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.
*hb0580*
HOUSE BILL 580
E4 5lr0626
CF SB 164
By: Delegates Hutchinson, Beauchamp, Hartman, and Jacobs
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Terminology and Obsolete References – Maryland State Firefighters Association 2
and Related Terms 3
FOR the purpose of replacing obsolete references to the Maryland State Firemen’s 4
Association with references to the Maryland State Firefighters Association; 5
replacing related terminology; and generally relating to references to the Maryland 6
State Firefighters Association and related terminology. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 9
Section 7–301(f)(3)(iii) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
Article – Education 14
Section 13–511(b)(1) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Education 19
Section 13–511(b)(2)(vi) and 18–602 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22 2 HOUSE BILL 580
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Health – General 2
Section 18–213 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Labor and Employment 7
Section 3–213(a)(2)(iv) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Public Safety 12
Section 7–201, 7–202, 7–203, 8–103(b)(4)(i) and (c)(1) and (3)(i), and 8–201(b) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – Public Safety 17
Section 8–201(a) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – Tax – General 22
Section 10–208(i–1)(5)(ii)3. and (7)(ii) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 26
Article – Transportation 27
Section 16–102(b)(2)(i) and 21–106(c)(3)(i) 28
Annotated Code of Maryland 29
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 30
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 31
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 32
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 33
7–301. 34
(f) (3) (iii) An amount annually as set forth in the State budget shall be 35
distributed to the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association for the Widows’ 36
and Orphans’ Fund. 37 HOUSE BILL 580 3
Article – Education 1
13–511. 2
(b) (1) The Advisory Council consists of 31 members. The members shall be 3
appointed by the Board from a list of three qualified nominees submitted to the Board by 4
their respective organizations or associations represented on the Council. The 5
appointments by the Board shall be subject to the approval of the Governor. 6
(2) Of the 31 members: 7
(vi) One shall be a representative of the Maryland State [Firemen’s] 8
FIREFIGHTERS Association; 9
18–602. 10
(a) There is a program of scholarships for children of volunteer [fire fighters] 11
FIREFIGHTERS or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members who died or were 12
disabled by an accident resulting from: 13
(1) Performing any duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of the 14
fire company; or 15
(2) Actively participating in the ambulance or rescue squad work of an 16
incorporated volunteer fire company or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad in the State. 17
(b) The recipient of a scholarship under this section shall be a graduate of an 18
accredited high school. 19
(c) The Board of Trustees of the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS 20
Association, in its discretion, shall: 21
(1) Determine the amount of each award; and 22
(2) Select the recipient of each award. 23
(d) The Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association shall provide 24
the funds for these awards. 25
Article – Health – General 26
18–213. 27
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 28
4 HOUSE BILL 580
(2) “Contagious disease or virus” means: 1
(i) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); 2
(ii) Meningococcal meningitis; 3
(iii) Tuberculosis; 4
(iv) Mononucleosis; 5
(v) Any form of viral hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis 6
A, B, C, D, E, F, and G; 7
(vi) Diphtheria; 8
(vii) Plague; 9
(viii) Hemorrhagic fevers; or 10
(ix) Rabies. 11
(3) “Correctional institution” means a place of detention or correctional 12
confinement operated by or for the State or a local government. 13
(4) (i) “Correctional officer” means a member of a correctional unit who 14
is charged with and actually performs those duties that relate to the investigation, care, 15
custody, control, or supervision of persons confined to places of incarceration. 16
(ii) “Correctional officer” includes any sheriff, warden, 17
superintendent, or any other person having an equivalent title. 18
(5) “Law enforcement officer” means any person who, in an official 19
capacity, is authorized by law to make arrests and who is a member of one of the following 20
law enforcement agencies: 21
(i) The Department of State Police; 22
(ii) The Baltimore City Police Department; 23
(iii) The police department, bureau, or force of any county; 24
(iv) The police department, bureau, or force of any incorporated city 25
or town; 26
(v) The office of the sheriff of any county; 27
HOUSE BILL 580 5
(vi) The police department, bureau, or force of any bicounty agency 1
or constituent institution of the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, 2
St. Mary’s College, or of any institution under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Higher 3
Education Commission; 4
(vii) The Maryland Transit Administration police force of the 5
Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Force, and 6
the Maryland Port Administration police force of the Department of Transportation; 7
(viii) The law enforcement officers of the Department of Natural 8
Resources; 9
(ix) The Field Enforcement Bureau of the Comptroller’s Office; 10
(x) The Field Enforcement Division of the Alcohol and Tobacco 11
Commission; 12
(xi) The Crofton Police Department; 13
(xii) The Intelligence and Investigative Division of the Department of 14
Public Safety and Correctional Services; or 15
(xiii) The Ocean Pines Police Department. 16
(6) “Medical care facility” means a hospital as defined in § 19–301 of this 17
article or a health care facility of a correctional institution. 18
(b) While treating or transporting an ill or injured patient to a medical care 19
facility or while acting in the performance of duty, if a paid or volunteer [fire fighter] 20
FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, or rescue [squadman] SQUAD MEMBER 21
comes into contact with a patient who is subsequently diagnosed as having a contagious 22
disease or virus, as a result of information obtained in conjunction with the services 23
provided during the visit to the facility, the attending physician, medical examiner, a 24
designee of the medical care facility who receives the patient, the Chief Medical Examiner, 25
or the Chief Medical Examiner’s designee shall notify the [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , 26
emergency medical technician, or rescue [squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , and the employer 27
or employer’s designee of the individual’s possible exposure to the contagious disease or 28
virus. 29
(c) If, while treating or transporting an ill or injured patient to a medical care 30
facility or while acting in the performance of duty, a law enforcement officer comes into 31
contact with a patient who is subsequently diagnosed, as a result of information obtained 32
in conjunction with the services provided during the visit to the facility, as having a 33
contagious disease or virus, the attending physician, medical examiner, a designee of the 34
medical care facility who receives the patient, the Chief Medical Examiner or the Chief 35
Medical Examiner’s designee shall notify the law enforcement officer and the officer’s 36 6 HOUSE BILL 580
employer or employer’s designee of the officer’s possible exposure to the contagious disease 1
or virus. 2
(d) If, while treating or transporting an ill or injured incarcerated individual to a 3
medical care facility or while acting in the performance of duty, a correctional officer comes 4
into contact with an incarcerated individual who is subsequently diagnosed, as a result of 5
information obtained in conjunction with the services provided during the visit to the 6
facility, as having a contagious disease or virus, the attending physician, medical examiner, 7
a designee of the medical care facility that receives the incarcerated individual, the Chief 8
Medical Examiner, or the Chief Medical Examiner’s designee shall notify the correctional 9
officer and the correctional officer’s correctional institution or the correctional institution’s 10
designee of the officer’s possible exposure to the contagious disease or virus. 11
(e) The notification required under subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section shall: 12
(1) Be made within 48 hours, or sooner, of confirmation of the patient’s 13
diagnosis; 14
(2) Include subsequent written confirmation of possible exposure to the 15
contagious disease or virus; 16
(3) Be conducted in a manner that will protect the confidentiality of the 17
patient; and 18
(4) To the extent possible, be conducted in a manner that will protect the 19
confidentiality of the [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, rescue 20
[squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement officer, or correctional officer. 21
(f) The written confirmation required under subsection (e)(2) of this section shall 22
constitute compliance with this section. 23
(g) Each medical care facility shall develop written procedures for the 24
implementation of this section, and, upon request, make copies available to the local fire 25
authority, the local fire authority’s designee, the local law enforcement authority, the local 26
law enforcement authority’s designee, the correctional officer, or the correctional 27
institution’s designee having jurisdiction. 28
(h) A medical care facility, physician, Chief Medical Examiner, or the Chief 29
Medical Examiner’s designee acting in good faith to provide notification in accordance with 30
this section may not be liable in any cause of action related to the breach of patient 31
confidentiality. 32
(i) A medical care facility, physician, Chief Medical Examiner, or the Chief 33
Medical Examiner’s designee acting in good faith to provide notification in accordance with 34
this section may not be liable in any cause of action for: 35
HOUSE BILL 580 7
(1) The failure to give the required notice, if the [fire fighter] 1
FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, rescue [squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law 2
enforcement officer, or correctional officer fails to properly initiate the notification 3
procedures developed by the health care facility under subsection (g) of this section; or 4
(2) The failure of the employer or employer’s designee to subsequently 5
