2019 SESSION OF THE
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
| | | |
| 2019 SESSION OF THE |
| Volume 25, Number 1 | January 16, 2019 |
Here are some of the hot issues as the 2019 Legislative Session develops:
Session Opens
Lobbying Reminder
2019 Session
The Maryland General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 9, for its 439th Legislative Session. In addition to enacting the state’s operating and capital budgets, the legislature will consider upwards of 2500 pieces of legislation; 127 bills have been introduced in just the first day of session.
Some dates of major legislative importance include:
We will use this email as a tool to keep you abreast of legislative proposals, which may affect Johns Hopkins, and welcome any feedback you may have. If you would like to assist an elected official or advocacy group in any way, please contact our Annapolis office at 410-269-0057. We can provide practical guidance in all aspects of the policy-making process and anticipate any political landmines to ensure you are well-prepared. It is also possible that your participation may be construed as lobbying and/or as setting forth the position of Johns Hopkins. Unless you are explicitly authorized in advance to speak on behalf of Johns Hopkins, all testimony should be given on a personal basis, should not use Johns Hopkins letterhead, and should include the following disclaimer: “The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Johns Hopkins University (or The Johns Hopkins Health System, as applicable).”
Lobbying Reminder
As not-for-profit, tax-exempt entities, The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation (JHHS) are required to comply with certain lobbying disclosure laws and ethics rules, and are prohibited as institutions from endorsing candidates or participating in political campaigns.
2019 Session
This week’s new bills of interest to the Johns Hopkins community:
BILLS INTRODUCED
CRF HB27 Clean Indoor Air Act - Use of Electronic Cigarette Devices - Prohibition Altering the Clean Indoor Air Act to include a prohibition of the use of a certain electronic cigarette device under certain circumstances; defining the term "electronic cigarette device" as an electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption to an individual to simulate smoking through the inhalation of vapor or aerosol from the device; etc. Hearing Date: Tue 1/22 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] SB51 Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Target Investment Zones - Repeal Repealing the identification and use of "target investment zones" by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority for certain acquisition and development grants in certified heritage areas; removing a restriction on certain areas within which the Authority may make certain grants; and repealing the definition of "target investment zone". Hearing Date: Tue 2/5 1:00 PM Effective Date: July 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB41/SB88 Student Debt Relief Act of 2019 Establishing a Maryland Promise Plus Scholarship program to provide tuition assistance to certain students attending eligible State institutions; establishing eligibility requirements to include limitations on gross income levels under certain circumstances; providing for an annual scholarship award of no more than $10,000 per recipient; providing the scholarship be converted to a loan under certain circumstances; allowing a subtraction modification for a certain amount of interest paid on student loans; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: July 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] SB17 State Grants and Contracts - Reimbursement of Nonprofit Indirect Costs - Application Applying a certain provision of law related to the reimbursement of indirect costs incurred by certain nonprofit organizations to certain grants and contracts; providing that a certain provision of law does not require the reimbursement of indirect costs incurred under certain grants and contracts during any fiscal year that began before October 1, 2018; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: June 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB15 Health Insurance - Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders - Coverage Requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, beginning on January 1, 2020, to provide services for certain pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders under certain circumstances; requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations that provide certain health insurance benefits under certain insurance policies or contracts to provide coverage for certain diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of certain pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: January 1, 2020 HB49 Recoupment of the Health Insurance Provider Fee - Calculation Clarifying that the amounts on which a certain assessment is calculated for the purpose of recouping a certain health insurance provider fee are for insurance products that are subject to a certain provision of federal law and may be subject to an assessment by the State; requiring that the calculation of the assessment be made without regard to threshold limits established in a certain provision of the Affordable Care Act or the partial exclusion of net premiums provided for in a certain provision of the Affordable Care Act; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: Upon Enactment SB28 Health Insurance - Coverage Requirements for Behavioral Health Disorders - Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance Altering the definition of "health benefit plan" as it applies to certain provisions of law related to coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and emotional, drug use, and alcohol use disorders to include short-term limited duration health insurance. Hearing Date: Wed 1/30 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 SB30 Insurance - Breach of Security of a Computer System - Notification Requirement Requiring certain insurance carriers to notify the Maryland Insurance Commissioner in a certain manner of the occurrence of a breach of the security of a system; requiring a carrier to provide the notice as promptly as possible but not later than 72 hours after a certain determination; providing that compliance with certain provisions of the Act does not relieve a carrier from a duty to comply with certain