2005 Legislative Action - House Bills

Here you will find a running list of bills considered by MedChi's Legislative Committee, with positions taken by the committee and status of each. It is updated weekly during the legislative session (January 12-April 11, 2005) and derived from Legislative Committee Agendas.  Go to Legislative Action to sign up for up-to-the-minute e-mail alerts,  find and contact your legislators, write a letter to the media, or find biographical information on your legislators.

Full text and status of each bill is available by clicking on the bill number listed in the following chart. (You will need to be able to view RTF documents.)

There is also a wealth of knowledge about the Maryland General Assembly available at their homepage.  Contact your legislator by entering your zip code in the box on the right.

Contact MedChi's Annapolis Office for more information.

More Information

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Senate bills

Testimony

2006 Legislative Initiatives

Legislative committee agenda

Legislative committee members

HOUSE BILLS - 2005 SESSION

FINAL - Updated June 24, 2008

The action indicated is the action of the Legislative Committee and not necessarily the final position of MedChi. All information is accurate as of publication date. Hearing dates are subject to change, call to confirm.

Key to Abbreviations:
SWA: Support with Amendments (legislative committee took no action on these bills)
NP No Position
HB House Bill
SB Senate Bill
POS: Position

2005 House Bills

Bill No. Title Position Status
HB 7 Community Access Program Grants- Coordination of Health Care Provider Reimbursements- Sunset Extension for Pilot Program, Delegate Donoghue Support Bill Failed
HB 8 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene- Mental Health Services- Cost-of-Living Adjustment, Delegates Gaines et all FYI Bill Failed
HB 14 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene- Prenatal Dietary Supplement Distribution Program, Delegate Taylor No Position Bill Failed
HB 21 Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Program Facilities- Automated External Defibrillator, Delegate Cosa No Position Bill Failed
HB 36 Vehicle Laws- Motor Scooters and Mopeds- Helmets and Eye-Protective Equipment for Operators and Riders, Delegate Arnick Support the concept Bill Failed
HB 48 Patient Protection Insurance, Delegate Boschert Support the concept Bill Failed
HB 52 Maryland Association Health Plan Act, Delegate Boschert No Position Bill Failed
HB 53 Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Maryland Children's health Program- Guaranteed Eligibility and Reenrollment, Delegates Pendergrass, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 54 Health- Clinical Trials Data Bank, Delegates Pendergrass, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 55 Medical Professional Liability Insurance- Consideration Paid to Insurance Producers- Limitations, Delegates Pendergrass, et al Oppose Bill Failed
HB 85 Maryland Medical Assistance Program- Medical Loss Ratio- Appeals, Delegate Hubbard FYI Signed, Chapter 193
HB 86 Public Health- Children and Pregnant Women- Mercury and Heavy Metal-Free Vaccines and Injections, Delegate Gilleland Oppose Bill Failed
HB 88 State Board of Examiners in Optometry- Regulation of Optometric Care, Delegate Weldon Oppose Bill Failed
HB 90 Department of Legislative Services- Fiscal Notes- Public Health System Impact Note, Delegate Nathan-Pulliam No Position Bill Failed
HB 113 Health Care Malpractice- Emergency Medical Care- Good Samaritan Immunity, Delegate Zirkin, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 114 Evidence- Health Care Malpractice- Certain Statements and Conduct, Delegates Zirkin, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 115 Health Care Malpractice Claims- Division of Lawyers' Fees- Prohibition, Delegates Zirkin, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 143 Education- Public Schools- Use of Asthma Drugs and Related Medication, Delegates Healey, et al Support with amendments Signed, Chapter 196
HB 153 Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2002- Dorchester County- Dorchester General Hospital Loan of 2002, Delegate Eckardt FYI Signed, Chapter 31
HB 155 Creation of a State Debt- Baltimore County- Northwest Hospital Center, Delegates Jones, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 157 Medical Professional Liability Insurance- Reporting Requirements, Chairman, Economic Matters Committee No position Bill Failed
HB 163 Child Care Center and Family Day Care Homes- Employees- Background Checks, Delegates Krebs, et al FYI Signed, Chapter 359
HB 176 Prescription Drugs- Senior Citizens- Purchasing Outside the State, Delegate Hixson FYI Bill Failed
HB 177 Health Care Facilities- Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes- Additional Duties and Sunset Extension, Delegate Hixson FYI Bill Failed
