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.
*hb0384*
HOUSE BILL 384
O3, P1 (5lr2026)
ENROLLED BILL
— Health and Government Operations/Finance —
Introduced by Delegates Lehman, Acevero, Allen, Feldmark, Foley, Guyton,
Guzzone, Harris, Ivey, Kaufman, J. Long, Patterson, Ruth, Spiegel, Taveras,
Taylor, Terrasa, Turner, Williams, Wims, Woods, Woorman, and Ziegler
Ziegler, Pena–Melnyk, Cullison, Alston, Bagnall, Bha ndari, Hill,
Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Kipke, Lopez, Martinez, Reilly,
Rosenberg, Ross, and White Holland
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.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Disability Service Animal Program – Established 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Disability Service Animal Program in the 3
Department of Disabilities; requiring the Department to select a nonprofit training 4
entity for participation in the Program; establishing the Maryland Disability Service 5
Animal Program Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; and generally relating to the 6
Maryland Disability Service Animal Program. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Human Services 9 2 HOUSE BILL 384
Section 7–114 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Human Services 5
Section 7–1201 through 7–1206 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 12. Maryland 6
Disability Service Animal Program” 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Human Services 12
7–114. 13
(a) (1) The Department is the principal unit of State government responsible 14
for developing, maintaining, revising, and enforcing statewide disability policies and 15
standards throughout the units of State government. 16
(2) In this capacity, the Department shall: 17
(i) serve as the principal advisor to the Governor on the means and 18
methods available to: 19
1. implement and fund support to individuals with 20
disabilities in accordance with the State Disabilities Plan; 21
2. modify or consolidate support to individuals with 22
disabilities; and 23
3. collaborate with federal, regional, and local units of 24
government to enhance the effectiveness of the provision and funding of support to 25
individuals with disabilities; 26
(ii) annually recommend projects to the Department of Budget and 27
Management for inclusion in the capital budget to promote access to State–owned facilities 28
for individuals with disabilities; 29
(iii) assist units of State government to identify federal, State, local, 30
and private funds available to the State for programs and services for individuals with 31
disabilities; and 32
(iv) provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions in planning and 33
implementing collaborative strategies consistent with the State Disabilities Plan. 34 HOUSE BILL 384 3
(b) The Department shall oversee and administer the following programs and 1
units: 2
(1) constituent services and ombudsmen programs; 3
(2) the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program under Subtitle 6 4
of this title; 5
(3) the Office of Personal Assistance Services, including the Attendant 6
Care Program under Subtitle 4 of this title; 7
(4) Telecommunications Access of Maryland under Subtitle 8 of this title; 8
[and] 9
(5) Telecommunications Devices and Distribution of Accessible 10
Information for Disabled Individuals under Subtitle 9 of this title; AND 11
(6) THE MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM UNDER 12
SUBTITLE 12 OF THIS TITLE. 13
SUBTITLE 12. MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM. 14
7–1201. 15
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17
(B) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES. 18
(C) “ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL A RESIDENT OF THE 19
STATE WITH A DISABILITY , AS DEFINED IN THE FE DERAL AMERICANS WITH 20
DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12102. 21
(D) “FUND” MEANS THE MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL 22
PROGRAM FUND. 23
(E) “NONPROFIT TRAINING EN TITY” MEANS A CORPORATION , A 24
FOUNDATION , OR ANY OTHER LEGAL E NTITY THAT: 25
(1) IS TAX–EXEMPT UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE 26
CODE; 27
(2) ENGAGES IN THE TRAINING OF SERVICE ANIMALS FOR USE BY 28
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS ; AND 29 4 HOUSE BILL 384
(3) HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE 1
SERVICES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 2
(F) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL 3
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER THIS SUBTITLE . 4
(G) “PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ” MEANS AN ELIGIBLE IN DIVIDUAL WHO 5
PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM. 6
(H) (1) “SERVICE ANIMAL ” MEANS AN ANIMAL THAT IS INDIVIDUALLY 7
TRAINED TO DO WORK O R PERFORM TASKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF AN IN DIVIDUAL 8
WITH A DISABILITY. 9
(2) “SERVICE ANIMAL” DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ANIMAL THAT: 10
(I) AS A RESULT OF THE A NIMAL’S PRESENCE, IS MEANT TO 11
DETER CRIME; OR 12
(II) PROVIDES ONLY EMOTIO NAL SUPPORT , WELL–BEING, 13
COMFORT, OR COMPANIONSHIP TO AN INDIVIDUAL. 14
(I) “SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ” MEANS A PROGRAM 15
PARTICIPANT WHO SUCC ESSFULLY COMPLETES T HE TRAINING PROTOCOL 16
SPECIFIED BY A NONPR OFIT TRAINING ENTITY . 17
7–1202. 18
THERE IS A MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM IN THE 19
DEPARTMENT . 20
7–1203. 21
THE PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO : 22
(1) REFER ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO INQUIRE ABOUT 23
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM TO SELECT ONE OR MORE NONPROFI T TRAINING 24
ENTITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN TH E PROGRAM; AND 25
(2) PROVIDE ADDITIONAL F UNDING MECHANISMS TO ASSIST 26
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAM; AND 27
HOUSE BILL 384 5
(3) ENCOURAGE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO ASSIST IN 1
OUTREACH AND REFERRA LS TO OTHER ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO COUL D 2
BENEFIT FROM PARTICI PATION IN THE PROGRAM. 3
7–1204. 4
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 5
(1) MANAGE, SUPERVISE, AND ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; 6
(2) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND TO 7
ENSURE THAT FUND RESOURCES ARE UT ILIZED TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF 8
THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING REGULATION S ESTABLISHING PROCE DURES FOR THE 9
DEPARTMENT TO : 10
(I) PROMOTE THE PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE I NDIVIDUALS 11
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT ’S OUTREACH METHODS ; 12
(II) REFER ELIGIBLE INDIV IDUALS TO SELECTED N ONPROFIT 13
TRAINING ENTITIES ; 14
(III) RECEIVE DONATIONS FO R THE FUND; AND 15
(IV) (II) USE REVENUE FROM THE FUND TO PAY SELECTED 16
NONPROFIT TRAINING E NTITIES FOR SERVICES THAT ARE PR OVIDED THROUGH THE 17
PROGRAM; AND 18
(3) SELECT AT LEAST ONE NONPROFIT TRAINING E NTITY TO: 19
(I) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMEN T A TRAINING PROTOCO L THAT 20
WILL TEACH EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT M ETHODOLOGIES , STRATEGIES, AND 21
TECHNIQUES FOR PARTN ERING WITH SERVICE ANIMALS ; 22
(II) SELECT QUALIFIED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FROM THOSE 23
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO THE NONP ROFIT TRAINING ENTIT Y UNDER 24
THE PROGRAM; 25
(III) SELECT AN APPROPRIAT E SERVICE ANIMAL FOR EACH 26
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ; 27
(IV) FACILITATE EACH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S TRAINING 28
USING THE NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY ’S TRAINING PROTOCOL ; AND 29
6 HOUSE BILL 384
(V) PARTNER EACH SUCCESS FUL PROGRAM PARTICIPANT W ITH 1
THE SERVICE ANIMAL O N THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S SUCCESSFUL COMPLET ION 2
OF THE NONPROFIT TRA INING ENTITY’S TRAINING PROTOCOL . 3
7–1205. 4
(A) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SE LECTION AS A NONPROF IT TRAINING ENTITY 5
UNDER § 7–1204 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY SHALL: 6
(1) SERVE THE NEEDS OF E LIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE; AND 7
(2) GENERATE ITS OWN REVENUE AND REINVEST THE PROCEED S OF 8
THAT REVENUE IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPME NT OF ITS PROGRAMS . 9
(B) A NONPROFIT TRAINING E NTITY MAY DISQUALIFY A PROGRAM 10
PARTICIPANT FROM PAR TICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM IF THE NONPRO FIT 11
TRAINING ENTITY DETE RMINES THAT THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S INVOLVEMENT 12
IN THE PROGRAM: 13
(1) PRESENTS A DANGER TO THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ’S MENTAL 14
OR PHYSICAL WELL –BEING; 15
(2) PRESENTS A DIRECT TH REAT TO OTHERS , AS DEFINED BY THE 16
FEDERAL AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT; 17
(3) PRESENTS A DIRECT THREAT TO THE SERVICE ANIMA L’S MENTAL 18
OR PHYSICAL WELL –BEING; OR 19
(4) DOES NOT MEET THE TR AINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE 20
NONPROFIT. 21
(C) A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT M AY DISCONTINUE INVOL VEMENT IN THE 22
PROGRAM FOR ANY REASO N. 23
7–1206. 24
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND DISABILITY SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM FUND. 25
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO: 26
(1) PAY A NONPROFIT TRAI NING ENTITY; AND 27
(2) COVER THE COSTS OF A DMINISTERING THE PROGRAM. 28
HOUSE BILL 384 7
(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL ADMIN ISTER THE FUND. 1
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A S PECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 2
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 3
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND, AND THE 4
COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 5
(E) (1) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 6
(I) REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN THE FOR M 7
OF DONATIONS TO THE PROGRAM; 8
(II) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 9
FUND; AND 10
(III) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 11
FOR THE BENEFIT OF T HE FUND. 12
(2) FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR , THE GOVERNOR SHAL L INCLUDE IN THE 13
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $25,000 TO THE FUND. 14
(2) (3) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 15
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 16
(3) (4) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO 17
AND IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF FUNDING THAT OTHERWI SE WOULD 18
BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM. 19
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO PAY: 20
(1) A NONPROFIT TRAINING ENTITY; AND 21
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM. 22
(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T AND REINVEST THE 23
MONEY OF THE FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE 24
INVESTED. 25
(2) ANY INVESTMENT EARNIN GS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D 26
TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 27
(H) FOR THE PURPOSE OF IM PLEMENTING THIS SECT ION, THE 28
DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT GIFTS OR GRANTS FOR DONATION TO THE FUND. 29 8 HOUSE BILL 384
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2025: 2
(a) This Act is contingent on the Department of Disabilities certifying that the 3
Department has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability Service Animal 4
Program under Title 7, Subtitle 12 of the Human Services Article, as enacted by Section 1 5
of this Act. 6
(b) On or before October 1, 2026, the Department of Disabilities shall notify the 7
Department of Legislative Services whether the Department has certified that the 8
Department has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability Service Animal 9
Program. 10
(c) (1) If the Department of Legislative Services receives notification that the 11
Department of Disabilities has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability 12
Service Animal Program on or before October 1, 2026, this Act shall take effect on the date 13
the notice is received by the Department of Legislative Services in accordance with 14
subsection (b) of this section. 15
(2) If the Department of Legislative Services receives notice that the 16
Department of Disabilities lacks sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability 17
Service Animal Program on or before October 1, 2026, this Act, with no further action 18
required by the General Assembly, shall be null and void. 19
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, subject to Section 2 of this 20
Act, this Act shall take effect October 1, 2025. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.