THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR EHRLICH
On January 29, 2003, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. gave his first State of the State address. The Governor told
the life stories of five people of Maryland to stress important policy issues of his administration. The first
example was of a commercial fisherman of the Chesapeake Bay emphasizing the need for increased funding for water
and sewage treatment. Another was of a principal, a Puerto Rican immigrant, from a Prince George's County elementary
school. Illustrating her progress from being labeled learning-impaired as a child to an appointee on the President's
Commission on Excellence in Special Education highlighted the Governor's commitment to education while he encouraged
the General Assembly to pass strong charter school legislation.
A third story told of a former heroin addict who received treatment in a religious program illustrated the importance
of more money for drug and alcohol treatment programs as well as the Governor's faith-based initiative. Governor Ehrlich
focused on funding for developmental disabilities, particularly through community-based programs, by describing the life
of a mentally disabled man who had been institutionalized and is now living and working on his own. The final story told
about the life of a 19-year-old Baltimore man, excelling both academically and athletically in high school, who was shot
and killed during a robbery less than a year ago. His story was intended to stress the need to bring Project Exile, a
program meant to dispense stronger sentences to gun criminals, to the State.
Notably absent were any specific references to slots or the budget. Governor Ehrlich stated that those topics had
been discussed and would be further discussed in the days to come, but he wanted to focus on other important issues
such as the environment, education, addiction and mental and development health, and crime.
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BILLS INTRODUCED
General Education
General Health Care
Health Care Facilities
Health Insurance
Higher Education
Mental Health
Pharmaceuticals
Taxes
BILLS INTRODUCED
General Education
SB0075
Public Charter School Act of 2003
This bill establishes an alternative means within the existing public school system in order to
provide innovative learning opportunities, and creative educational approaches to improve the
education of students. Applications to establish public charter schools shall be submitted by the
staff of a public school, parents or guardians of a student who attends public schools, a nonprofit
entity, institution of higher education, or a combination of the above.
Effective Date: October 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Bret Schreiber
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
SB0151
Education - Resident Teacher Corps Pilot Program
This bill establishes the Resident Teacher Corps Pilot Program. The bill allows the State
Superintendent of Schools to award a resident teacher certificate, and professional certificate to
applicants who meet the predetermined criteria. The purpose of the bill is to attract high quality
career-changers to the teaching profession to curtail the shortage, provide an alternative route
into teaching, and to create more flexibility for public school districts. The bill will last for 4 years
before it is no longer in effect.
Effective Date: October 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Bret Schreiber
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
General Health Care
HB0164
Health Occupations Medical Review Committees
This bill expands the category of medical review committees to include the Maryland Patient
Safety Center, which was proposed by the Maryland Health Care Commission.
Effective Date: October 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Sheila Higdon
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
Health Care Facilities
HB0136
Study Panel on the Funding Needs of Regional Trauma Centers - Duties and Sunset
This bill extends the sunset for the Study Panel on the Funding Needs of the Regional Trauma
Centers until December 31, 2003. The bill also requires the panel to review legislative and
regulatory actions relative to the needs of the trauma centers.
Effective Date: Emergency Measure
For more information, please contact:
Jim Kaufman
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
Health Insurance
SB0073
Personal Injury Protection Coverage - Minimum Benefits
This bill increases the minimum medical, hospital, and disability benefit provided by insurers as
part of motor vehicle liability insurance policies from $2,500 to $3,500.
Effective Date: October 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Jim Kaufman
SB0148
Health Insurance - Medical Clinical Trials - Reporting Requirements
At the request of the Maryland Insurance Administration, this bill repeals the requirement that
health insurance providers submit a report to the Insurance Commissioner that describes the
clinical trials covered during the previous year, and repeals the requirement for the Commissioner
to provide a summary annual report to the General Assembly.
Effective Date: June 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Sheila Higdon
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
Higher Education
HB0030
College Savings Plans of Maryland
This bill authorizes the Maryland Higher Education Investment Board to establish new college
savings plans for the purpose of: (1) partnering with private colleges; (2) creating broker or dealer
agreements; and (3) partnering with retail businesses to offer tuition programs to employees.
New programs must be administered in compliance with Internal Revenue Service standards for
qualified state tuition programs, and are subject to the same auditing and reporting requirements
as the existing Maryland Prepaid College Trust (MPCT), and Maryland College Investment Plan. The bill
allows the board to combine the required annual audits and reports for the MPTC, the investment
plan, and any new programs the board establishes.
The bill changes the name of the Maryland Higher Education Investment Board, to the College
Savings Plans of Maryland Board, and establishes the title of College Savings Plans of Maryland,
for the catalog of programs that are administered by the Board. The bill adds the Chancellor of
the University System of Maryland to the Board, and allows the Secretary of Higher Education,
the State Superintendent of Schools, the State Treasurer, and the State Comptroller, to designate
staff members to act as their representatives on the Board. The designees are provided full
voting rights, powers, and duties.
The bill makes additional alterations to the Maryland Prepaid College Trust, and the Maryland
College Investment Plan, in order to align the administration of the two programs. One of these
adjustments prohibits a person, including the State and local government, from seizing any of the
assets from the Maryland College Investment Plan.
Effective Date: July 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Bret Schreiber
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
Mental Health
SB0091
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Mental Health Service - Cost-of-Living
Adjustment
This bill requires a cost of living adjustment for fees paid by the Department of Mental Health
and Hygiene to a community health services provider, or an individual practitioner who contracts
with the Department. The fees are to be adjusted annually by the rate of change in the "medical
component of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers", and the annual rate of change
may not exceed a maximum rate of 5%.
Effective Date: July 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Sheila Higdon
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
Pharmaceuticals
HB0188
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies - Reporting Requirements
This bill requires that by January 1, of each year (beginning in 2005), pharmaceutical
manufacturing companies doing business in Maryland shall submit a report on the value, nature,
and purpose of any gift, fee, payment, subsidy, or any other economic benefit provided directly
or indirectly through marketers, in connection with the following:
- Detailing
- Promotions
- Marketing to physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
The following are exempt from reporting requirements:
- Free samples
- Payment of reasonable compensation & reimbursement of expenses in connection with clinical
trials
- Any gift, fee, payment, subsidy, or other economic benefit less than $25
- Scholarships or other support for medical students, residents, or fellows to attend an
educational, scientific, or policymaking conference
- Any unrestricted grant for continuing medical education.
Any company subject to these reporting requirements shall identify any information considered a
trade secret. This information will be kept confidential unless a court of competent jurisdiction in
a legal proceeding requires disclosure. Any company in violation of this reporting may be fined up
to $10,000 for each violation.
Effective date: July 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Xander
HB0208
Health - Pharmacies - Electronic Reimbursement by the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene
This bill authorizes a pharmacy that is required to submit a request for payment electronically to
the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene under the Maryland Medical Assistance Plan to
receive the reimbursement electronically.
Effective date: October 1, 2003
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Xander
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
Taxes
SB0157
State Grant to Local Government for Tax Exempt Real Property
This bill creates a grant, funded by the State's General Fund, to local governments, and municipal
corporations for the value of real property that would have been subject to property tax for
non-profit hospitals, and non-profit higher educational institutions. The grant to local government
shall equal 77% of the value that would have been imposed.
The bill requires that before May 1, of each year, the Maryland Department of Assessments and
Taxation shall certify the assessed value of exempt real property in the county, or municipal
government and the amount of State grants payable to each jurisdiction. The grants are required
to be paid to the local governments on July 1, of each year.
Effective Date: July 1, 2003 (effective for all fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2004)
For more information, please contact:
Jim Kaufman
[ Go to Bills Introduced]
