EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1244*
HOUSE BILL 1244
J1 5lr2994
By: Delegates Guyton and Bagnall
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council – 2
Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration 4
Waiver Advisory Council to advise and provide recommendations to the 5
Developmental Disabilities Administration on system design, service delivery, and 6
quality enhancement strategies for the Medicaid waiver programs operated by the 7
Administration; and generally relating to the Maryland Developmental Disabilities 8
Administration Waiver Advisory Council. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Health – General 11
Section 7–12B–01 through 7–12B–05 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 12B. 12
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory 13
Council” 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Health – General 19
SUBTITLE 12B. MARYLAND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION 20
WAIVER ADVISORY COUNCIL. 21
7–12B–01. 22
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “COUNCIL” MEANS THE MARYLAND DEVELOPMENTAL 23
DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION WAIVER ADVISORY COUNCIL. 24 2 HOUSE BILL 1244
7–12B–02. 1
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2
ADMINISTRATION WAIVER ADVISORY COUNCIL IN THE ADMINISTRATION . 3
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL IS TO: 4
(1) ADVISE AND PROVIDE RE COMMENDATIONS TO THE 5
ADMINISTRATION ON SYS TEM DESIGN , SERVICE DELIVERY, AND QUALITY 6
ENHANCEMENT STRATEGI ES FOR THE MEDICAID WAIVER PROGR AMS OPERATED BY 7
THE ADMINISTRATION ; AND 8
(2) FOSTER MEANINGFUL ENG AGEMENT AND ESTABLIS H A 9
FEEDBACK LOOP WITH A LL STAKEHOLDER S WHILE PRIORITIZING INPUT FROM 10
INDIVIDUALS WITH LIV ED EXPERIENCE WITH A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGR AM. 11
(C) THE COUNCIL SHALL ADHERE TO PERSON–CENTERED THINKING , 12
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PRINCI PLES, AND EVIDENCE–BASED AND 13
DATA–DRIVEN DISCUSSION AND PROBLEM SOLVING . 14
7–12B–03. 15
(A) (1) THE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF THE FOLL OWING VOTING MEMBERS, 16
APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH: 17
(I) 18 INDIVIDUALS WITH LIV ED EXPERIENCE PARTIC IPATING 18
IN AN ADMINISTRATION PROGRA M THAT SHALL INCLUDE: 19
1. REPRESENTATIVES FROM ADVOCACY GROUPS FOR 20
INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEV ELOPMENTAL DISABILIT IES; AND 21
2. EQUAL REPRESENTATION FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO 22
HAVE EXPERIENCED SEL F–DIRECTED DELIVERY MO DELS AND INDI VIDUALS WHO 23
HAVE EXPERIENCED TRA DITIONAL DELIVERY MO DELS; 24
(II) TWO LICENSED PROVIDERS OF RESIDENT IAL AND DAY 25
SERVICES; 26
(III) TWO CERTIFIED PROVIDE RS OF SERVICES INCLUDING 27
EMPLOYMENT , PERSONAL SUPPORT , TECHNOLOGY , AND TRANSPORTATION ; 28
(IV) ONE COORDINATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES PROVIDER ; 29 HOUSE BILL 1244 3
(V) ONE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COUNSE LING SERVICES 1
PROVIDER; 2
(VI) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ETHNIC ADVOCACY G ROUP IN 3
THE STATE; 4
(VII) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR 5
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; 6
(VIII) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND 7
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL; 8
(IX) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SELF–DIRECTED 9
ADVOCACY NETWORK OF MARYLAND; 10
(X) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PARENTS’ PLACE OF 11
MARYLAND; 12
(XI) THREE FAMILY MEMBER S WITH EXPERIENCE WI TH 13
SELF–DIRECTED SERVICES ; AND 14
(XII) THREE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH EXPERIENCE WITH 15
TRADITIONAL SERVICES . 16
(2) THE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF T HE FOLLOWING NONVOTING 17
MEMBERS: 18
(I) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED 19
