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.
*hb0664*
HOUSE BILL 664
J2 5lr2626
By: Delegate Terrasa
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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 2 HOUSE BILL 664
(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license for 1
the applicant or for another; 2
(2) Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license; 3
(3) Is disciplined by a licensing, military, or disciplinary authority in the 4
State or in any other state or country or is convicted or disciplined by a court in the State 5
or in any other state or country for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action 6
under the Board’s disciplinary statutes; 7
(4) Is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or to a 8
crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending 9
to have the conviction or plea set aside; 10
(5) Willfully and knowingly: 11
(i) Files a false report or record of an individual under the licensee’s 12
care; 13
(ii) Gives any false or misleading information about a material 14
matter in an employment application; 15
(iii) Fails to file or record any health record that is required by law; 16
(iv) Obstructs the filing or recording of any health record as required 17
by law; or 18
(v) Induces another person to fail to file or record any health record 19
as required by law; 20
(6) Knowingly does any act that has been determined by the Board, in its 21
regulations, to exceed the scope of practice authorized to the individual under this subtitle; 22
(7) Provides professional services while: 23
(i) Under the influence of alcohol; or 24
(ii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance, as defined 25
in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article, or other drug that is in excess of therapeutic 26
amounts or without valid medical indication; 27
(8) Does an act that is inconsistent with generally accepted professional 28
standards in the practice of direct–entry midwifery; 29
(9) Is grossly negligent in the practice of direct–entry midwifery; 30
HOUSE BILL 664 3
(10) Has violated any provision of this title; 1
(11) Submits a false statement to collect a fee; 2
(12) Is physically or mentally incompetent; 3
(13) Knowingly fails to report suspected child abuse in violation of § 5–704 4
of the Family Law Article; 5
(14) Except in an emergency life–threatening situation where it is not 6
feasible or practicable, fails to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and 7
Prevention’s guidelines on universal precautions; 8
(15) Is in independent practice and fails to display the notice required under 9
§ 8–6C–23 of this subtitle; 10
(16) Is habitually intoxicated; 11
(17) Is addicted to, or habitually abuses, any narcotic or controlled 12
dangerous substance as defined in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article; 13
(18) Fails to cooperate with a lawful investigation conducted by the Board; 14
(19) Is expelled from the rehabilitation program established pursuant to § 15
8–208 of this title for failure to comply with the conditions of the program; 16
(20) Engages in conduct that violates the professional code of ethics; 17
(21) Is professionally incompetent; 18
(22) Practices direct–entry midwifery without a license, before obtaining or 19
renewing a license, including any period when the license has lapsed; 20
(23) After failing to renew a license or after a license has lapsed, commits 21
any act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 22
(24) Violates regulations adopted by the Board or an order from the Board; 23
(25) Performs an act that is beyond the licensee’s knowledge and skills; 24
(26) Fails to submit to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 25
8–303 of this title; 26
(27) When acting in a supervisory position, directs another licensed 27
direct–entry midwife to perform an act that is beyond the licensed direct–entry midwife’s 28
knowledge and skills; or 29
4 HOUSE BILL 664
(28) Fails to file a report required under this subtitle. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 2
October 1, 2025. 3
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.