Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB83 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0083
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 83
8	8	J1 5lr0835
9	9	SB 427/24 – FIN (PRE–FILED) CF 5lr0833
10	10	By: Senator Hettleman
11	11	Requested: September 16, 2024
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
13	13	Assigned to: Finance
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Public Health – Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention Services Program 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of authorizing a community–based organization, with the approval of the 3
22	22	Maryland Department of Health, to establish an Overdose and Infectious Disease 4
23	23	Prevention Services Program; authorizing a Program to bill the insurance carrier of 5
24	24	an individual who uses the services of the Program for the cost of covered services, 6
25	25	accept donations, grants, and other financial assistance, apply for certain grants, 7
26	26	coordinate with certain programs or organizations, and use mobile facilities; 8
27	27	prohibiting the location of a Program in certain areas; prohibiting certain persons, 9
28	28	under certain circumstances, from being subject to arrest, prosecution, or certain 10
29	29	penalties or from being denied any right or privilege for involvement in the operation 11
30	30	or use of services of a Program; and generally relating to an Overdose and Infectious 12
31	31	Disease Prevention Services Program. 13
32	32
33	33	BY adding to 14
34	34	Article – Health – General 15
35	35	Section 24–2501 through 24–2506 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 25. 16
36	36	Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention Services Program” 17
37	37	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
38	38	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
39	39
40	40	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
41	41	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
42	42
43	43	Article – Health – General 22
44	44
45	45	SUBTITLE 25. OVERDOSE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION SERVICES 23
46	46	PROGRAM. 24
47	47	2 SENATE BILL 83
48	48
49	49
50	50	24–2501. 1
51	51
52	52	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWIN G WORDS HAVE THE MEA NINGS 2
53	53	INDICATED. 3
54	54
55	55	(B) (1) “COMMUNITY–BASED ORGANIZATION ” MEANS A PUBLIC OR 4
56	56	PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT: 5
57	57
58	58	(I) IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A COMMUNITY OR SIGNI FICANT 6
59	59	SEGMENTS OF A COMMUN ITY; AND 7
60	60
61	61	(II) PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL , HEALTH, OR SOCIAL SERVICES 8
62	62	TO INDIVIDUALS IN TH E COMMUNITY . 9
63	63
64	64	(2) “COMMUNITY–BASED ORGANIZATION ” INCLUDES: 10
65	65
66	66	(I) A HOSPITAL; 11
67	67
68	68	(II) A CLINIC; 12
69	69
70	70	(III) A SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER TREATMENT CENTER ; 13
71	71
72	72	(IV) A MEDICAL OFFICE ; 14
73	73
74	74	(V) A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER ; 15
75	75
76	76	(VI) A MENTAL HEALTH FACILI TY; 16
77	77
78	78	(VII) A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTM ENT; AND 17
79	79
80	80	(VIII) A FAITH–BASED ORGANIZATION . 18
81	81
82	82	(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS AN OVERDOSE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 19
83	83	PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM. 20
84	84
85	85	24–2502. 21
86	86
87	87	(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, A COMMUNITY –BASED 22
88	88	ORGANIZATION MAY EST ABLISH AN OVERDOSE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 23
89	89	PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM WITH THE APPR OVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT , IN 24
90	90	CONSULTATION WITH TH E LOCAL HEALTH DEPAR TMENT. 25
91	91
92	92	(B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E NOT MORE THAN SIX 26
