MD
Maryland Senate Bill SB991

Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB991 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 867
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 867
5-(Senate Bill 991)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [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.
8+ Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9+ *sb0991*
810
9-Behavioral Health – Language Assistance Services Pilot Program
11+SENATE BILL 991
12+J1 (4lr3186)
13+ENROLLED BILL
14+— Finance/Health and Government Operations —
15+Introduced by Senator Lam
1016
11-FOR the purpose of establishing the Language Assistance Services Pilot Program in the
12-Behavioral Health Administration to provide grants to local behavioral health
13-authorities to reimburse behavioral health providers for language assistance
14-services for certain children, parents, and legal guardians; and generally relating to
15-the Language Assistance Services Pilot Program.
17+Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
1618
17-BY adding to
18- Article – Health – General
19-Section 10–929 to be under the new part “Part V. Language Assistance Services Pilot
20-Program”
21- Annotated Code of Maryland
22- (2023 Replacement Volume)
19+_______________________________________________
20+Proofreader.
21+_______________________________________________
22+Proofreader.
2323
24- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
25-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
24+Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
2625
27-Article – Health – General
26+_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
2827
29-10–927. RESERVED.
28+______________________________________________
29+President.
3030
31-10–928. RESERVED.
31+CHAPTER ______
3232
33-PART V. LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM.
33+AN ACT concerning 1
3434
35-10–929.
35+Behavioral Health – Language Assistance Services Pilot Program 2
3636
37- (A) IN THIS SECTION , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE
38-SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM.
37+FOR the purpose of establishing the Language Assistance Services Pilot Program in the 3
38+Behavioral Health Administration to provide grants to local behavioral health 4
39+authorities to reimburse behavioral health providers for language assistance 5
40+services for certain children, parents, and legal guardians; and generally relating to 6
41+the Language Assistance Services Pilot Program. 7
3942
40- (B) THERE IS A LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM.
43+BY adding to 8
44+ Article – Health – General 9
45+Section 10–929 to be under the new part “Part V. Language Assistance Services Pilot 10
46+Program” 11
47+ Annotated Code of Maryland 12
48+ (2023 Replacement Volume) 13
49+ 2 SENATE BILL 991
4150
42- (C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO:
4351
44- (1) PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AC CESS TO BEHAVIORAL H EALTH CARE
45-TO CHILDREN WITH LIM ITED ENGLISH PROFI CIENCY; AND
52+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
53+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
4654
47- (2) ESTABLISH A COMPETITI VE GRANT PROCESS FOR LOCAL
48-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AU THORITIES TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO BEH AVIORAL Ch. 867 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
55+Article – Health – General 3
4956
50-– 2 –
51-HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES, INCLUDING
52-INTERPRETATION AND T RANSLATION SERVICES TO:
57+10–927. RESERVED. 4
5358
54- (I) CHILDREN WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
55-ACCESSING AND RECEIV ING BEHAVIORAL HEALT H SERVICES; AND
59+10–928. RESERVED. 5
5660
57- (II) PARENTS AND LEGAL GUA RDIANS COORDINATING THE
58-PROVISION OF BEHAVIO RAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MAKING HEALTH CA RE
59-DECISIONS REGARDING THE SERVICES ON BEHA LF OF A CHILD.
61+PART V. LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM. 6
6062
61- (D) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.
