EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0492*
SENATE BILL 492
F1 4lr2728
HB 878/23 – W&M CF HB 522
By: Senator Kagan
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Schools – Student Telehealth Appointments – Policy and Access 2
FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education to establish a policy to 3
accommodate students who need to participate in telehealth appointments during 4
the school day; requiring each public middle and high school to designate a space 5
that meets certain requirements for student telehealth appointments; and generally 6
relating to student access to telehealth in schools. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Education 9
Section 4–142 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
4–142. 16
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “TELEHEALTH ” MEANS A MODE OF DELI VERING 17
HEALTH CARE SERVICES THROUGH THE USE OF T ELECOMMUNICATIONS 18
TECHNOLOGIES BY A HE ALTH CARE PRACTITION ER TO A PATIENT AT A DIFFERENT 19
PHYSICAL LOCATION TH AN THE HEALTH CARE P RACTITIONER. 20
(B) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL ESTABLISH A POLIC Y TO ACCOMMODATE 21
STUDENTS WHO NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN TELEH EALTH APPOINTMENTS 22
SCHEDULED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. 23
2 SENATE BILL 492
(C) THE POLICY ESTABLISHE D UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 1
SHALL REQUIRE EACH M IDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TO : 2
(1) DESIGNATE A SPACE FOR STUDENT TELEHEALTH A PPOINTMENTS 3
THAT: 4
(I) IS A PRIVATE SPACE IN THE SCHOOL; 5
(II) HAS INTERNET ACCESS ; 6
(III) INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE SEATING OPTION WITH A FLAT 7
SURFACE AND ELECTRIC AL OUTLET NEARBY TO ACCOMMODATE PLACE MENT OF A 8
LAPTOP DEVICE ; AND 9
(IV) IS NOT A BATHROOM OR CLOSET; AND 10
(2) IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AN D PRIVACY OF 11
A STUDENT PARTICIPAT ING IN A TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT . 12
(D) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL ENSURE THAT THE LOCAL SCHOOL 13
SYSTEM: 14
(1) PUBLISHES THE STUDENT TELEHEALTH POLICY IN THE STUDENT 15
HANDBOOK ; AND 16
(2) MAKES SCHOOL PERSONNE L AWARE OF STUDENT T ELEHEALTH 17
POLICY OBJECTIVES AN D REQUIREMENTS . 18
(E) ON REQUEST , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE TECHNICAL 19
ASSISTANCE TO A COUN TY BOARD TO ESTABLIS H THE STUDENT TELEHE ALTH 20
POLICY REQUIRED UNDE R THIS SECTION. 21
(F) NOTHING IN THIS SECTI ON SHALL BE CONSTRUE D TO REQUIRE A 22
SCHOOL TO CONSTRUCT AN ADDITION OR A NEW SPACE TO A SCHOOL BUI LDING TO 23
PROVIDE A PRIVATE SP ACE TO COMPLY WITH T HE STUDENT TELEHEALT H POLICY 24
REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 26
1, 2024. 27