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.
*hb0466*
HOUSE BILL 466
P1, J1, J2 5lr2499
CF SB 277
By: Delegate Kipke Delegates Kipke, Alston, Bagnall, Bhandari, Chisholm,
Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Lopez,
Martinez, M. Morgan, Pena–Melnyk, Reilly, Rosenberg, Ross, Szeliga,
Taveras, White Holland, Woods, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Equality for Service Members Act 2
FOR the purpose of establishing rules of interpretation related to the uniformed services; 3
altering the rule of interpretation for “veteran”; altering the application of certain 4
provisions of law governing public health, the regulation of health occupations, and 5
housing vouchers and assistance to apply to all uniformed services, rather than only 6
the armed forces; and generally relating to veterans and uniformed services. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – General Provisions 9
Section 1–101.1, 1–101.2, 1–103.1, 1–114.1, 1–114.2, and 1–116 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – General Provisions 14
Section 1–117 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 18
Article – Health – General 19 2 HOUSE BILL 466
Section 1–101(a), 4–217(c)(1), 7.5–210(c) and (d), 19–114(a), 20–105(a)(1), and 1
24–2101(a) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
BY adding to 5
Article – Health – General 6
Section 1–101(a–1), (k–1), (m), and (n) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Health – General 11
Section 4–217(c)(6)(i), 4–402, 5–509(a)(2)(i), 7–404.1, 7.5–210(a), (b), and (e)(1), 12
13–2701, 13–2702, 13–2703, 15–134.1, 15–154, 19–114(d)(2)(iii)2., and 13
20–105(a)(4)(vi) and (d) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY repealing 17
Article – Health – General 18
Section 24–2101(d) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
Article – Health Occupations 23
Section 1–101(a) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
BY adding to 27
Article – Health Occupations 28
Section 1–101(a–1), (a–2), (l), and (m) 29
Annotated Code of Maryland 30
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 31
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 32
Article – Health Occupations 33
Section 1–701, 1–702, 1–703, 1–704, 1–705, 2–4A–14(10), 7–314(g), 7–410(a)(2)(i), 34
8–316(a)(3), 8–6A–10(a)(3), 8–6B–18(a)(7), 8–6C–20(a)(3), 8–6D–10(a)(3), 35
11–305(c)(2)(ii), 13–316(10), 14–302(2)(iii)4., 14–404(a)(21), 14–5A–17(a)(17), 36
14–5B–14(a)(17), 14–5C–17(a)(18), 14–5D–11.4(b)(1)(iii), 14–5D–14(a)(17), 37
14–5E–16(a)(18), 14–5G–18(a)(19), 15–314(a)(21), 16–311(a)(21), 38
17–6A–19(10), and 18–313(11) 39
Annotated Code of Maryland 40
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 41 HOUSE BILL 466 3
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Health Occupations 2
Section 1–802(a)(2) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
(As enacted by Chapters 11 and 12 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2024) 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Housing and Community Development 8
Section 1–101(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Housing and Community Development 13
Section 1–101(k) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Housing and Community Development 18
Section 4–2906 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
Article – State Government 23
Section 9–901 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 27
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 28
Article – General Provisions 29
1–101.1. 30
“ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 31
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 32
1–101.2. 33
“ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 34
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 35 4 HOUSE BILL 466
1–103.1. 1
“ARMED FORCES” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 2
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 3
1–114.1. 4
“RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 5
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
1–114.2. 7
“SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 8
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 9
1–116. 10
“UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 11
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 12
1–117. 13
(A) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 14
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 15
(B) With respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges applicable 16
to a veteran under this Code, “veteran” includes[, if the individual is eligible under 38 17
U.S.C. § 101, a member of the commissioned corps of: 18
(1) the Public Health Service; or 19
(2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its 20
predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey] AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ME ETS THE 21
DEFINITION OF “VETERAN” UNDER § 9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 22
Article – Health – General 23
1–101. 24
(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated. 25
(A–1) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF 26
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 27
HOUSE BILL 466 5
(K–1) “SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 1
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
(M) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 9–901 OF THE 3
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 4
(N) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 5
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
4–217. 7
(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided by law: 8
(i) The Department shall collect a $12 fee: 9
1. For each certified or abridged copy of a fetal death, 10
marriage, or divorce verification certificate; 11
2. For a report that a search of the fetal death, marriage, or 12