63+10–929. 7
6264
63- (E) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2024, THE THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL
64-ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING
65-REGULATIONS THAT EST ABLISH THE FOLLOWING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMEN TS
66-AS PART OF ADMINISTE RING THE PROGRAM:
65+ (A) IN THIS SECTION, “PROGRAM” MEANS THE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE 8
66+SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM. 9
6767
68- (1) A REQUIREMENT THAT A G RANTEE DOCUMENT AND REPORT:
68+ (B) THERE IS A LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM. 10
6969
70- (I) THE NUMBER OF CHILDRE N WHO RECEIVED LANGU AGE
71-ASSISTANCE SERVICES BROKEN DOWN BY PRIMA RY LANGUAGE SPOKEN ;
70+ (C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO: 11
7271
73- (II) THE NUMBER OF PARENTS AND LEGAL GU ARDIANS WHO
74-RECEIVED LANGUAGE AS SISTANCE SERVICES BR OKEN DOWN BY PRIMARY
75-LANGUAGE SPOKEN ; AND
72+ (1) PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AC CESS TO BEHAVIORAL H EALTH CARE 12
73+TO CHILDREN WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ; AND 13
7674
77- (III) THE NUMBER OF LANGUAG E ASSISTANCE SERVICE S THAT
78-WERE REIMBURSED BROK EN DOWN BY THE TYPE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE
79-PROVIDED; AND
75+ (2) ESTABLISH A COMPETITI VE GRANT PROCESS FOR LOCAL 14
76+BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AU THORITIES TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO BEH AVIORAL 15
77+HEALTH PROVIDERS FOR LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES, INCLUDING 16
78+INTERPRETATION AND T RANSLATION SERVICE S TO: 17
8079
81- (2) A REQUIREMENT THAT , TO REQUEST AND RECEI VE A
82-REIMBURSEMENT FROM A PROGRAM GRANTEE , A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER MUST:
80+ (I) CHILDREN WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY 18
81+ACCESSING AND RECEIV ING BEHAVIORAL HEALT H SERVICES; AND 19
8382
84- (I) BE A LICENSED AND ACC REDITED BEHAVIORAL H EALTH
85-PROVIDER; AND
83+ (II) PARENTS AND LEGAL GUA RDIANS COORDINATING THE 20
84+PROVISION OF BEHAVIO RAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MAKING HEALTH CA RE 21
85+DECISIONS REGARDING THE SERVICES ON BEHALF OF A CHILD. 22
8686
87- (II) HAVE A CURRENT , WRITTEN LANGUAGE ACC ESS PLAN
88-DEMONSTRATING H OW THE PROVIDER ENSU RES MEANINGFUL ACCES S TO ITS
89-PROGRAMS AND ACTIVIT IES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
90-PROFICIENCY.
87+ (D) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 23
9188
92- (F) THE LANGUAGE ACCESS P LAN REQUIRED UNDER S UBSECTION (E)(2)(II)
93-OF THIS SECTION SHAL L: WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 867
89+ (E) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2024, THE THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL 24
90+ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING 25
91+REGULATIONS THAT EST ABLISH THE FOLLOWING THE FOLLOWING REQUIR EMENTS 26
92+AS PART OF ADMINISTE RING THE PROGRAM: 27
9493
95-– 3 –
94+ (1) A REQUIREMENT THAT A G RANTEE DOCUMENT AND REPORT: 28
95+ SENATE BILL 991 3