notify the [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, rescue [squadman] 6
SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement officer, or correctional officer of the possible exposure 7
to a contagious disease or virus. 8
(j) A [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, rescue 9
[squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement officer, or correctional officer shall receive 10
from their employers or local governmental bodies, at the expense of the employer or local 11
governmental body, as part of their training, education on: 12
(1) (i) The routes of transmission of HIV and hepatitis B virus; and 13
(ii) The routes by which a [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , emergency 14
medical technician, rescue [squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement officer, or 15
correctional officer may be exposed to HIV and hepatitis B virus; and 16
(2) The current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for 17
preventing prehospital exposure to HIV and hepatitis B while rendering emergency 18
medical care. 19
(k) A [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, rescue 20
[squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement officer, or correctional officer shall receive 21
from their employers, associations, or local governmental bodies, at the employers’, 22
associations’, or local governmental bodies’ expense, equipment recommended by the 23
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect a [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER, 24
emergency medical technician, rescue [squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement 25
officer, or correctional officer from exposure to HIV and hepatitis B while rendering 26
emergency medical care. 27
(l) (1) The fire department, law enforcement agency, and all other agencies or 28
organizations employing a [fire fighter] FIREFIGHTER , emergency medical technician, 29
rescue [squadman] SQUAD MEMBER , law enforcement officer, or correctional officer shall 30
develop written procedures for the implementation of this section. 31
(2) On request, copies of the procedures developed in this subsection shall 32
be made available to employees, employee unions, volunteer associations, and the 33
Secretary. 34
(m) A person under this section may not refuse to treat or transport an individual 35
because the individual is HIV positive. 36
8 HOUSE BILL 580
Article – Labor and Employment 1
3–213. 2
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a minor may not be employed or 3
allowed to work: 4
(2) in, about, or in connection with: 5
(iv) an engineer, [fireman] FIREFIGHTER , or pilot on a vessel that 6
is engaged in commerce; or 7
Article – Public Safety 8
7–201. 9
In Part I of this subtitle, “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland State 10
[Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association. 11
7–202. 12
(a) (1) A member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer rescue squad is 13
eligible for disability benefits from the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS 14
Association if: 15
(i) the member’s fire company or rescue squad recommends that the 16
member receive benefits; and 17
(ii) the member is permanently or temporarily disabled: 18
1. as a direct result of actively participating in fighting a fire; 19
2. while going to or from a fire; 20
3. while performing other duties necessary to the operation 21
or maintenance of the fire company; 22
4. while actively participating in the emergency medical 23
services unit, or rescue work of a volunteer advanced life support unit or a volunteer fire, 24
ambulance, or rescue company located in the State; or 25
5. while providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether 26
acting alone or at the direction of or with a fire, ambulance, or rescue company or advanced 27
life support unit. 28
(2) A benefit under this section shall be paid: 29
HOUSE BILL 580 9
(i) regardless of the district in which the beneficiary was disabled; 1
or 2
(ii) regardless of whether the beneficiary was disabled in this State, 3
Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia. 4
(b) The Board shall pay a benefit under this section from the treasury of the 5
Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association in the amount and in the manner 6
that the Board determines until the beneficiary is no longer disabled. 7
(c) The secretary of the Board shall add the name of each beneficiary under this 8
section to the Disabled [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTER’S and Rescue [Squadmen’s] SQUAD 9
PERSON’S List. 10
7–203. 11
(a) (1) The Board shall pay death benefits under this section if a member of a 12
volunteer fire company or member of a volunteer rescue squad dies: 13
(i) as a direct result of actively participating in fighting a fire; 14
(ii) while going to or from a fire; 15
(iii) while performing other duties necessary to the operation or 16
maintenance of the fire company; 17
(iv) while actively participating in the ambulance, advanced life 18
support, or rescue work of a volunteer advanced life support unit or volunteer fire, 19
ambulance, or rescue company located in the State; or 20
(v) while providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting 21
alone or at the direction of or with a fire, ambulance, or rescue company or advanced life 22