93	93	PROGRAMS, WITH EACH PROGRAM OPERATING AT A SINGLE LOCATION IN AN AREA 27 SENATE BILL 83 3
94	94
95	95
96	96	WITH A HIGH INCIDENC E OF DRUG USE. 1
97	97
98	98	(2) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE PROGRAMS APPROVED BY 2
99	99	THE DEPARTMENT UNDER PARA GRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL INCLUDE : 3
100	100
101	101	(I) TWO PROGRAMS LOCATED IN URBAN ARE AS OF THE STATE; 4
102	102
103	103	(II) TWO PROGRAMS LOCATED IN S UBURBAN AREAS OF THE 5
104	104	STATE; AND 6
105	105
106	106	(III) TWO PROGRAMS LOCATED IN R URAL AREAS OF THE STATE. 7
107	107
108	108	(C) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH 8
109	109	DEPARTMENT , SHALL MAKE ITS DETER MINATION OF WHETHER T O APPROVE AN 9
110	110	APPLICATION SUBMITTE D UNDER THIS SECTION BASED ON THE ABILITY OF THE 10
111	111	COMMUNITY –BASED ORGANIZATION T O SATISFY THE REQUIR EMENTS OF § 24–2503 11
112	112	OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
113	113
114	114	(D) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH 13
115	115	DEPARTMENT, SHALL: 14
116	116
117	117	(1) APPROVE OR DENY AN AP PLICATION OF A COMMU NITY–BASED 15
118	118	ORGANIZATION WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER THE DAY O N WHICH THE APPLICAT ION IS 16
119	119	RECEIVED; AND 17
120	120
121	121	(2) PROVIDE A WRITTEN EXP LANATION OF THE DEPARTMENT ’S 18
122	122	DETERMINATION TO THE COMMUNITY –BASED ORGANI ZATION. 19
123	123
124	124	24–2503. 20
125	125
126	126	(A) A PROGRAM SHALL : 21
127	127
128	128	(1) PROVIDE A LOCATION SU PERVISED BY HEALTH C ARE 22
129	129	PROFESSIONALS OR OTH ER TRAINED STAFF WHE RE DRUG USERS CAN CO NSUME 23
130	130	PREOBTAINED DRUGS ; 24
131	131
132	132	(2) PROVIDE STERILE SUPPL IES FOR PERSONAL DRU G 25
133	133	ADMINISTRATION , COLLECT USED SUPPLIES, AND PROVIDE APPROPRI ATE 26
134	134	DISPOSAL SERVICES OF USED SUPPLIES; 27
135	135
136	136	(3) ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOU T SAFE DRUG USE PRAC TICES; 28
137	137
138	138	(4) ADMINISTER FIRST AID , IF NEEDED, MONITOR PARTICIPANTS FOR 29 4 SENATE BILL 83
139	139
140	140
141	141	POTENTIAL OVERDOSE , AND ADMINISTER RESCU E MEDICATIONS , INCLUDING 1
142	142	NALOXONE; 2
143	143
144	144	(5) PROVIDE ACCESS OR REF ERRALS TO SERVICES , INCLUDING: 3
145	145
146	146	(I) SUBSTANCE USE DISORDE R COUNSELING AND TRE ATMENT 4
147	147	SERVICES; 5
148	148
149	149	(II) TESTING FOR HIV, VIRAL HEPATITIS , AND SEXUALLY 6
150	150	TRANSMITTED DISEASES ; 7
151	151
152	152	(III) REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH E DUCATION AND SERVICES; AND 8
153	153
154	154	(IV) WOUND CARE; 9
155	155
156	156	(6) EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON THE RISKS OF CONT RACTING HIV 10
157	157	AND VIRAL HEPATITIS ; 11
158	158
159	159	(7) PROVIDE OVERDOSE PREV ENTION EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO 12
160	160	OR REFERRALS TO OBTA IN NALOXONE; 13
161	161
162	162	(8) EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS REGARDING PROPER DI SPOSAL OF 14
163	163	HYPODERMIC NEEDLES A ND SYRINGES; 15
164	164
165	165	(9) PROVIDE REASONABLE AN D ADEQUATE SECURITY OF THE 16
166	166	PROGRAM SITE AND EQUI PMENT; 17
167	167
168	168	(10) ESTABLISH A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PROGRAM STAFF 18
169	169	MEMBERS WHO ARE AUTH ORIZED TO ACCESS DRU G ADMINISTRATION SUP PLIES AND 19
170	170	PROGRAM RECORDS ; AND 20
171	171
172	172	(11) TRAIN STAFF MEMBERS T O DELIVER SERVICES O FFERED BY THE 21
173	173	PROGRAM. 22
174	174
175	175	(B) A PROGRAM MAY : 23
176	176
177	177	(1) WITH THE CONSENT OF T HE INDIVIDUAL, BILL THE INSURANCE 24
178	178	CARRIER OF AN INDIVI DUAL WHO USES THE SE RVICES OF THE PROGRAM FOR THE 25
179	179	COST OF COVERED SERVICES ; 26
180	180
181	181	(2) ACCEPT DONATIONS , GRANTS, OR OTHER FINANCIAL 27
182	182	ASSISTANCE; 28
183	183	SENATE BILL 83 5
184	184
185	185
186	186	(3) APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OR ANY NON PROFIT 1
187	187	OR OTHER PRIVATE ORG ANIZATION; 2