divorce verification certificate files was made and the requested record is not on file; 13
3. For each change to a fetal death, marriage, or divorce 14
verification certificate made later than 1 year after the certificate has been registered with 15
the Department; or 16
4. To process an adoption, foreign adoption, or legitimation; 17
(ii) The Department shall collect a $10 fee: 18
1. Except as provided in paragraph (6)(ii) of this subsection, 19
for each certified or abridged copy of a birth certificate; 20
2. For the first copy of a certified or abridged death certificate 21
issued in a single transaction; 22
3. For a report that a search of the birth or death certificate 23
files was made and the requested record is not on file; or 24
4. For each change to a birth or death certificate made later 25
than 1 year after the certificate has been registered with the Department; and 26
(iii) The Department shall collect a $12 fee for each additional 27
certified or abridged copy of a death certificate provided concurrently with an initial 28
requested death certificate. 29
6 HOUSE BILL 466
(6) (i) The Department may not collect a fee for a copy of a vital record 1
issued to: 2
1. A current or former member of the [armed forces of the 3
United States] UNIFORMED SERVICES ; or 4
2. The surviving spouse or child of the member, if the copy 5
will be used in connection with a claim for a dependent or beneficiary of the member. 6
4–402. 7
On admission of a patient, a hospital, related institution, or mental health outpatient 8
clinic shall record on the medical record whether the patient is a veteran of the [United 9
States armed forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES. 10
5–509. 11
(a) (2) The person designated on a United States Department of Defense 12
Record of Emergency Data (DD Form 93), or its successor form, as the person authorized 13
to direct disposition may serve as the authorizing agent for a decedent, if the decedent: 14
(i) Died while serving in the [United States armed forces] 15
UNIFORMED SERVICES ; and 16
7–404.1. 17
(a) In this section, “legal resident” means an individual who maintains the State 18
as the individual’s principal establishment, home of record, or permanent home and to 19
where, whenever absent due to [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES obligation, the 20
individual intends to return. 21
(b) A dependent of a legal resident of the State who is determined eligible to 22
receive services from the Administration under this title shall retain eligibility for the 23
services: 24
(1) Regardless of whether the legal resident leaves the State due to the 25
legal resident’s [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES assignment outside the State; and 26
(2) If the dependent is otherwise eligible for the services. 27
(c) If a dependent of a legal resident is on a waiting list for services to be provided 28
under this title, the Administration shall allow the dependent to remain on the waiting list 29
for services while the legal resident is outside the State due to the legal resident’s [military] 30
UNIFORMED SERVICES assignment outside the State. 31
HOUSE BILL 466 7
(d) The Administration shall reinstate services provided under this title to a 1
dependent of a legal resident who resides with the legal resident while the legal resident is 2
outside the State due to the legal resident’s [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES assignment 3
outside the State: 4
(1) On the relocation of the dependent to the State; and 5
(2) If a request for services is made. 6
7.5–210. 7
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 8
(2) “Eligible individual” means: 9
(i) [A] AN ACTIVE service member; 10
(ii) A veteran; 11
(iii) The spouse of [a] AN ACTIVE service member or veteran; 12
(iv) A child of [a] AN ACTIVE service member or veteran; or 13
(v) A stepchild of [a] AN ACTIVE service member or veteran. 14
(3) “Program” means the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services 15
Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans. 16
[(4) “Service member” means an individual who is an active duty member 17
of: 18
(i) The armed forces of the United States; 19
(ii) A reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or 20
(iii) The National Guard of any state. 21
(5) “Veteran” means a former service member who was discharged from 22
active duty.] 23
(b) (1) There is a Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant 24
Program for Service Members and Veterans. 25
(2) The purpose of the Program is to provide funds to local nonprofit 26
organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs to serve 27
ACTIVE service members, veterans, and their families. 28 8 HOUSE BILL 466
(c) The Department shall administer the Program. 1
(d) The Program shall award competitive matching grants to local nonprofit 2
organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs that: 3
(1) Serve the behavioral health needs of eligible individuals in the locality 4
served by the nonprofit organization; 5
(2) Meet national standards; 6
(3) Integrate the delivery of mental health and substance use treatment; 7
and 8
(4) Connect eligible individuals to appropriate community–based care in a 9
timely manner on discharge from the community behavioral health program. 10
(e) (1) To be eligible for a grant from the Program, a nonprofit organization 11
must have a mission to: 12
(i) Provide behavioral health services; or 13
(ii) Provide services to ACTIVE service members, veterans, or their 14
families. 15
13–2701. 16
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 17
(b) “Behavioral health services” means mental health services or alcohol and 18
substance abuse services. 19
(c) (1) “Crisis services” means temporary services designed to address and 20
stabilize a severe behavioral health problem and to avoid an emergency situation. 21