support unit. 23
(2) A benefit under this subsection shall be paid: 24
(i) regardless of the district in which the decedent died; or 25
(ii) regardless of whether the decedent died in this State, Delaware, 26
the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia. 27
(b) (1) The Board shall pay a benefit under this section from the treasury of 28
the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association in the amount that the Board 29
determines, but not less than $2,000. 30
(2) The Board shall pay a benefit under this subsection: 31
10 HOUSE BILL 580
(i) to the decedent’s surviving spouse or dependent child; 1
(ii) if no individual is eligible under item (i) of this paragraph, to the 2
decedent’s surviving dependent parent; 3
(iii) if no individual is eligible under item (i) or (ii) of this paragraph, 4
to each surviving child of the decedent in equal shares; 5
(iv) if no individual is eligible under item (i), (ii), or (iii) of this 6
paragraph, to the decedent’s surviving parent; or 7
(v) if no individual is eligible under item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this 8
paragraph, to each surviving sister, brother, or grandparent of the decedent in equal 9
shares. 10
(c) (1) If there is a surviving spouse or dependent child: 11
(i) until the surviving spouse remarries, the surviving spouse is 12
entitled to receive a pension from the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS 13
Association; and 14
(ii) until the dependent child becomes an adult, each dependent child 15
is entitled to receive a pension from the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS 16
Association. 17
(2) The Board shall pay a benefit under this subsection from the treasury 18
of the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association in the amount, at the 19
times, and in the installments that the Board determines. 20
(3) The secretary of the Board shall add the name of each beneficiary under 21
this subsection to the Disabled [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTER’S and Rescue [Squadmen’s] 22
SQUAD PERSON’S List. 23
8–103. 24
(b) (4) In determining need under this subsection, the county shall consider: 25
(i) the failure to meet minimum standards established by the county 26
or the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association; 27
(c) (1) Subject to paragraph (6) of this subsection, each county shall distribute 28
the money provided under this subtitle on the basis of need to fire, rescue, and ambulance 29
companies, departments, or stations in the county, including companies, departments, or 30
stations: 31
(i) located in municipal corporations; or 32 HOUSE BILL 580 11
(ii) located outside the State if the company, department, or station: 1
1. has been a member of the Maryland State [Firemen’s] 2
FIREFIGHTERS Association for at least the past 10 years; and 3
2. has a first due response area in the State. 4
(3) In determining need under this subsection, the county shall consider: 5
(i) the failure to meet minimum standards established by the county 6
or the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association; 7
8–201. 8
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 9
(b) “Association” means the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS 10
Association. 11
Article – Tax – General 12
10–208. 13
(i–1) (5) (ii) Each fire, rescue, or emergency medical services organization or 14
auxiliary organization shall: 15
3. provide a report that includes the names, Social Security 16
numbers, and points earned by those members qualifying for the subtraction modification 17
under this subsection to the Maryland State [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association by 18
May 1 of the following year. 19
(7) (ii) On or before October 1 of each year, the Maryland State 20
[Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association shall submit to the Department of Public Safety 21
and Correctional Services and the Office of the Comptroller a report stating the 22
participation in the point system by the various local subdivisions with the names and 23
Social Security numbers of individuals who qualified for the subtraction modification under 24
this subsection for the preceding taxable year. 25
Article – Transportation 26
16–102. 27
(b) (2) The Administration shall adopt the regulations required under this 28
subsection in consultation with: 29
12 HOUSE BILL 580
(i) The Maryland [Firemen’s] FIREFIGHTERS Association; 1
21–106. 2
(c) (3) (i) The driver of an emergency vehicle may not use flashing lights 3
or a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle while returning from an emergency call, fire alarm, or 4
motorcade or escort, except that fire apparatus carrying standing [firemen] 5
FIREFIGHTERS may use flashing lights that are visible only to the rear. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the publisher of the 7
Annotated Code of Maryland, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the 8
Department of Legislative Services, shall correct, with no further action required by the 9
General Assembly, cross–references and terminology rendered incorrect by this Act. The 10
publisher shall adequately describe any correction made in an editor’s note following the 11
section affected. 12
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2025. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.