9696
97- (1) BE PROVIDED TO THE GR ANTEE IN ADDI TION TO ANY REQUEST
98-FOR REIMBURSEMENT FO R LANGUAGE ASSISTANC E SERVICES; AND
9997
100- (2) INCLUDE:
98+ (I) THE NUMBER OF CHILDRE N WHO RECEIVED LANGU AGE 1
99+ASSISTANCE SERVICES BROKEN DOWN BY PRIMA RY LANGUAGE SPOKEN ; 2
101100
102- (I) A SELF–ASSESSMENT OF THE CI RCUMSTANCES UNDER
103-WHICH THE PROVIDER M AY ENCOUNTER AN INDI VIDUAL WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
104-PROFICIENCY;
101+ (II) THE NUMBER OF PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDIANS WHO 3
102+RECEIVED LANGUAGE AS SISTANCE SERVICES BR OKEN DOWN BY PRIMARY 4
103+LANGUAGE SPOKEN ; AND 5
105104
106- (II) A SELF–ASSESSMENT OF THE NUMBER OR PROPOR TION OF
107-INDIVIDUALS WITH LIM ITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY F ROM EACH LANGUAGE GR OUP
108-IN THE PROVIDER ’S SERVICE AREA TO DE TERMINE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE
109-ASSISTANCE SERVICES ;
105+ (III) THE NUMBER OF LANGUAG E ASSISTANCE SERVICE S THAT 6
106+WERE REIMBURSED BROK EN DOWN BY THE TYPE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE 7
107+PROVIDED; AND 8
110108
111- (III) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR IDEN TIFYING AN
112-INDIVIDUAL’S PRIMARY LANGUAGE ;
109+ (2) A REQUIREMENT THAT , TO REQUEST AND RECEI VE A 9
110+REIMBURSEMENT FROM A PROGRAM GRANTEE , A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER MUST: 10
113111
114- (IV) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR PROV IDING LANGUAGE
115-ASSISTANCE SERVICES , INCLUDING ORAL AND W RITTEN LANGUAGE ASSI STANCE
116-SERVICES;
112+ (I) BE A LICENSED AND ACC REDITED BEHAVIORAL H EALTH 11
113+PROVIDER; AND 12
117114
118- (V) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR ENSU RING EFFECTIVE
119-COMMUNICATION WITH I NDIVIDUALS WITH LIMI TED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN
120-LANGUAGES ENCOUNTERE D LESS FREQUENTLY ;
115+ (II) HAVE A CURRENT , WRITTEN LANGUAGE ACC ESS PLAN 13
116+DEMONSTRATING HOW THE PROVIDER ENSURES MEA NINGFUL ACCESS TO IT S 14
117+PROGRAMS AND ACTIVIT IES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH 15
118+PROFICIENCY. 16
121119
122- (VI) THE PROVIDER ’S PLAN FOR TRAINING STAFF ON THE
123-PROVIDER’S POLICIES AND PROCE DURES; AND
120+ (F) THE LANGUAGE ACCESS P LAN REQUIRED UNDER S UBSECTION (E)(2)(II) 17
121+OF THIS SECTION SHAL L: 18
124122
125- (VII) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR PROV IDING NOTICE OF
126-LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES AT NO COST TO INDIVIDUALS WITH LIM ITED
127-ENGLISH PROFICIENCY .
123+ (1) BE PROVIDED TO THE GRANTEE IN ADDITION TO ANY REQUEST 19
124+FOR REIMBURSEMENT FO R LANGUAGE ASSISTANC E SERVICES; AND 20
128125
129- (G) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2025 AND 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL
130-INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APP ROPRIATION OF $120,000 TO THE
131-PROGRAM.
126+ (2) INCLUDE: 21
132127
133- (H) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL AWARD, AT A MINIMUM , THREE GRANTS
134-OF $30,000 EACH IN EACH OF FISC AL YEARS 2025 AND 2026.