(2) “Crisis services” includes hotlines, in–home support, and residential 22
crisis services. 23
(D) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN” MEANS A VETERAN WHO IS A MARYLAND 24
RESIDENT. 25
[(d)] (E) “Maryland Defense Force” means the military force established under 26
§ 13–501 of the Public Safety Article. 27
[(e)] (F) “Maryland National Guard” means the Maryland Army National Guard 28
and Maryland Air National Guard. 29
HOUSE BILL 466 9
[(f)] (G) “Service coordination” means a service designed to coordinate and 1
provide assistance in obtaining access to behavioral health services. 2
[(g) “Uniformed services” has the meaning stated in 10 U.S.C. § 101. 3
(h) “Veteran” means a Maryland resident who served on active duty in the 4
uniformed services of the United States, other than for training, and was discharged or 5
released under conditions other than dishonorable.] 6
[(i)] (H) “Web–based resource program” means an interactive web–based 7
communication medium that: 8
(1) Allows individuals to access comprehensive information, advocacy, and 9
other resources regarding public and private behavioral health services, crisis and 10
emergency services, and early intervention and prevention programs; and 11
(2) Enables the public and private health care communities to work 12
together to address the problems related to providing and obtaining access to behavioral 13
health services. 14
13–2702. 15
(a) Subject to the limitations of its budget, the Department: 16
(1) In collaboration with the United States Department of Veterans 17
Affairs, the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, the Maryland 18
National Guard, and the Maryland Defense Force, shall provide behavioral health service 19
coordination for ELIGIBLE veterans in all geographic regions of the State to connect them 20
to behavioral health services, including mental health first aid described under § 21
13–2703(b) of this subtitle, which may be available through the United States Department 22
of Veterans Affairs; 23
(2) (i) Where behavioral health services are not yet available or 24
accessible through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, shall provide service 25
coordination for ELIGIBLE veterans in all geographic regions of the State to connect them 26
to behavioral health services, including mental health first aid described under § 27
13–2703(b) of this subtitle, which may be available through the Behavioral Health 28
Administration, until such federal services can be accessed and obtained; and 29
(ii) Shall provide behavioral health services through the Behavioral 30
Health Administration based on eligibility and medical necessity criteria established by 31
these administrations; and 32
(3) Shall provide ELIGIBLE veterans up–to–date information about 33
behavioral health services and resources through a web–based resource program. 34
10 HOUSE BILL 466
(b) Subject to the limitations of its budget and in addition to the service 1
coordination provided under subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall provide or 2
fund certain behavioral health services for ELIGIBLE veterans who: 3
(1) Meet the eligibility and medical necessity criteria of the Behavioral 4
Health Administration; and 5
(2) Cannot obtain immediate access to behavioral health services through 6
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 7
(c) (1) The behavioral health services provided under subsection (b) of this 8
section may include: 9
(i) Crisis services in all geographic regions of the State; and 10
(ii) Short–term behavioral health services, where existing federal 11
and State behavioral health services are determined by the Department to be inadequate 12
or inaccessible. 13
(2) The short–term behavioral health services provided under paragraph 14
(1)(ii) of this subsection: 15
(i) Shall be available only until [a] AN ELIGIBLE veteran is able to 16
access and obtain adequate behavioral health services through the United States 17
Department of Veterans Affairs; and 18
(ii) May include: 19
1. Screening assessments; 20
2. Individual, family, and group therapy; 21
3. Substance abuse early intervention and detoxification 22
services; and 23
4. Substance abuse medication–assisted treatment. 24
(3) The Department shall seek reimbursement from the United States 25
Department of Veterans Affairs or other responsible public or private payer for any 26
behavioral health services provided under subsection (b) of this section. 27
(d) The Department shall account separately for funds used to provide behavioral 28
health services to ELIGIBLE veterans under subsection (b) of this section. 29
13–2703. 30
HOUSE BILL 466 11
(a) The behavioral health services for which the Department provides service 1
coordination for ELIGIBLE veterans under this subtitle shall include mental health first 2
aid. 3
(b) Mental health first aid shall consist of training for ELIGIBLE veterans and 4
the immediate family members of ELIGIBLE veterans on how to identify and respond to 5
signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. 6
(c) Each entity teaching a mental health first aid course shall report to the 7
Department: 8
(1) The number of ELIGIBLE veterans who took the mental health first aid 9
course; and 10
(2) The number of family members of ELIGIBLE veterans who took the 11
mental health first aid course. 12
(d) On or before June 1 each year, beginning in 2023, if the Department received 13
a report under subsection (c) of this section in the immediately preceding year, the 14
Department shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 15
Government Article, the General Assembly the following information for the immediately 16
preceding year: 17
(1) The total number of ELIGIBLE veterans in the State who took a mental 18
health first aid course; 19
(2) The total number of family members of ELIGIBLE veterans in the State 20
