MD
Maryland Senate Bill SB445

Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB445 Compare Versions

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33 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
44 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5- Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6- Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7-amendment.
85 *sb0445*
96
107 SENATE BILL 445
118 J1 4lr1927
129 CF HB 353
1310 By: Senators Zucker and Augustine
1411 Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2024
1512 Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
16-Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17-Senate action: Adopted
18-Read second time: March 23, 2024
1913
20-CHAPTER ______
14+A BILL ENTITLED
2115
2216 AN ACT concerning 1
2317
2418 Maryland Department of Health – 2–1–1 Maryland – Oversight 2
2519
2620 FOR the purpose of defining the term “Health and Human Services Referral System” for 3
2721 the purposes of certain provisions of law governing the System to mean a certain 4
2822 coordinated system for health and human service resources that is accessible to State 5
2923 residents, rather than a certain telephone service; altering the definition of “2–1–1 6
3024 Maryland” to clarify that it is the entity that administers the 2–1–1 system in the 7
3125 State; repealing the requirement that the Maryland Department of Health evaluate 8
3226 the performance of certain call centers and make certain recommendations regarding 9
3327 the quality of service provided by call centers and corrective action to be taken by a 10
3428 call center; and generally relating to 2–1–1 Maryland. 11
3529
3630 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
3731 Article – Health – General 13
3832 Section 24–1201 through 24–1204 14
3933 Annotated Code of Maryland 15
4034 (2023 Replacement Volume) 16
4135
4236 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
4337 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
4438
4539 Article – Health – General 19
4640
4741 24–1201. 20
48- 2 SENATE BILL 445
42+
43+ (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 21
44+
45+ (b) “Health and Human Services Referral System” means [telephone service that 22
46+automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 2–1–1 to an established information 23
47+and referral answering point] A COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN 24 2 SENATE BILL 445
4948
5049
51- (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
50+SERVICE RESOURCES AC CESSIBLE TO ALL STATE RESIDENTS T HROUGH 2–1–1 AND 1
51+OTHER DESIGNATED TEC HNOLOGY SYSTEMS . 2
5252
53- (b) “Health and Human Services Referral System” means [telephone service that 2
54-automatically connects an individual dialing the digits 2–1–1 to an established information 3
55-and referral answering point] A COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN 4
56-SERVICE RESOURCES AC CESSIBLE TO ALL STATE RESIDENTS THROU GH 2–1–1 AND 5
57-OTHER DESIGNATED TEC HNOLOGY SYSTEMS . 6
53+ (c) “2–1–1” means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal 3
54+Communications Commission for consumer access to community information and referral 4
55+services. 5
5856
59- (c) “2–1–1” means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal 7
60-Communications Commission for consumer access to community information and referral 8
61-services. 9
57+ (d) “2–1–1 Maryland” means the Ma ryland Information Network, 2–1–1 6
58+Maryland, a 501(c)(3) corporation in the State THAT ADMINISTERS THE 2–1–1 SYSTEM. 7
6259
63- (d) “2–1–1 Maryland” means the Maryland Information Network, 2 –1–1 10
64-Maryland, a 501(c)(3) corporation in the State THAT ADMINISTERS THE 2–1–1 SYSTEM. 11
60+ (e) “2–1–1 Maryland call center” means a nonprofit agency or organization 8
61+designated by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 services. 9
6562
66- (e) “2–1–1 Maryland call center” means a nonprofit agency or organization 12
67-designated by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 services. 13
63+24–1202. 10
6864
69-24–1202. 14
65+ (a) The General Assembly: 11
7066
71- (a) The General Assembly: 15
67+ (1) Recognizes the importance of a statewide information and referral 12
68+system for health and human services; 13
7269
73- (1) Recognizes the importance of a statewide information and referral 16
74-system for health and human services; 17
70+ (2) Recognizes that an integrated [telephone] TECHNOLOGY system 14
71+would provide ACCESS TO a single source for information and referral to health and human 15
72+services, community preparedness, and [crisis information] BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CA RE 16
73+COORDINATION and could be accessed toll free from anywhere in Maryland, 24 hours a 17
74+day, 365 days a year; 18
7575