188	188
189	189	(4) COORDINATE WITH ANY S UBSTANCE USE PREVENT ION AND 3
190	190	OUTREACH PROGRAM , SYRINGE SERVICES PROGRAM , OR COMMUNITY –BASED 4
191	191	ORGANIZATION ; AND 5
192	192
193	193	(5) USE A MOBILE FACILITY TO OPERATE AND PROVI DE SERVICES. 6
194	194
195	195	(C) A PROGRAM MAY NOT BE LO CATED IN AN AREA THA T IS ZONED FOR 7
196	196	RESIDENTIAL USES . 8
197	197
198	198	24–2504. 9
199	199
200	200	(A) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ACTING IN ACCORDANC E WITH THE 10
201	201	PROVISIONS OF THIS S UBTITLE MAY NOT BE S UBJECT TO ARREST , PROSECUTION , 11
202	202	OR ANY CIVIL OR ADMI NISTRATIVE PENALTY , INCLUDING A CIVIL PE NALTY OR 12
203	203	DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY A PROFESSIONAL LI CENSING BOARD , OR BE DENIED ANY 13
204	204	RIGHT OR PRIVILEGE F OR INVOLVEMEN T IN THE OPERATION O R USE OF SERVICES 14
205	205	OF THE PROGRAM: 15
206	206
207	207	(1) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO USE S SERVICES OF A PROGRAM; 16
208	208
209	209	(2) A STAFF MEMBER OF A PROGRAM, INCLUDING A HEALTH C ARE 17
210	210	PROFESSIONAL , A MANAGER, AN EMPLOYEE , OR A VOLUNTEER ; AND 18
211	211
212	212	(3) A PROPERTY OWNER WHO O WNS THE FACILITY AT WH ICH A 19
213	213	PROGRAM IS LOCATED AN D OPERATES. 20
214	214
215	215	(B) A PROPERTY OWNER , A MANAGER, AN EMPLOYEE , A VOLUNTEER , OR AN 21
216	216	INDIVIDUAL USING THE SERVICES OF A PROGRAM AND ACTING IN ACCORDANCE 22
217	217	WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE SUBJECT UNDER STATE OR 23
218	218	LOCAL LAW TO THE SEI ZURE OR FORFEITURE O F ANY REAL OR PERSON AL 24
219	219	PROPERTY USED IN CON NECTION WITH A PROGRAM. 25
220	220
221	221	24–2505. 26
222	222
223	223	NOTWITHSTANDING THE P ROVISIONS OF § 24–2504 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A 27
224	224	PROPERTY OWNER , A MANAGER, AN EMPLOYEE , A VOLUNTEER , OR AN INDIVIDUAL 28
225	225	USING THE SERVICES O F A PROGRAM IS NOT IMMUNE FROM CRIMINAL 29
226	226	PROSECUTION FOR ANY ACTIVITIES NOT AUTHO RIZED OR APPROVED BY THE 30
227	227	PROGRAM. 31
228	228	6 SENATE BILL 83
229	229
230	230
231	231	24–2506. 1
232	232
233	233	ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER 2
234	234	THIS SUBTITLE SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3
235	235	2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE 4
236	236	AND THE HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE A REPORT 5
237	237	THAT INCLUDES THE FO LLOWING INFORMATION : 6
238	238
239	239	(1) THE NUMBER OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND THE NUMBER OF 7
240	240	TIMES A PARTICIPANT USED THE PROGRAM’S SERVICES; 8
241	241
242	242	(2) AGGREGATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEMOGR APHIC 9
243	243	PROFILE OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ; 10
244	244
245	245	(3) THE NUMBER OF : 11
246	246
247	247	(I) ITEMS DISTRIBUTED FOR DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR USE 12
248	248	ON–SITE, INCLUDING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES AND SYRINGES ; AND 13
249	249
250	250	(II) OVERDOSES EXPERIENCED ON–SITE AND OVERDOSES 14
251	251	REVERSED ON –SITE; 15
252	252
253	253	(4) THE NUMBER OF INDIVID UALS WHO RECEIVED OV ERDOSE CARE 16
254	254	AND THE TYPE AND NUM BER OF RESCUE DRUGS USED; 17
255	255
256	256	(5) THE NUMBER OF INDIVID UALS REFERRED BY THE PROGRAM TO 18
257	257	OTHER SERVICES AND T HE TYPE OF SERVICE T O WHICH THE INDIVIDU ALS WERE 19
258	258	REFERRED; AND 20
259	259
260	260	(6) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 21
261	261	IS NECESSARY FOR ASS ESSING THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. 22
262	262
263	263	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this A ct shall take effect July 23
264	264	1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and, at the end of June 30, 2029, 24
265	265	this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 25
266	266	of no further force and effect. 26
267	267