who took a mental health first aid course; and 21
(3) The total number of mental health first aid courses taught in the State, 22
reported by the entity that taught the mental health first aid course. 23
15–134.1. 24
(a) In this section, “legal resident” means an individual who maintains the State 25
as the individual’s principal establishment, home of record, or permanent home and to 26
where, whenever absent due to [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES obligation, the 27
individual intends to return. 28
(b) A dependent of a legal resident of the State who is determined eligible to 29
receive home– and community–based waiver services or other waiver services from the 30
Department under this title shall retain eligibility for the services: 31
(1) Regardless of whether the legal resident leaves the State due to the 32
legal resident’s [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES assignment outside the State; and 33
12 HOUSE BILL 466
(2) If the dependent is otherwise eligible for the services. 1
(c) If a dependent of a legal resident is on a waiting list for home– and 2
community–based waiver services or other waiver services to be provided under this title, 3
the Department shall allow the dependent to remain on the waiting list for services while 4
the legal resident is outside the State due to the legal resident’s [military] UNIFORMED 5
SERVICES assignment outside the State. 6
(d) The Department shall reinstate services provided under this title to a 7
dependent who resides with the legal resident while the legal resident is outside the State 8
due to the legal resident’s [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES assignment outside the State: 9
(1) On the relocation of the dependent to the State; and 10
(2) If a request for services is made. 11
15–154. 12
(a) Unless the child’s family has requested that the child be removed, a child on 13
the registry for the Autism Waiver shall remain on the registry if the child’s family relocates 14
out of the State for [military service] UNIFORMED SERVICES A SSIGNMENT. 15
(b) If a child on the registry for the Autism Waiver becomes eligible for services 16
through the waiver while the child’s family is out of the State for [military service] 17
UNIFORMED SERVICES A SSIGNMENT, the child shall be eligible for services through the 18
waiver if the family relocates to the State. 19
19–114. 20
(a) In this Part II of this subtitle the following words have the meanings 21
indicated. 22
(d) (2) “Health care facility” does not include: 23
(iii) For the purpose of providing an exception to the requirement for 24
a certificate of need under § 19–120 of this subtitle, a facility to provide comprehensive care 25
that: 26
2. Restricts admissions to individuals who meet the 27
residency requirements established by the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military 28
Families and are: 29
A. Veterans [who were discharged or released from the 30
armed forces of the United States UNIFORMED SERVICES under honorable conditions]; 31
HOUSE BILL 466 13
B. Former members of a reserve component [of the armed 1
forces of the United States], AS DEFINED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 2
ARTICLE; or 3
C. Nonveteran spouses of eligible veterans; 4
20–105. 5
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 6
(4) “Serious family hardship” means: 7
(vi) Assignment of a parent or legal guardian to active [military] 8
UNIFORMED SERVICES duty. 9
(d) The affidavit shall be in the following form: 10
(1) I, the undersigned, am over eighteen (18) years of age and competent to 11
testify to the facts and matters set forth herein. 12
(2) _______________ (name of child), whose date of birth is _____________, 13
is living with me because of the following serious family hardship (check each that is 14
applicable): 15
_____ Death of father/mother/legal guardian 16
_____ Serious illness of father/mother/legal guardian 17
_____ Drug addiction of father/mother/legal guardian 18
_____ Incarceration of father/mother/legal guardian 19
_____ Abandonment by father/mother/legal guardian 20
_____ Assignment of father/mother/legal guardian to active [military] UNIFORMED 21
SERVICES duty 22
(3) The name and last known address of the child’s parent(s) or legal 23
guardian is: 24
_______________________________________ 25
_______________________________________ 26
_______________________________________ 27
(4) My kinship relation to the child is _________________________________ 28
(5) My address is: 29
______________________________________________________ 30
Street Apt. No. 31
______________________________________________________ 32 14 HOUSE BILL 466
City State Zip Code 1
(6) I assumed informal kinship care of this child for 24 hours a day and 7 2
days a week on __________________ (day/month/year). 3
(7) The name and address of the school that the child attends is: 4
______________________________________________________ 5
______________________________________________________ 6
(8) I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the 7
foregoing are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. 8
______________________________________ 9
Signature of affiant 10
______________________________________ 11
(Day/month/year) 12
24–2101. 13
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
[(d) “Veteran” means a former member of the following entities who was 15
discharged from active duty: 16
(1) The armed forces of the United States; 17
(2) A reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or 18
(3) The National Guard of any state.] 19
Article – Health Occupations 20
1–101. 21
(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated. 22
(A–1) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 23
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 24