76- (2) Recognizes that an integrated [telephone] TECHNOLOGY system 18
77-would provide ACCESS TO a single source for information and referral to health and human 19
78-services, community preparedness, and [crisis information] BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CA RE 20
79-COORDINATION and could be accessed toll free from anywhere in Maryland, 24 hours a 21
80-day, 365 days a year; 22
76+ (3) Acknowledges that the three–digit number, 2–1–1, is a nationally 19
77+recognized and applied telephone number which may be used for information and referral 20
78+and eliminates delays caused by lack of familiarity with health and human services 21
79+numbers and by understandable confusion in circumstances of crisis; and 22
8180
82- (3) Acknowledges that the three–digit number, 2–1–1, is a nationally 23
83-recognized and applied telephone number which may be used for information and referral 24
84-and eliminates delays caused by lack of familiarity with health and human services 25
85-numbers and by understandable confusion in circumstances of crisis; and 26
81+ (4) Recognizes a demonstrated need for an easy to remember, easy to use 23
82+telephone number that will enable individuals in need to be directed to available 24
83+community resources. 25
8684
87- (4) Recognizes a demonstrated need for an easy to remember, easy to use 27
88-telephone number that will enable individuals in need to be directed to available 28
89-community resources. 29
85+ (b) The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the three–digit number, 2–1–1, as 26
86+the primary information and referral telephone number for health and human services in 27
87+the State. 28
9088
91- (b) The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the three–digit number, 2–1–1, as 30
92-the primary information and referral telephone number for health and human services in 31
93-the State. 32
89+24–1203. 29
9490
95-24–1203. 33
96- SENATE BILL 445 3
91+ (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agency or organization 30
92+shall be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland as a 2–1–1 Maryland call center in order to provide 31
93+2–1–1 services in the State. 32
94+
95+ (b) When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider: 33 SENATE BILL 445 3
9796
9897
99- (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agency or organization 1
100-shall be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland as a 2–1–1 Maryland call center in order to provide 2
101-2–1–1 services in the State. 3
10298
103- (b) When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider: 4
99+ (1) The ability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider to meet the national 1
100+2–1–1 standards recommended by: 2
104101
105- (1) The ability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider to meet the national 5
106-2–1–1 standards recommended by: 6
102+ (i) The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adopted 3
103+by the National 2–1–1 Collaborative; or 4
107104
108- (i) The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adopted 7
109-by the National 2–1–1 Collaborative; or 8
105+ (ii) An equivalent entity; 5
110106
111- (ii) An equivalent entity; 9
107+ (2) The financial stability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 6
112108
113- (2) The financial stability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 10
109+ (3) Any community support for the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 7
114110
115- (3) Any community support for the proposed 2–1–1 service provider; 11
111+ (4) Any experience that the proposed 2–1–1 service provider has with other 8
112+information and referral services; 9
116113
117- (4) Any experience that the proposed 2–1–1 service provider has with other 12
118-information and referral services; 13
114+ (5) The degree to which the county in which the proposed call center is to 10
115+be located has dedicated substantial resources to the establishment of a single telephone 11
116+source for non–emergency inquiries regarding county services; and 12
119117
120- (5) The degree to which the county in which the proposed call center is to 14
121-be located has dedicated substantial resources to the establishment of a single telephone 15
122-source for non–emergency inquiries regarding county services; and 16
118+ (6) Any other criteria that 2–1–1 Maryland considers appropriate. 13
123119
124- (6) Any other criteria that 2–1–1 Maryland considers appropriate. 17
120+ (c) If [a unit] AN AGENCY of the State that provides health and human services 14
121+establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the [unit] AGENCY shall consult 15
122+with 2–1–1 Maryland about using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information. 16
125123
126- (c) If [a unit] AN AGENCY of the State that provides health and human services 18