HB 186 Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2002- Western Maryland Health System Project, Allegany County Delegation FYI Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 194 Health Care Malpractice Claims- Collateral Sources, Delegates Zirkin, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 195 Prescription Drugs- Label with Audible Capability, Delegate Hixson FYI Bill Failed
HB 199 Hospital Infections Disclosure Act, Delegates Pendergrass, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 201 Creation of a State Debt- Mercy Medical Center, Delegates Hammen, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 203 Income Tax Credit for Services Donated by Health Professionals, Delegates Hixson, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 231 Prescription Drugs- Canadian Mail Order Plan, Delegate Rudolph FYI Bill Failed
HB 233 Public Health- Legibility of Prescriptions Workgroup- Reports, Delegates Boutin and Mandel No Position Signed, Chapter 43
HB 238 Creation of a State Debt- Charles County- Civista Medical Center, Delegates Jameson, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 250 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene- Federally Qualified Health Centers Grant Program, The Speaker and Delegates Aumann, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 254 Department of Human Resources- Disclosure of Information- Hospitals and Birthing Centers, The Speaker and Delegates Arnick, et al FYI Signed, Chapter 279
HB 267 Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunizations, Delegates Hubbard, et al Support Signed, Chapter 200
HB 268 Mortality and Quality Review Committee- Serious Incidents, Delegates Hubbard, et al Support with amendments Bill Failed
HB 273 Health Care Malpractice Claims- Past Medical Expenses, Delegate Zirkin Support Bill Failed
HB 274 Health Care Malpractice- Time Limits- Minors, Delegate Zirkin Support Bill Failed
HB 277 Health Care Malpractice Actions- Attesting Experts- Qualifications, Delegates Zirkin and Bohanan Support Bill Failed
HB 279 Income Tax- Subtraction Modification for Contributions to Health Savings Account, Delegates Costa, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 281 Creation of a State Debt- Atlantic General Hospital, Delegates Bozman and Conway FYI Bill Failed
HB 288 Creation of a State Debt- Baltimore County- Mental Health Community Rehabilitation Center, Delegates Cardin, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 294 Reimbursement of Health Care Providers- Sunset Repeal, Delegate Donoghue Support Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 301 Maryland Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, The Speaker and Delegates Arnick, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 303 Health Insurance- Mandated Benefits- Smoking Cessation Treatment, Delegates Morhaim, et al Support Signed, Chapter 365
HB 309 State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board, Delegates Nathan-Pulliam, et al FYI Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 310 Labor and Employment- Payment of Overtime- Registered Nurses, Delegates Nathan-Pulliam, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 317 Prescription Drug Repository Program, Delegate Hammen Support Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 319 Creation of a State Debt- Calvert County- Calvert Hospice House, Delegates O'Donnell, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 324 Senior Prescription Drug Program- Modifications, Delegate Hammen Support Signed, Chapter 282
HB 344 Safe Nurse Staffing for Quality Care Act, Delegates V. Turner, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 345 Health- Hospital Summary Financial Statement- Physician Charges, Delegates V. Turner Support Signed, Chapter 204
HB 351 Medical Laboratories- Whistleblower Protection and Regulation, Delegate Donoghue No Position Bill Failed
HB 366 Prescription Drugs- Price Controls, Delegates Boutin and Morhaim FYI Bill Failed
HB 384 Worker's Compensation- Evaluation of Permanent Impairments, Delegates Krysiak, et al Oppose Signed, Chapter 371
HB 385 Creation of a State Debt- Adventist Health Care, Delegates Gordon, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 399 State Board of Nursing- Miscellaneous Provisions, Delegates Nathan-Pulliam, et al No Position Signed, Chapter 206
HB 422 Health Insurance- Small Group Market- Small Employer Criteria and Cancellation and Nonrenewal Procedures, Delegate Hurson No Position Bill Failed
HB 423 Hospitals- Free and Reduced-Cost Care, Delegate Hurson FYI Bill Failed
HB 426 Hospitals- Emergency Department Services- Satellite Locations, Delegates Hurson, et al No Position Signed, Chapter 549
HB 427 Maryland Commission on Specialty Health Group Rates and Terms, Delegate Hurson Support Bill Failed
HB 428 Clean Indoor Air Act of 2005, Delegates Frush, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 431 Health Occupations- Practicing Without License- Penalties, Delegates Mandel, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 433 Task Force on Administrative Compensation for Birth-Related Neurological Injury, Delegates Morhaim, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 434 Health General, Delegate Morhaim FYI Signed, Chapter 210