(A–2) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 25
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 26
(L) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 27
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 28
HOUSE BILL 466 15
(M) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 1
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
1–701. 3
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 4
(B) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER” HAS THE MEANING S TATED IN § 5
9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
(C) (1) “ELIGIBLE SPOUSE ” MEANS THE SPOUSE OF AN ACTIVE SERVICE 7
MEMBER OR ELIGIBLE VETERAN . 8
(2) “ELIGIBLE SPOUSE ” INCLUDES A SURVIVING SPOUSE OF: 9
(I) AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN ; OR 10
(II) AN ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER WHO D IED WITHIN 1 YEAR 11
BEFORE THE DATE ON W HICH THE APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, OR 12
REGISTRATION IS SUBM ITTED. 13
(D) (1) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN ” MEANS A VETERAN WHO WAS DISCHARGED 14
FROM ACTIVE DUTY WIT HIN 1 YEAR BEFORE THE DATE ON WHICH THE APPLICATION 15
FOR A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, OR REGISTRATION IS S UBMITTED. 16
(2) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A V ETERAN WHO HAS 17
BEEN DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR BEFORE THE 18
APPLICATION FOR A LI CENSE, CERTIFICATE, OR REGISTRATION IS SUBMITTED. 19
[(b)] (E) “Health occupations board” means a board authorized to issue a license, 20
certificate, or registration under this article. 21
[(c) (1) “Military spouse” means the spouse of a service member or veteran. 22
(2) “Military spouse” includes a surviving spouse of: 23
(i) A veteran; or 24
(ii) A service member who died within 1 year before the date on 25
which the application for a license, certificate, or registration is submitted. 26
(d) “Service member” means an individual who is an active duty member of: 27
(1) The armed forces of the United States; 28
16 HOUSE BILL 466
(2) A reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or 1
(3) The National Guard of any state. 2
(e) (1) “Veteran” means a former service member who was discharged from 3
active duty under circumstances other than dishonorable within 1 year before the date on 4
which the application for a license, certificate, or registration is submitted. 5
(2) “Veteran” does not include an individual who has completed active duty 6
and has been discharged for more than 1 year before the application for a license, certificate, 7
or registration is submitted.] 8
1–702. 9
(a) In calculating an individual’s years of practice in a health occupation, each 10
health occupations board shall give credit to the individual for all relevant experience as 11
[a] AN ACTIVE service member. 12
(b) Each health occupations board shall credit any training and education 13
provided by the [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES and completed by [a] AN ACTIVE 14
service member toward any training or education requirements for licensure, certification, 15
or registration if the training or education is determined by the health occupations board 16
to be: 17
(1) Substantially equivalent to the training or education required by the 18
health occupations board; and 19
(2) Not otherwise contrary to any other licensing requirement. 20
1–703. 21
A health occupations board may allow a licensee or certificate holder who is a 22
member of [an armed force] ONE OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES deployed outside the 23
United States or its territories to: 24
(1) Renew the license or certificate after the expiration of the renewal 25
period without payment of a penalty or reinstatement fee if the late renewal is a direct 26
result of the deployment; and 27
(2) Complete any continuing education or continuing competency 28
requirements or criminal history records check required for renewal within a reasonable 29
time after renewing the license or certificate. 30
1–704. 31
(a) (1) Each health occupations board shall develop a procedure by which an 32
individual who applies for a license, certificate, or registration can notify the board that the 33 HOUSE BILL 466 17
individual is [a] AN ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE 1
spouse. 2
(2) A health occupations board may satisfy the requirement of paragraph 3
(1) of this subsection by including a check–off box on a license, certificate, or registration 4
application form. 5
(b) For each applicant who is [a] AN ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, 6
or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse, a health occupations board shall assign to the applicant an 7
advisor to assist the individual with the application process. 8
(c) (1) Each health occupations board shall expedite the process for the 9
licensure, certification, or registration of [a] AN ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE 10
veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse. 11
(2) If [a] AN ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] 12
ELIGIBLE spouse meets the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration, a 13
health occupations board shall issue the license, certificate, or registration within 15 14
business days after receiving a completed application. 15
(d) If a health occupations board determines that [a] AN ACTIVE service member, 16
ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse does not meet the education, training, 17
or experience requirements for licensure, certification, or registration, a representative of 18
the board shall assist the ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] 19
ELIGIBLE spouse in identifying: 20
(1) Programs that offer relevant education or training; or 21
(2) Ways of obtaining needed experience. 22
