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.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*sb0975*
SENATE BILL 975
J1 (4lr2597)
ENROLLED BILL
— Finance/Appropriations —
Introduced by Senators Elfreth, Gile, Hettleman, and Kelly Kelly, and Lam Lam,
Kagan, Carter, M. Washington, Kramer, Feldman, Ellis, King, Smith,
Guzzone, Lewis Young, Sydnor, and Brooks
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety Maryland Department of Health – Reproductive Health Care 2
Clinic Security Grant Program – Establishment 3
(Supporting Reproductive Health Care Clinics Act) 4
FOR the purpose of establishing the Reproductive Health Care Clinic Security Grant 5
Program in the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services 6
Maryland Department of Health to assist reproductive health care clinics in the 7
State with costs associated with security improvements and safety operational 8
expenses; and generally relating to the Reproductive Health Care Clinic Security 9
Grant Program. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Health – General 12 2 SENATE BILL 975
Section 4–301(a), (h), and (j) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2023 Replacement Volume) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Public Safety Health – General 5
Section 4–1701 13–5201 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 17. 52. Reproductive 6
Health Care Clinic Security Grant Program” 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) (2023 Replacement Volume) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Health – General 12
4–301. 13
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
(h) (1) “Health care provider” means: 15
(i) A person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under 16
the Health Occupations Article or § 13–516 of the Education Article to provide health care 17
in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession or in an approved education or 18
training program; or 19
(ii) A facility where health care is provided to patients or recipients, 20
including a facility as defined in § 10–101(g) of this article, a hospital as defined in § 21
19–301 of this article, a related institution as defined in § 19–301 of this article, a health 22
maintenance organization as defined in § 19–701(g) of this article, an outpatient clinic, a 23
medical laboratory, a comprehensive crisis response center, a crisis stabilization center, 24
and a crisis treatment center established under § 7.5–207 of this article. 25
(2) “Health care provider” includes the agents, employees, officers, and 26
directors of a facility and the agents and employees of a health care provider. 27
(j) “Legally protected health care” means all reproductive health services, 28
medications, and supplies related to: 29
(1) The provision of abortion care; and 30
(2) Other sensitive health services as determined by the Secretary based 31
on the recommendations of the Protected Health Care Commission established under § 32
4–310 of this subtitle. 33
Article – Public Safety 34 SENATE BILL 975 3
SUBTITLE 17. 52. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE CLINIC SECURITY GRANT 1
PROGRAM. 2
4–1701. 13–5201. 3
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 4
INDICATED. 5
(2) “EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 6
THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME PREVENTION, YOUTH, AND VICTIM SERVICES. 7
(3) (2) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE 8
CLINIC SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. 9
(3) “REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH C ARE CLINIC” MEANS A HEALTH CARE 10
PROVIDER, AS DEFINED IN § 4–301(H)(1)(II) OF THIS ARTICLE , THAT PROVIDES 11
LEGALLY PROTECTED HE ALTH CARE, AS DEFINED IN § 4–301(J) OF THIS ARTICLE. 12
(B) THERE IS A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE CLINIC SECURITY GRANT 13
PROGRAM IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME PREVENTION, YOUTH, AND 14
VICTIM SERVICES DEPARTMENT . 15
(C) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SECRETARY SHALL ADMINISTER THE 16
PROGRAM. 17
(D) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 18
CARE CLINICS IN THE STATE WITH THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SECU RITY 19
IMPROVEMENTS , INCLUDING INTERIOR A ND EXTERIOR FACILITY HARDENING, 20
PERIMETER LIGHTING , FENCING AND OTHER BA RRIERS, DOOR LOCKS AND ACCES S 21
CONTROL SYSTEMS , SECURITY CAMERAS , ALARMS, PANIC BUTTONS , LOCKDOWN 22
SYSTEMS, AND PUBLIC ADDRESS S YSTEMS. 23
(E) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SECRETARY SHALL ESTABLISH 24
PROCEDURES FOR : 25
(1) THE APPLICATION AND A WARD PROCESSES ; AND 26
(2) THE CRITERIA A REPROD UCTIVE HEALTH CARE C LINIC MUST 27
MEET TO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM. 28
(F) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT RE LEASE, PUBLISH, OR OTHERWISE 29
DISCLOSE: 30
4 SENATE BILL 975
(1) THE PERSONAL INFORMAT ION OF AN INDIVIDUAL APPLYING FOR, 1
PARTICIPATING IN , OR ADMINISTERING A G RANT UNDER THE PROGRAM; OR 2
(2) INFORMATION REGARDING A GRANT AW ARDED UNDER THE 3
PROGRAM IF THE DISCLO SURE WOULD COMPROMIS E THE SAFETY OF THE GRANT 4
RECIPIENT. 5
(G) (1) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE GOVERNOR MAY INCLUDE IN THE 6
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE PROGRAM. 7
(2) UP TO 5% OF THE MONEY APPROPR IATED TO THE PROGRAM MAY 8
BE USED FOR ADMINIST RATIVE EXPENSES . 9
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10
October 1, 2024. 11
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.