requirements of federal law or certain provisions of State law relating to the protection of personal information; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: October 1, 2019 SB45 Health Care Provider Malpractice Insurance - Authorization to Settle - Clarification Altering the settlement provision required to be included in policies of health care malpractice insurance to clarify that the insurer is authorized, without restriction, to negotiate and effect a compromise of claims unless the settlement amount exceeds the limits of the insurer's liability. Hearing Date: Wed 1/23 2:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 SB47 Health Insurance - Technical Correction and Required Conformity With Federal Law Repealing an obsolete provision of law relating to certification of creditable coverage; requiring a certain carrier to provide an open enrollment period for certain individuals who lose access to health care services through certain coverage provided to a pregnant woman's unborn child; and requiring a certain carrier to provide an open enrollment period for certain individuals who lived in a service area where a certain qualified health plan was not available during a certain period of time. Hearing Date: Thu 1/10 1:30 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 SB48 Health Insurance - Referral to Specialists - Definition of Provider Panel Altering the definition of "provider panel" to mean the providers that contract with a carrier either directly or through a subcontracting entity to provide health care services to enrollees of the carrier. Hearing Date: Wed 1/30 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB41/SB88 Student Debt Relief Act of 2019 Establishing a Maryland Promise Plus Scholarship program to provide tuition assistance to certain students attending eligible State institutions; establishing eligibility requirements to include limitations on gross income levels under certain circumstances; providing for an annual scholarship award of no more than $10,000 per recipient; providing the scholarship be converted to a loan under certain circumstances; allowing a subtraction modification for a certain amount of interest paid on student loans; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: July 1, 2019 SB108 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Qualified Higher Education Expenses - Annual Limitation Increasing, from $2,500 to $5,000, the maximum amount allowed in a taxable year as a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for advance payments of certain qualified higher education expenses made by an account holder or a contributor under a Maryland Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer Prepaid College Trust contract; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018. Hearing Date: Wed 1/30 2:00 PM Effective Date: July 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB38 Labor and Employment - Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses Providing that certain noncompete and conflict of interest provisions that restrict the ability of an employee to enter into employment with a new employer or to become self-employed in the same or similar business or trade are null and void as being against the public policy of the State; and applying the Act. Hearing Date: Thu 1/24 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 HB56/SB38 Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Employers With On-Site Health Clinics - Exemption Exempting from certain provisions of law governing earned sick and safe leave certain employees who regularly work at facilities at which the employer offers the employees access to an on-site health clinic that has operating costs of at least $1,000,000 per year and provides access to discounted prescription drugs; etc. Hearing Date: Thu 1/24 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 SB38/HB56 Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Employers With On-Site Health Clinics - Exemption Exempting from certain provisions of law governing earned sick and safe leave certain employees who regularly work at facilities at which the employer offers the employees access to an on-site health clinic that has operating costs of at least $1,000,000 per year and provides access to discounted prescription drugs; etc. Hearing Date: Thu 1/31 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB17 Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission - Food Containing Medical Cannabis Requiring the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission to allow certain dispensaries and dispensary agents to acquire, possess, process, transfer, transport, sell, distribute, or dispense food containing medical cannabis for use by a qualifying patient or caregiver; requiring the Commission to allow certain processors and processor agents to acquire, possess, process, package, label, transfer, transport, sell, and distribute to a dispensary food containing cannabis for use by a qualifying patient or caregiver; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: October 1, 2019 HB18 Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission - Certifying Providers Altering the definition of "certifying provider" to include certain physical therapists, psychologists, and physician assistants; and altering the membership of the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission. Hearing Date: Effective Date: October 1, 2019 SB9 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Expenses of Medical Cannabis Grower, Processor, Dispensary, or Independent Testing Laboratory Allowing a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for certain expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on a trade or business as a certain medical cannabis grower, processor, dispensary, or independent testing laboratory; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018. Hearing Date: Thu 1/17 1:45 PM Effective Date: July 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB15 Health Insurance - Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders - Coverage Requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, beginning on January 1, 2020, to provide services for certain pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders under certain circumstances; requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations that provide certain health insurance benefits under certain insurance policies or contracts to provide coverage