1–705. 23
Each health occupations board shall publish prominently on its website information 24
on: 25
(1) The expedited licensing process available to ACTIVE service members, 26
ELIGIBLE veterans, and [military] ELIGIBLE spouses under § 1–704 of this subtitle; and 27
(2) Any assistance and services related to licensure, certification, or 28
registration provided by the board to ACTIVE service members, ELIGIBLE veterans, and 29
[military] ELIGIBLE spouses. 30
1–802. 31
18 HOUSE BILL 466
(a) (2) The Department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans and 1
Military Families, shall provide to each board a list of recommended courses in [military] 2
UNIFORMED SERVICES culture. 3
2–4A–14. 4
Subject to the hearing provisions of § 2–4A–16 of this subtitle, the Board, on the 5
affirmative vote of a majority of its members then serving, may deny a license to an 6
applicant, reprimand a licensee, place a licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke the 7
license of a licensee if the applicant or licensee: 8
(10) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any state or 9
country, convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country, or disciplined by any 10
branch of the [United States] uniformed services or the United States Department of 11
Veterans Affairs for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 12
7–314. 13
(g) If, when the license of an individual otherwise would expire, the licensee is on 14
active duty, AS DEFINED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, as a 15
member of the armed forces but not on a career basis, the license is renewed automatically 16
for a 1–year term without application or payment of a fee. 17
7–410. 18
(a) (2) The person designated on a United States Department of Defense 19
Record of Emergency Data (DD Form 93), or its successor form, as the person authorized 20
to direct disposition may serve as the authorizing agent for a decedent, if the decedent: 21
(i) Died while serving in the [United States armed forces] 22
UNIFORMED SERVICES ; and 23
8–316. 24
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this subtitle, the Board may 25
deny a license or grant a license, including a license subject to a reprimand, probation, or 26
suspension, to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 27
suspend or revoke the license of a licensee if the applicant or licensee: 28
(3) Is disciplined by a licensing[, military,] or disciplinary authority [in 29
this State or in any other state or country or] OF ANY STATE OR COUN TRY, convicted or 30
disciplined by a court [in this State or in any other state or country] OF ANY STATE OR 31
COUNTRY, OR DISCIPLINED BY AN Y BRANCH OF THE UNIF ORMED SERVICES OR TH E 32
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS for an act that would be grounds for 33
disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 34
HOUSE BILL 466 19
8–6A–10. 1
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this title and § 8–6A–10.1 of 2
this subtitle, the Board may deny a certificate or grant a certificate, including a certificate 3
subject to a reprimand, probation, or suspension, to any applicant, reprimand any 4
certificate holder, place any certificate holder on probation, or suspend or revoke the 5
certificate of a certificate holder, if the applicant or certificate holder: 6
(3) Is disciplined by a licensing[, military,] or disciplinary authority [in 7
this State or in any other state or country or] OF ANY STATE OR COUN TRY, convicted or 8
disciplined by a court [in this State or in any other state or country] OF ANY STATE OR 9
COUNTRY, OR DISCIPLINED BY AN Y BRANCH OF THE UNIF ORMED SERVICES OR TH E 10
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS for an act that would be grounds for 11
disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 12
8–6B–18. 13
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this title and § 8–6B–19 of this 14
subtitle, the Board may deny a license to an applicant, grant a license, including a license 15
subject to a reprimand, probation, or suspension, to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, 16
place a licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a license if the applicant or licensee: 17
(7) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any state or 18
country, convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country, or disciplined by any 19
branch of the [United States] uniformed services or the Veterans Administration U.S. 20
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary 21
action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 22
8–6C–20. 23
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this title, the Board may deny 24
a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, place a licensee on probation, or suspend or 25
revoke a license if the applicant or licensee: 26
(3) Is disciplined by a licensing[, military,] or disciplinary authority [in the 27
State or in any other state or country or is] OF ANY STATE OR COUN TRY, convicted or 28
disciplined by a court [in the State or in any other state or country] OF ANY STATE OR 29
COUNTRY, OR DISCIPLINED BY AN Y BRANCH OF THE UNIF ORMED SERVICES OR TH E 30
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS for an act that would be grounds for 31
disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 32
8–6D–10. 33
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this title, the Board may deny 34
a license or grant a license, including a license subject to a reprimand, probation, or 35 20 HOUSE BILL 466
suspension, to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 1
suspend or revoke the license of a licensee if the applicant or licensee: 2
(3) Is disciplined by a licensing[, military,] or disciplinary authority [in 3
this State or in any other state or country or is] OF ANY STATE OR COUN TRY, convicted 4