127-establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the [unit] AGENCY shall consult 19
128-with 2–1–1 Maryland about using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information. 20
124+24–1204. 17
129125
130-24–1204. 21
126+ (a) The Department shall, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, as appropriate: 18
131127
132- (a) The Department shall, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, as appropriate: 22
128+ (1) Maintain public information available from State agencies, programs, 19
129+and departments that provide health and human services; 20
133130
134- (1) Maintain public information available from State agencies, programs, 23
135-and departments that provide health and human services; 24
131+ (2) Support projects and activities that further the development of 2–1–1 21
132+Maryland; 22
136133
137- (2) Support projects and activities that further the development of 2–1–1 25
138-Maryland; 26
134+ (3) Examine and make recommendations to maximize the use of 23
135+information technology in making 2–1–1 services available throughout the State; AND 24
139136
140- (3) Examine and make recommendations to maximize the use of 27
141-information technology in making 2–1–1 services available throughout the State; AND 28
137+ [(4) Evaluate the performance of each 2–1–1 Maryland call center; 25
142138
143- [(4) Evaluate the performance of each 2–1–1 Maryland call center; 29
144- 4 SENATE BILL 445
139+ (5) Make recommendations to 2–1–1 Maryland regarding the quality of 26
140+service provided by call centers or the performance of call centers when issues related to 27
141+service quality and performance are presented to the Department; 28
142+
143+ (6) Make recommendations regarding corrective action to be taken by a call 29
144+center, as appropriate; and 30 4 SENATE BILL 445
145145
146146
147- (5) Make recommendations to 2–1–1 Maryland regarding the quality of 1
148-service provided by call centers or the performance of call centers when issues related to 2
149-service quality and performance are presented to the Department; 3
150147
151- (6) Make recommendations regarding corrective action to be taken by a call 4
152-center, as appropriate; and 5
148+ (7)] (4) Make recommendations to 2 –1–1 Maryland regarding the 1
149+establishment of an opt–in mental health services phone call program that: 2
153150
154- (7)] (4) Make recommendations to 2 –1–1 Maryland regarding the 6
155-establishment of an opt–in mental health services phone call program that: 7
151+ (i) Requires a call center to call individuals who have opted in to the 3
152+mental health services phone call program on a periodic basis, as determined by 2–1–1 4
153+Maryland; and 5
156154
157- (i) Requires a call center to call individuals who have opted in to the 8
158-mental health services phone call program on a periodic basis, as determined by 2–1–1 9
159-Maryland; and 10
155+ (ii) Attempts to connect individuals to a provider of mental health 6
156+services if the individual requests to speak to a mental health provider during a call with 7
157+2–1–1 Maryland. 8
160158
161- (ii) Attempts to connect individuals to a provider of mental health 11
162-services if the individual requests to speak to a mental health provider during a call with 12
163-2–1–1 Maryland. 13
159+ (b) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to the 9
160+Department in an amount sufficient to carry out subsection [(a)(7)] (A)(4) of this section. 10
164161
165- (b) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to the 14
166-Department in an amount sufficient to carry out subsection [(a)(7)] (A)(4) of this section. 15
162+ (c) On or before December 31, 2005, and every year thereafter, the Department, 11
163+in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 12
164+of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities performed under 13
165+subsection (a) of this section. 14
167166
168- (c) On or before December 31, 2005, and every year thereafter, the Department, 16
169-in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 17
170-of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities performed under 18
171-subsection (a) of this section. 19
172-
173- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 20
174-
175- (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the 2–1–1 Maryland board of 21
176-directors be expanded to include two representatives of 2–1–1 Maryland call centers 22
177-nominated by the 2–1–1 Maryland call centers. 23
178-
179- (b) On or before July 1, 2024, the 2–1–1 Maryland call centers shall nominate two 24
180-representatives to serve on the 2–1–1 Maryland board of directors. 25
181-
182- SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
183-October June 1, 2024. 27
184-
167+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
168+October 1, 2024. 16