 (II) THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY SHA LL ALLOCATE AT LEAST 25 
$9.00 OF THE SURCHARGE COL LECTED UNDER PARAGRA PH (1) OF THIS 26 
SUBSECTION TO THE R ADAMS COWLEY SHOCK TRAUMA CENTER. 27   	SENATE BILL 1092 	13 
 
 
 
 (III) THE BALANCE OF THE SU RCHARGE COLLECTED UN DER 1 
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE PAID TO THE MARYLAND 2 
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEM OPERATIONS FUND ESTABLISHED UNDE R § 13–955 3 
OF THIS SUBTITLE. 4 
 
13–955. 5 
 
 (a) In this section, “Fund” means the Maryland Emergency Medical System 6 
Operations Fund. 7 
 
 (b) (1) There is a Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund. 8 
 
 (2) The Comptroller shall administer the Fund, including accounting for 9 
all transactions and performing year–end reconciliation. 10 
 
 (3) The Fund is a continuing, nonlapsing fund which is not subject to §  11 
7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 12 
 
 (4) Interest and earnings on the Fund shall be separately accounted for and 13 
credited to the Fund, and are not subject to § 6–226(a) of the State Finance and 14 
Procurement Article. 15 
 
 (c) The Fund consists of: 16 
 
 (1) Registration surcharges collected under § 13–954 of this subtitle; 17 
 
 (2) All funds, including charges for accident scene transports and 18 
interhospital transfers of patients, generated by an entity specified in subsection (e) of this 19 
section that is a unit of State government; and 20 
 
 (3) Revenues distributed to the Fund from the surcharges collected under 21 
§ 7–301(f) of the Courts Article. 22 
 
 (d) Expenditures from the Fund shall be made pursuant to an appropriation 23 
approved by the General Assembly in the annual State budget or by the budget amendment 24 
procedure provided under § 7–209 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, provided 25 
that any budget amendment shall be submitted to and approved by the Legislative Policy 26 
Committee prior to the expenditure or obligation of funds. 27 
 
 (e) The money in the Fund shall be used solely for: 28 
 
 (1) Medically oriented functions of the Department of State Police, Special 29 
Operations Bureau, Aviation Division; 30 
 
 (2) The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems; 31 
  14 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
 (3) The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of 1 
Maryland Medical System; 2 
 
 (4) The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute; 3 
 
 (5) The provision of grants under the Senator William H. Amoss Fire, 4 
Rescue, and Ambulance Fund in accordance with the provisions of Title 8, Subtitle 1 of the 5 
Public Safety Article; and 6 
 
 (6) The Volunteer Company Assistance Fund in accordance with the 7 
provisions of Title 8, Subtitle 2 of the Public Safety Article. 8 
 
21–902. 9 
 
 (a) (1) (i) A person may not drive or attempt to drive any vehicle while 10 
under the influence of alcohol. 11 
 
 (ii) A person may not drive or attempt to drive any vehicle while the 12 
person is under the influence of alcohol per se. 13 
 
 (iii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 14 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or 15 
a fine not exceeding [$1,000] $1,100 or both; and 16 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years 17 
or a fine not exceeding [$2,000] $2,200 or both. 18 
 
 (iv) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 19 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section 20 
or § 8–738 of the Natural Resources Article, within 5 years before the conviction for a 21 
violation of this paragraph, shall be considered a prior conviction. 22 
 
 (2) (i) A person may not violate paragraph (1) of this subsection while 23 
transporting a minor. 24 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 25 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or 26 
a fine not exceeding $2,000 or both; and 27 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 3 years 28 
or a fine not exceeding $3,000 or both. 29 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 30 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under this paragraph or subsection (b)(2), 31 
(c)(2), or (d)(2) of this section shall be considered a prior conviction. 32   	SENATE BILL 1092 	15 
 
 
 
 (b) (1) (i) A person may not drive or attempt to drive any vehicle while 1 
impaired by alcohol. 2 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 3 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 months 4 
or a fine not exceeding $500 or both; and 5 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year 6 
or a fine not exceeding $500 or both. 7 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 8 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under this subsection or subsection (a), (c), 9 
or (d) of this section or § 8–738 of the Natural Resources Article shall be considered a prior 10 
conviction. 11 
 
 (2) (i) A person may not violate paragraph (1) of this subsection while 12 
transporting a minor. 13 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 14 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or 15 
a fine not exceeding [$1,000] $1,100 or both; and 16 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years 17 
or a fine not exceeding [$2,000] $2,200 or both. 18 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 19 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under this paragraph or subsection (a)(2), 20 
(c)(2), or (d)(2) of this section shall be considered a prior conviction. 21 
 
 (c) (1) (i) A person may not drive or attempt to drive any vehicle while so 22 
far impaired by any drug, any combination of drugs, or a combination of one or more drugs 23 
and alcohol that the person cannot drive a vehicle safely. 24 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 25 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 months 26 
or a fine not exceeding $500 or both; and 27 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year 28 
or a fine not exceeding $500 or both. 29 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 30 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under this subsection or subsection (a), (b), 31  16 	SENATE BILL 1092  
 
 
or (d) of this section or § 8–738 of the Natural Resources Article shall be considered a prior 1 
conviction. 2 
 
 (iv) It is not a defense to any charge of violating this subsection that 3 
the person charged is or was entitled under the laws of this State to use the drug, 4 
combination of drugs, or combination of one or more drugs and alcohol, unless the person 5 
was unaware that the drug or combination would make the person incapable of safely 6 
driving a vehicle. 7 
 
 (2) (i) A person may not violate paragraph (1) of this subsection while 8 
transporting a minor. 9 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 10 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or 11 
a fine not exceeding [$1,000] $1,100 or both; and 12 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years 13 
or a fine not exceeding [$2,000] $2,200 or both. 14 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 15 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under this paragraph or subsection (a)(2), 16 
(b)(2), or (d)(2) of this section shall be considered a prior conviction. 17 
 
 (d) (1) (i) A person may not drive or attempt to drive any vehicle while the 18 
person is impaired by any controlled dangerous substance, as that term is defined in §  19 
5–101 of the Criminal Law Article, if the person is not entitled to use the controlled 20 
dangerous substance under the laws of this State. 21 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 22 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or 23 
a fine not exceeding [$1,000] $1,100 or both; and 24 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years 25 
or a fine not exceeding [$2,000] $2,200 or both. 26 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 27 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section 28 
or § 8–738 of the Natural Resources Article, within 5 years before the conviction for a 29 
violation of this paragraph, shall be considered a prior conviction. 30 
 
 (2) (i) A person may not violate paragraph (1) of this subsection while 31 
transporting a minor. 32 
 
 (ii) A person convicted of a violation of this paragraph is subject to: 33 
   	SENATE BILL 1092 	17 
 
 
 1. For a first offense, imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or 1 
a fine not exceeding $2,000 or both; and 2 
 
 2. For a second offense, imprisonment not exceeding 3 years 3 
or a fine not exceeding $3,000 or both. 4 
 
 (iii) For the purpose of determining subsequent offender penalties for 5 
a violation of this paragraph, a prior conviction under this paragraph or subsection (a)(2), 6 
(b)(2), or (c)(2) of this section shall be considered a prior conviction.  7 
 
 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8 
1, 2024.  9 
 
 
 
 
Approved: 
________________________________________________________________________________  
 Governor. 
________________________________________________________________________________  
         President of the Senate. 
________________________________________________________________________________  
  Speaker of the House of Delegates.