Legislative Hotline 2018 SESSION OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Here are some of the hot issues as the 2018 Legislative Session develops:

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BILLS INTRODUCED

General Education

HB1801/SB1226 Primary and Secondary Schools - Armed School Resource Officers

Requiring each public school to have an armed school resource officer present on school grounds during regular school hours on school days; requiring the Department of State Police to assign a State Police officer to a certain public school under certain circumstances; requiring a certain State Police officer to be present on school grounds during regular school hours on school days and to carry a firearm; and authorizing a private school to have an armed school resource officer present on school grounds.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: July 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Mary Clapsaddle

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Health Care Occupations

HB1802 Health Occupations - Licensees, Registrants, and Certificate Holders - Online Listing

Requiring certain health occupations boards to publish on their websites a list of each person issued a license, registration, or certificate by the health occupations board that is accurate and up to date and able to be organized by county or zip code.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

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Higher Education

HB1803/SB1241 Baltimore City - Independent Institutions of Higher Education - Police Force

Authorizing an independent institution of higher education in Baltimore City to establish a campus police force based on a certain memorandum of understanding; authorizing a police officer of a campus police force of an independent institution of higher education in Baltimore City to exercise the powers granted to a peace and police officer only on certain property with certain exceptions; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Mary Clapsaddle

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Labor & Employment

HB1705 Health - Job-Related Drug Testing - Breath Tests for Alcohol

Authorizing employers that require certain job-related drug testing to test a breath specimen using an easily portable evidential breath measurement device for the administration of the test at a work site or certain other testing sites; providing for an exception from a provision that allows certain persons to request independent testing of a certain specimen; authorizing the Maryland Department of Health to adopt certain regulations to govern preliminary screening and alcohol testing using an evidential breath measurement device; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

SB1010/HB1596 Labor and Employment - Sexual Harassment - Contractual Waivers and Reporting Requirements

Providing that a provision in certain employment contracts, policies, or agreements that waive certain rights or remedies to a claim of sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation is null and void as being against the public policy of the State; prohibiting an employer from taking certain adverse actions against certain employees; providing that certain employers are liable for certain attorney's fees; applying the Act; etc.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/15 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

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Pharmaceuticals

SB874 Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission - Secure Transportation Companies

Prohibiting a secure transportation company and a courier of a secure transportation company authorized under certain regulations to transport products containing medical cannabis from being subject to certain arrest, prosecution, or certain penalties or being denied certain rights or privileges based on the transportation of products containing medical cannabis.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/8 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

SB1063/HB1035 Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission - Certifying Providers - Referrals

Requiring, rather than authorizing, a qualifying patient to be a patient of a certain certifying provider or to be referred to the certifying provider, subject to certain conditions; requiring a certain referral to be made by the patient's primary care health care provider or a health care provider who is responsible for the treatment of the patient's medical condition; and prohibiting certain referrals from certain persons or entities.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/22 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

SB1074/HB1290 Health Insurance and Pharmacy Benefits Managers - Reimbursement for and Provision of Pharmacy Services

Authorizing a pharmacist or a pharmacy to decline to dispense a prescription drug or provide a pharmacy service to a member if the amount reimbursed by an insurer, a nonprofit health service plan, or a health maintenance organization is less than the acquisition cost; prohibiting a pharmacy benefits manager from reimbursing a pharmacy or pharmacist for a product or a pharmacy service in an amount less than the amount the pharmacy benefits manager reimburses itself for the same product or pharmacy service; applying the Act; etc.

Hearing Date: Wed 3/21 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

SB1077/HB1376 Pharmacy Benefits - Processing and Adjudication of Claims - Restrictions on Fees

Prohibiting pharmacy benefits managers and certain purchasers from directly or indirectly charging a contracted pharmacy, or holding a contracted pharmacy responsible for, certain fees; and defining "contracted pharmacy".

Hearing Date: Wed 3/21 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

SB1078/HB1348 Medical Cannabis ? Advertising ? Restrictions

Prohibiting a certifying provider, dispensary, processor, or grower or officers, managers, and employees of the certifying provider, dispensary, processor, or grower from cooperating, directly or indirectly, in advertising if the advertising has the purpose or effect of steering or influencing patient or caregiver choice of a certifying provider or approved medical cannabis product; prohibiting an advertisement for cannabis from containing certain statements, offers, or images; etc.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/22 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

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Research

SB1063/HB1035 Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission - Certifying Providers - Referrals

Requiring, rather than authorizing, a qualifying patient to be a patient of a certain certifying provider or to be referred to the certifying provider, subject to certain conditions; requiring a certain referral to be made by the patient's primary care health care provider or a health care provider who is responsible for the treatment of the patient's medical condition; and prohibiting certain referrals from certain persons or entities.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/22 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

SB1078/HB1348 Medical Cannabis ? Advertising ? Restrictions

Prohibiting a certifying provider, dispensary, processor, or grower or officers, managers, and employees of the certifying provider, dispensary, processor, or grower from cooperating, directly or indirectly, in advertising if the advertising has the purpose or effect of steering or influencing patient or caregiver choice of a certifying provider or approved medical cannabis product; prohibiting an advertisement for cannabis from containing certain statements, offers, or images; etc.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/22 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Rianna Matthews-Brown

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