or disciplined by a court [in this State or in any other state or country] OF ANY STATE OR 5
COUNTRY, OR DISCIPLINED BY ANY BRANCH OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES O R THE 6
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS for an act that would be grounds for 7
disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 8
11–305. 9
(c) (2) The Board may waive the requirement of practicing optometry actively 10
for an applicant who for 3 years: 11
(ii) Was a [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES optometrist; 12
13–316. 13
Subject to the hearing provisions of § 13–317 of this subtitle, the Board may deny a 14
license or restricted license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee or holder of a 15
restricted license, place any licensee or holder of a restricted license on probation, or 16
suspend or revoke a license or restricted license if the applicant, licensee, or holder: 17
(10) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any state or 18
country or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any 19
branch of the [United States] uniformed services or Veterans Administration for an act 20
that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 21
14–302. 22
Subject to the rules, regulations, and orders of the Board, the following individuals 23
may practice medicine without a license: 24
(2) A physician licensed by and residing in another jurisdiction, if the 25
physician: 26
(iii) Is engaged in clinical training or participates in training or 27
teaching of a skill or procedure in a hospital if: 28
4. The visiting physician has no history of any medical 29
disciplinary action in any other state, territory, nation, or any branch of the [United States] 30
uniformed services or the Veterans Administration, and has no significant detrimental 31
malpractice history; 32
14–404. 33 HOUSE BILL 466 21
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this subtitle, a disciplinary 1
panel, on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum of the disciplinary panel, may 2
reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a license if 3
the licensee: 4
(21) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or convicted or 5
disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any branch of the [United 6
States] uniformed services or the Veterans’ Administration for an act that would be 7
grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 8
14–5A–17. 9
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this title, a disciplinary panel, 10
on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the disciplinary panel, may deny a 11
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 12
suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee: 13
(17) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or is convicted or 14
disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of the [United 15
States] uniformed services or the Veterans’ Administration for an act that would be 16
grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 17
14–5B–14. 18
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this title, a disciplinary panel, 19
on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum of the disciplinary panel, may deny a 20
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 21
suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee: 22
(17) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or is convicted or 23
disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of the [United 24
States] uniformed services or the Veterans’ Administration for an act that would be 25
grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 26
14–5C–17. 27
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this title, a disciplinary panel, 28
on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the disciplinary panel, may deny a 29
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 30
suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee: 31
(18) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or is convicted or 32
disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of the [United 33
States] uniformed services or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an act that would 34
be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 35 22 HOUSE BILL 466
14–5D–11.4. 1
(b) (1) The Board shall issue an approval to perform dry needling to a licensed 2
athletic trainer who provides proof of completion of at least 80 hours of instruction in a 3
continuing education course approved by: 4
(iii) The [United States] armed forces. 5
14–5D–14. 6
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this title, a disciplinary panel, 7
on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the disciplinary panel, may deny a 8
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 9
suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee: 10
(17) Is disciplined by a licensing, certifying, or disciplinary authority or is 11
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of 12
the [United States] uniformed services or the Veterans Administration for an act that 13
would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 14
14–5E–16. 15
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this title, a disciplinary panel, 16
on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum of the disciplinary panel, may deny a 17
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 18
suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee: 19
(18) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or is convicted or 20
disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of the [United 21
States] uniformed services or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an act that would 22
be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 23
14–5G–18. 24