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 20
(II) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED 21
BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 22
(III) THE DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND INTEGRITY 23
IN THE ADMINISTRATION ; 24
(IV) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 25
DISABILITIES, DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY OF DISABILITIES; 26
(V) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING 27
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING 28
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ; 29 4 HOUSE BILL 1244
(VI) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 1
SERVICES, DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES; 2
(VII) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVISION OF 3
REHABILITATION SERVICES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 4
DESIGNATED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS; 5
(VIII) THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , DESIGNATED BY THE 6
SECRETARY OF HEALTH: 7
1. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICE OF LONG 8
TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS; 9
2. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BEHAVIORAL 10
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ; 11
3. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICE OF HEALTH 12
CARE QUALITY; 13
4. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ELIGIBILITY 14
DETERMINATION DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF ELIGIBILITY SERVICES; AND 15
5. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND LONG 16
TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT SYSTEM PROGRAM MANAG EMENT OFFICE ; AND 17
(IX) THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , APPOINTED BY THE 18
SECRETARY OF HEALTH: 19
1. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL 20
ASSOCIATION OF STATE DIRECTORS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES; 21
AND 22
2. ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF APPLIED 23
SELF–DIRECTION. 24
(3) THE LICENSED OR CERTI FIED PROVIDERS ON TH E COUNCIL 25
SHALL INCLUDE REPRES ENTATIVES FROM EACH REGION AND FROM THE 26
MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND THE ARC OF MARYLAND. 27
(4) FAMILY MEMBERS APPOIN TED TO THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE 28
AT LEAST ONE FAMILY MEMBER FROM EACH REG ION. 29
HOUSE BILL 1244 5
(5) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ESTABLISH AN A PPLICATION 1
PROCESS AND REVIEW PROCESS FOR MEMBERS WHO WISH TO SERVE ON THE 2
COUNCIL. 3
(6) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF TH E 4
COUNCIL SHALL REFLECT THE GENDER , RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND GEOGRAPHICAL 5
DIVERSITY OF THE STATE. 6
(B) (1) THE TERM OF A MEMBER IS 3 YEARS. 7
(2) THE TERMS OF MEMBERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQ UIRED BY THE 8
TERMS PROVIDED FOR THE MEMBERS OF T HE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 1, 2025. 9
(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE UNTIL 10
A SUCCESSOR IS A PPOINTED AND QUALIFI ES. 11
(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN SERVES 12
ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINT ED AND 13
QUALIFIES. 14
(5) A MEMBER MAY NOT SERVE CONSECUTIV E TERMS BUT MAY SERV E 15
FOR MULTIPLE NONCONS ECUTIVE TERMS. 16
(C) (1) THE DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS SHALL SERVE AS A 17
NONVOTING COCHAIR . 18
(2) THE COUNCIL SHALL VOTE FO R THE ADDITIONAL COC HAIR. 19
(D) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE COUNCIL. 20
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE A DEDI CATED COUNCIL 21
WEBPAGE ON THE DEPARTMENT ’S WEBSITE THAT INCLUDE S MEETING DATES AND 22
TIMES, AGENDAS AND OTHER ME ETING DOCUMENTS , AND RECORDED PAST 23
MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL. 24