for certain diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of certain pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: January 1, 2020 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB43/SB90 Elections - Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment - Commission and Process Establishing the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Commission as an independent unit of State government; providing for the intent of the General Assembly regarding legislative and congressional redistricting; requiring the members of the Redistricting Commission to be selected by March 1, 2021 and each year ending in the number one thereafter; requiring the Redistricting Commission to conduct a certain selection process, establish certain districts, and conduct its business in a certain manner; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: SB110 Congressional Districts - Standards Proposing an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to require congressional districts to conform to certain standards and that due regard be given to natural boundaries and boundaries of political subdivisions; and submitting the amendment to the qualified voters of the State for their adoption or rejection. Hearing Date: Effective Date: [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB27 Clean Indoor Air Act - Use of Electronic Cigarette Devices - Prohibition Altering the Clean Indoor Air Act to include a prohibition of the use of a certain electronic cigarette device under certain circumstances; defining the term "electronic cigarette device" as an electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption to an individual to simulate smoking through the inhalation of vapor or aerosol from the device; etc. Hearing Date: Tue 1/22 1:00 PM Effective Date: October 1, 2019 HB33 Medical Cannabis - Provider Applications - Opioid Use Disorder Encouraging the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission to approve provider applications for patients who have an opioid use disorder. Hearing Date: Effective Date: October 1, 2019 HB35 Public Health - Opioid Maintenance Therapy Programs - Medical Director Requirement and Qualifications Requiring an opioid maintenance therapy program to have a medical director who is a physician and has 2 years of experience providing services to individuals who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs, including at least 1 year of experience in the treatment of opioid addiction with opioid maintenance therapy; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: October 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] HB31 Baltimore City - Weapons on School Property - School Resource Officer Providing that the prohibition on carrying or possessing a firearm, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on public school property does not apply to a school resource officer who is assigned to a public school in Baltimore City and is on public school property in Baltimore City. Hearing Date: Effective Date: July 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] SB17 State Grants and Contracts - Reimbursement of Nonprofit Indirect Costs - Application Applying a certain provision of law related to the reimbursement of indirect costs incurred by certain nonprofit organizations to certain grants and contracts; providing that a certain provision of law does not require the reimbursement of indirect costs incurred under certain grants and contracts during any fiscal year that began before October 1, 2018; etc. Hearing Date: Effective Date: June 1, 2019 [GO TO TOP] [GO TO BILL LIST] SB9 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Expenses of Medical Cannabis Grower, Processor, Dispensary, or Independent Testing Laboratory Allowing a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for certain expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on a trade or business as a certain medical cannabis grower, processor, dispensary, or independent testing laboratory; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018. Hearing Date: Thu 1/17 1:45 PM Effective Date: July 1, 2019 SB108 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Qualified Higher Education Expenses - Annual Limitation Increasing, from $2,500 to $5,000, the maximum amount allowed in a taxable year as a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for advance payments of certain qualified higher education expenses made by an account holder or a contributor under a Maryland Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer Prepaid College Trust contract; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018. Hearing Date: Wed 1/30 2:00 PM Effective Date: July 1, 2019 Legislative Session Office Legislative Hotline is a service of Johns Hopkins Government Affairs. © 2019 The Johns Hopkins Institutions. Baltimore, Maryland.
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Economic & Community Development
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Financial Aid
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General Business
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Health Insurance/Health Care Access
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Higher Education
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Labor & Employment
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Marijuana
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Medicaid
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Miscellaneous
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Public Health
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Public Safety
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Research
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Tax Policy
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STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact Government Relations if you have concerns or would like additional information. Your input assists us greatly in evaluating and formulating the position of Johns Hopkins on all legislation.
47 State Circle, Suite 203
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-269-0057
fax 410-269-1574
Patrick Carlson patrick.carlson@jhu.edu Mary Clapsaddle mary.clapsaddle@jhu.edu Annie Coble anne.coble@jhu.edu Mickey Geisler mgeisler@jhu.edu Sally Guy sally.guy@jhu.edu Sheila Higdon shigdon@jhmi.edu
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ACRONYMS
Office of Government and Community Affairs.