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this title, a disciplinary panel, 25
on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum of the disciplinary panel, may deny a 26
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or 27
suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee: 28
(19) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or is convicted or 29
disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of the [United 30
States] uniformed services or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an act that would 31
be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 32
15–314. 33 HOUSE BILL 466 23
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 15–315 of this subtitle, a disciplinary 1
panel, on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may reprimand any physician 2
assistant, place any physician assistant on probation, or suspend or revoke a license if the 3
physician assistant: 4
(21) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or convicted or 5
disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any branch of the [United 6
States] uniformed services or the Veterans’ Administration for an act that would be 7
grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 8
16–311. 9
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 16–313 of this subtitle, the Board, on the 10
affirmative vote of a majority of its members then serving, may deny a license or a limited 11
license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee or holder of a limited license, impose an 12
administrative monetary penalty not exceeding $50,000 on any licensee or holder of a 13
limited license, place any licensee or holder of a limited license on probation, or suspend or 14
revoke a license or a limited license if the applicant, licensee, or holder: 15
(21) Has been disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any state 16
or country or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by 17
any branch of the [United States] uniformed services or the United States Veterans 18
Administration for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 19
17–6A–19. 20
Subject to the hearing provisions of § 17–6A–21 of this subtitle, the Board, on the 21
affirmative vote of a majority of its members then serving, may deny a license to any 22
applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a 23
license of any licensee if the applicant or licensee: 24
(10) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any state or 25
country or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any 26
branch of the [United States] uniformed services or the United States Veterans 27
Administration for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s 28
disciplinary statutes; 29
18–313. 30
Subject to the hearing provisions of § 18–315 of this subtitle, the Board, on the 31
affirmative vote of a majority of its members then serving, may deny a license or 32
registration to any applicant, reprimand any licensee or registrant, place any licensee or 33
registrant on probation, or suspend or revoke a license or registration of any licensee or 34
registrant if the applicant, licensee, or registrant: 35
24 HOUSE BILL 466
(11) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any state or 1
country or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any 2
branch of the [United States] uniformed services or the United States Veterans 3
Administration for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board’s 4
disciplinary statutes; 5
Article – Housing and Community Development 6
1–101. 7
(a) In this Division I of this article the following words have the meanings 8
indicated. 9
(K) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 10
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 11
4–2906. 12
The Department and each public housing agency shall equally prioritize vouchers 13
and housing assistance payments for families that include: 14
(1) a child who is under the age of 18 years; 15
(2) a foster child who is: 16
(i) at least 18 years old; but 17
(ii) under the age of 24 years; 18
(3) a [military] veteran; 19
(4) an individual experiencing homelessness; 20
(5) a disabled individual; or 21
(6) an elderly individual. 22
Article – State Government 23
9–901. 24
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 25
(B) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 26
(C) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS : 27 HOUSE BILL 466 25
(1) AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBE R OF THE UNIFORMED S ERVICES; OR 1
(2) SERVING IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED 2
SERVICES ON ACTIVE D UTY ORDERS. 3
(D) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 10 U.S.C. § 101. 4
[(b)] (E) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 5
[(c)] (F) “Department” means the Department of Veterans and Military 6
Families. 7
(G) “MILITARY FAMILY ” INCLUDES THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT 8
CHILDREN OF A SERVIC E MEMBER OR VETERAN RELATED BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 9
ADOPTION. 10
(H) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 11
[(d)] (I) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. 12
(J) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF : 13
(1) THE UNIFORMED S ERVICES; OR 14
(2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SER VICES. 15
[(e)] (K) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 16
(L) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 17
[(f)] (M) Except as otherwise provided [in this subtitle], “veteran” [means an 18
individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than 19
for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable] HAS 20
THE MEANING STATED I N 38 U.S.C. § 101. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 22
October 1, 2025. 23