WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 790 – 1 – Chapter 790 (Senate Bill 973) AN ACT concerning Hospitals – Private Hospital Grant Program – Funding FOR the purpose of codifying a private hospital grant program for the purpose of making recommendations to the Governor for funding for capital projects at private hospitals in the State; requiring the Maryland Hospital Asssociation Association to establish a certain review committee; authorizing the Governor to include in the capital or operating budget bill a certain amount of funding in each fiscal year for the Private Hospital Grant Program; and generally relating to funding for hospitals in the State. BY adding to Article – Health – General Section 19–310.4 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – Health – General 19–310.4. (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) “COMMITTEE” MEANS THE REVIEW COM MITTEE ESTABLISHED I N ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION. (3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL GRANT PROGRAM. (B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION , THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE C ONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT AN ORGANIZATION FROM RECEIVING FUNDS FROM A GOVERNMENT SOURCE OTHER THAN THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL GRANT PROGRAM. (C) THERE IS A PRIVATE HOSPITAL GRANT PROGRAM. Ch. 790 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND – 2 – (D) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO MAKE RE COMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR FOR FUNDING IN THE ANNUAL STATE BUDGET FOR CAPI TAL PROJECTS AT PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN THE STATE. (E) (1) THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SHALL EST ABLISH A REVIEW COMMITTEE TO : (I) DEVELOP THE PROCESS F OR HOSPITALS IN THE STATE TO SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR FUNDING IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET; (II) ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR A HOSPI TAL TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR FUNDING UNDER THE PROGRAM; (III) ESTABLISH CRITERIA FO R PROJECTS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THE PROGRAM; (IV) ESTABLISH DEADLINES F OR THE SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS FOR FUNDING AND THE DETERMINATIO N OF PROJECTS RECOMM ENDED FOR FUNDING ; (V) DEVELOP PROJECT SCORI NG AND SELECTIO N CRITERIA GUIDELINES; (VI) REVIEW ELIGIBLE REQUE STS FOR FUNDING ; AND (VII) MAKE FINAL RECOMMENDA TIONS FOR PROJECTS T O BE FUNDED IN THE ANNUAL STATE BUDGET . (2) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF TH E COMMITTEE ESTABLISHE D UNDER PARAGRA PH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL REFLECT THE GEOGRAPH IC DIVERSITY OF HOSP ITALS IN THE STATE. (3) THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONS ULT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES SHALL CONSULT WITH T HE COMMITTEE IN: (I) ESTABLISHING THE PROJ ECT FUNDING REQUEST PROCESS UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION ; AND (II) MAKING RECOMMENDATION S FOR FUNDING REQUES TS. WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 790 – 3 – (F) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT , THE COMMITTEE MAY ES TABLISH CONDITION S UNDER WHICH A REQUEST FOR FUNDING MAY BE REJECTED FOR CONSIDERATION . (G) THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SHALL SUB MIT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF T HE COMMITTEE TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT . (H) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFT ER, THE GOVERNOR MAY INCLUDE IN THE CAPITAL OR OP ERATING BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF $20,000,000 FOR THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL GRANT PROGRAM. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1, 2024. Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2024.