(E) A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL: 25
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMP ENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 26
COUNCIL; BUT 27
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMB URSEMENT FOR EXPENSE S UNDER THE 28
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 29
6 HOUSE BILL 1244
(F) THE COUNCIL MAY PROVIDE T RAVEL ARRANGEMENTS , AS NECESSARY , 1
FOR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WITH DISABILITIES. 2
7–12B–04. 3
(A) (1) THE COUNCIL SHALL MEET ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS IN A 4
LOCATION THAT IS MADE PUBLICL Y AVAILABLE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE 5
MEETING. 6
(2) THE COUNCIL MAY HOLD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS IF DETERMINED 7
NECESSARY BY THE COC HAIRS. 8
(3) MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL: 9
(I) BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND RECORDED BY VIDE O; 10
(II) FOLLOW AGENDAS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED AT LEAST 1 11
WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS BY E –MAIL; 12
(III) CONCLUDE WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF 13
EXPECTATIONS AND ASS IGNMENTS FOR FUTURE STEPS; 14
(IV) PROVIDE ACCOMMODATI ONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 15
DISABILITIES; AND 16
(V) INCLUDE TIME FOR PUBL IC COMMENT AFTER MEE TING 17
AGENDA ITEMS HAVE BE EN ADDRESSED . 18
(4) A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL MAY BE HELD V IRTUALLY IF 19
DETERMINED NECESSARY BY THE COCHAIRS . 20
(5) THE COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE OF ITS MEETINGS BY 21
E–MAIL TO MEMBERS AT LEAST 1 WEEK BEFORE THE MEET ING AND SHALL INCLUDE 22
AN AGENDA AND ANY DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED FOR THE MEETING. 23
(6) THE COUNCIL SHALL DISTRIB UTE MEETING MINUTES TO 24
MEMBERS WITHIN 2 WEEKS AFTER EACH COUNCIL MEETING . 25
(B) THE COUNCIL MAY FORM WORK GROUPS THAT MAY MEET AS DIRECTED 26
BY THE COCHAIRS . 27
(C) THE COUNCIL SHALL ESTABLI SH A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COUNCIL 28
MEETINGS. 29 HOUSE BILL 1244 7
7–12B–05. 1
(A) THE COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE ADVICE AND M AKE RECOMMENDATIONS 2
TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON: 3
(1) ADMINISTRATION –OPERATED MEDICAID WAIVER PROGR AM 4
SYSTEM DESIGN , INCLUDING WAIVER APP LICATION REGULATIONS AND POLICIES; 5
(2) SERVICE DELIVERY AND ACCESS TO SERVICES ; 6
(3) FEDERAL WAIVER ASSURA NCES; 7
(4) ENSURING ACCESS TO MEDICAID SERVICES ; 8
(5) QUALITY ENHANCEMENT E FFORTS AND IMPROVEME NT 9
STRATEGIES; 10
(6) COMMUNICATION WITH ST AKEHOLDERS , INCLUDING A 11
TRANSPARENT FEEDBACK PROCESS; AND 12
(7) COLLABORATIVE PROCESS ES WITH STAKEHOLDERS . 13
(B) (1) THE COUNCIL SHALL VOTE ON THE ADVICE AND 14
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE TO THE ADMINISTRATION UNDER SUBSECTION (A) 15
OF THIS SECTION. 16
(2) THE COUNCIL SHALL ATTEMPT TO REA CH CONSENSUS AND ALL 17
MEMBERS SHALL BE AFF ORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. 18
(3) IF CONSENSUS CANNOT B E REACHED ON A PARTI CULAR ISSUE, 19
THE COUNCIL MAY VOTE WITH A 75% AGREEMENT THRESHOLD . 20
(4) (I) A COUNCIL MEMBER MAY NOT VOTE ON ANOT HER 21
MEMBER’S BEHALF. 22
(II) A COUNCIL MEMBER MAY DESIGNATE A PROX Y FOR THE 23
MEMBER. 24
(III) A COUNCIL MEMBER’S PROXY MAY VOTE ON BEHALF OF A 25
MEMBER ONLY IF THE PROXY IS ATTE NDING THE MEETING FO R THE MEMBER . 26
8 HOUSE BILL 1244
(IV) A COUNCIL MEMBER ’S PROXY MAY NOT VOTE ON BEHALF OF 1
THE PROXY. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That th e terms of the initial voting 3
members of the Maryland Development Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory 4
Council shall expire as follows: 5
(1) 18 members in 2027; and 6
(2) 17 members in 2028. 7
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8
October 1, 2025. 9