128+ (I) A SELF–ASSESSMENT OF THE CI RCUMSTANCES UNDER 22
129+WHICH THE PROVIDER M AY ENCOUNTER AN INDI VIDUAL WITH LIMITED ENGLISH 23
130+PROFICIENCY; 24
135131
136- (I) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, 2026, AND 2027, THE
137-ADMINISTRATION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH §
138-2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT
139-ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES : Ch. 867 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
132+ (II) A SELF–ASSESSMENT OF THE NU MBER OR PROPORTION O F 25
133+INDIVIDUALS WITH LIM ITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY F ROM EACH LANGUAGE GR OUP 26
134+IN THE PROVIDER ’S SERVICE AREA TO DE TERMINE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE 27
135+ASSISTANCE SERVICES ; 28
140136
141-– 4 –
137+ (III) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR IDEN TIFYING AN 29
138+INDIVIDUAL’S PRIMARY LANGUAGE ; 30
139+ 4 SENATE BILL 991
142140
143- (1) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF I NDIVIDUALS WITH LIMI TED ENGLISH
144-PROFICIENCY WHO RECE IVED LANGUAGE ASSIST ANCE SERVICES BROKEN DOWN BY
145-JURISDICTION;
146141
147- (2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF C HILDREN WHO RECEIVED LANGUAGE
148-ASSISTANCE SERVICES BROKEN D OWN BY PRIMARY LANGU AGE SPOKEN;
142+ (IV) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR PROV IDING LANGUAGE 1
143+ASSISTANCE SERVICES , INCLUDING ORAL AND W RITTEN LANGUAGE ASSI STANCE 2
144+SERVICES; 3
149145
150- (3) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF P ARENTS AND LEGAL GUA RDIANS WHO
151-RECEIVED LANGUAGE AS SISTANCE SERVICES BR OKEN DOWN BY PRIMARY
152-LANGUAGE SPOKEN ;
146+ (V) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR ENSU RING EFFECTIVE 4
147+COMMUNICATION WITH I NDIVIDUALS WITH L IMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY I N 5
148+LANGUAGES ENCOUNTERE D LESS FREQUENTLY ; 6
153149
154- (4) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF L ANGUAGE ASSISTANCE S ERVICES THAT
155-WERE REIMBURSED BROKEN DO WN BY THE TYPE OF BE HAVIORAL HEALTH SERV ICE
156-PROVIDED; AND
150+ (VI) THE PROVIDER ’S PLAN FOR TRAINING STAFF ON THE 7
151+PROVIDER’S POLICIES AND PROCE DURES; AND 8
157152
158- (5) THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN G RANT MONEY PROVIDED TO EACH
159-GRANTEE DURING THE I MMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR.
153+ (VII) THE PROVIDER ’S PROCEDURE FOR PROV IDING NOTICE OF 9
154+LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES AT NO COST TO INDIVIDUA LS WITH LIMITED 10
155+ENGLISH PROFICIENCY . 11
160156
161- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take eff ect July
162-1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and, at the end of June 30, 2028,
163-this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and
164-of no further force and effect.
157+ (G) FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2025 AND 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL 12
158+INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APP ROPRIATION OF $120,000 TO THE 13
159+PROGRAM. 14
165160
166-Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2024.
161+ (H) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL AWARD, AT A MINIMUM , THREE GRANTS 15
162+OF $30,000 EACH IN EACH OF FISC AL YEARS 2025 AND 2026. 16
163+
164+ (I) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, 2026, AND 2027, THE 17
165+ADMINISTRATION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 18
166+2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT 19
167+ON THE IMPLEMENTATIO N OF THE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES : 20
168+
169+ (1) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF I NDIVIDUALS WITH LIMI TED ENGLISH 21
170+PROFICIENCY WHO RECE IVED LANGUAGE ASSIST ANCE SERVICES BROKEN DOWN BY 22
171+JURISDICTION; 23
172+
173+ (2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF C HILDREN WHO RECEIVED LANGUAGE 24
174+ASSISTANCE SERVICES BROKEN DOWN BY PRIMA RY LANGUAGE SPOKEN ; 25
175+
176+ (3) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF P ARENTS AND LEGAL GUA RDIANS WHO 26
177+RECEIVED LANGUAGE AS SISTANCE SERVICES BR OKEN DOWN BY PRIMARY 27
178+LANGUAGE SPOKEN ; 28
179+
180+ (4) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF L ANGUAGE ASSISTANCE S ERVICES THAT 29
181+WERE REIMBURSED BROK EN DOWN BY THE TYPE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE 30
182+PROVIDED; AND 31
183+
184+ (5) THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN G RANT MONEY PROVIDED TO EACH 32
185+GRANTEE DURING THE I MMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR. 33 SENATE BILL 991 5
186+
187+
188+
189+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
190+1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and, at the end of June 30, 2028, 2
191+this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 3
192+of no further force and effect. 4
193+
194+
195+
196+Approved:
197+________________________________________________________________________________
198+ Governor.
199+________________________________________________________________________________
200+ President of the Senate.
201+________________________________________________________________________________
202+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.