EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0664*
HOUSE BILL 664
J2 5lr2626
By: Delegate Terrasa
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations – Licensed Direct–Entry Midwives – Disciplinary Actions 2
FOR the purpose of clarifying the actions that the State Board of Nursing may take if an 3
applicant for a license to practice direct–entry midwifery or a licensed direct–entry 4
midwife violates a ground for discipline; and generally relating to licensed 5
direct–entry midwives. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Health Occupations 8
Section 8–6C–20(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Health Occupations 14
8–6C–20. 15
(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this title, the Board may deny 16
a license OR GRANT A LICENSE , INCLUDING A LICENSE SUBJECT TO A REPRIMA ND, 17
PROBATION, OR SUSPENSION , to [an] ANY applicant, reprimand [a] ANY licensee, place 18
[a] ANY licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke [a] THE license OF A LICENSEE if the 19
applicant or licensee: 20
(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license for 21
the applicant or for another; 22
(2) Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license; 23 2 HOUSE BILL 664
(3) Is disciplined by a licensing, military, or disciplinary authority in the 1
State or in any other state or country or is convicted or disciplined by a court in the State 2
or in any other state or country for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action 3
under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 4
(4) Is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or to a 5
crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending 6
to have the conviction or plea set aside; 7
(5) Willfully and knowingly: 8
(i) Files a false report or record of an individual under the licensee’s 9
care; 10
(ii) Gives any false or misleading information about a material 11
matter in an employment application; 12
(iii) Fails to file or record any health record that is required by law; 13
(iv) Obstructs the filing or recording of any health record as required 14
by law; or 15
(v) Induces another person to fail to file or record any health record 16
as required by law; 17
(6) Knowingly does any act that has been determined by the Board, in its 18
regulations, to exceed the scope of practice authorized to the individual under this subtitle; 19
(7) Provides professional services while: 20
(i) Under the influence of alcohol; or 21
(ii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance, as defined 22
in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article, or other drug that is in excess of therapeutic 23
amounts or without valid medical indication; 24
(8) Does an act that is inconsistent with generally accepted professional 25
standards in the practice of direct–entry midwifery; 26
(9) Is grossly negligent in the practice of direct–entry midwifery; 27
(10) Has violated any provision of this title; 28
(11) Submits a false statement to collect a fee; 29
(12) Is physically or mentally incompetent; 30 HOUSE BILL 664 3
(13) Knowingly fails to report suspected child abuse in violation of § 5–704 1
of the Family Law Article; 2
(14) Except in an emergency life–threatening situation where it is not 3
feasible or practicable, fails to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and 4
Prevention’s guidelines on universal precautions; 5
(15) Is in independent practice and fails to display the notice required under 6
§ 8–6C–23 of this subtitle; 7
(16) Is habitually intoxicated; 8
(17) Is addicted to, or habitually abuses, any narcotic or controlled 9
dangerous substance as defined in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article; 10
(18) Fails to cooperate with a lawful investigation conducted by the Board; 11
(19) Is expelled from the rehabilitation program established pursuant to § 12
8–208 of this title for failure to comply with the conditions of the program; 13
(20) Engages in conduct that violates the professional code of ethics; 14
(21) Is professionally incompetent; 15
(22) Practices direct–entry midwifery without a license, before obtaining or 16
renewing a license, including any period when the license has lapsed; 17
(23) After failing to renew a license or after a license has lapsed, commits 18
any act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 19
(24) Violates regulations adopted by the Board or an order from the Board; 20
(25) Performs an act that is beyond the licensee’s knowledge and skills; 21
(26) Fails to submit to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 22
8–303 of this title; 23
(27) When acting in a supervisory position, directs another licensed 24
direct–entry midwife to perform an act that is beyond the licensed direct–entry midwife’s 25
knowledge and skills; or 26
(28) Fails to file a report required under this subtitle. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
October 1, 2025. 29