HB 450 Vehicle Laws- Protective Headgear Requirement for Motorcycle Riders- Exceptions, Delegates Conway, et al Oppose Bill Failed
HB 452 Health Benefit Plans- Reimbursement to Health Care Practitioners, Delegates Hammen, et al Support with amendments Bill Failed
HB 458 Health Insurance- Coverage for Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing, Delegate Hammen No Position Signed, Chapter 375
HB 462 Health Insurance- Treatment of Morbid Obesity, Delegates Goldwater, et al No Position Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 469 Health Insurance- Health Savings Accounts- High Deductible Health Plans, Delegate Costa Support the concept Bill Failed
HB 485 Health Care Malpractice- Periodic Payments, Delegates Zirkin, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 489 Worker's Compensation Commission- Decisions and Orders- Requirements, Delegates Miller, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 499 Health Care Malpractice Claims- Structured Settlements and Annuities, Delegates Morhaim Bill to be withdrawn Bill Failed
HB 504 Maryland Prostate Cancer Research Fund- Income Tax Checkoff, Delegates Oaks, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 509 Health Insurance- Small Group Market- Open Enrollment Period for Self-Insured Individuals, Delegate Dumais No Position Bill Failed
HB 512 Medical Injury Compensation- Claimant Recovery, Delegates Bates, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 515 Worker's Compensation- Evaluation of Permanent Impairments, Delegate Wood Support Bill Failed
HB 521 Public Schools- School Nutrition Program, Delegates Stern, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 565 Hospitals- Bone Marrow Donation, Delegates Bobo, et al FYI Signed, Chapter 382
HB 579 Pilot Program to Study and Improve Screening Practices for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Delegates Donoghue, et al No Position Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 609 Long-Term Care Facilities and Hospitals- Reporting Deaths of Long-Term Care Facility Residents, Delegates Goldwater, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 611 Health Occupations- Podiatrists- Scope of Practice, Delegates Bromwell and Donoghue No position at the request of MOA Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 627 Community Health Care Access and Safety Net Act of 2005, Delegates Hurson, et al Support with Amendments Signed, Chapter 280
HB 698 Crimes- Video and Computer Games Rated "Mature" or "For Adults Only"- Prohibition on Sale or Rental to Minor, Delegates Zirkin, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 705 Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2003- Doctors Community Hospital, Delegates Healey, et al FYI Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 719 Health Occupations- State Board of Examiners in Optometry- Scope of Practice, Delegates Pendergrass, et al Oppose Signed, Chapter 391
HB 734 Creation of a State Debt- Allegany County- Allegany County Health Department Renovation, Allegany County Delegation FYI Bill Failed
HB 735 Controlled Dangerous Substances- Schedule III and Schedule IV Substances- Prescriptions and Refills, Delegates Sophocleus, et al Oppose Unless Amended Bill Failed
HB 737 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene- Licenses and Eligibility for State Funding- Minimum Standards, Delegates Cost and Hubbard FYI Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 742 Public Health- Abortion- Parental Notice, Delegates Bohanan, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 747 Mental Health Safety Net Restoration Act of 2005, Delegates Hammen, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 758 Retirement and Pensions- Reemployment of Retired Health Care Practitioners, Delegates Eckardt, et al FYI Signed, Chapter 395
HB 788 Commercial Law- Antitrust- Business of Insurance, Delegate D. Davis FYI Signed, Chapter 239
HB 791 Health Care Disclosure Act, Delegates Benson, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 795 Consent Provisions- Minors- Mental or Emotional Disorder, Delegate Hammen FYI Bill Failed
HB 796 Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services- Establishment, Membership, and Duties, Delegates Hammen and Pendergrass FYI Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 813 Income Tax- Surcharge for Lack of Health Care Coverage, Delegates Elliot, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 814 Circuit Courts- Medical Malpractice Review Panel Pilot Program, Delegates Zirkin, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 819 Volunteer Health Care Practitioners- Liability, Delegates Elliot, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 823 Circuit Courts- Medical Injury- Medical Malpractice Review Panel, Delegates Zirkin and Morhaim Support Bill Failed
HB 827 Hospitals- HIV Testing- Consent- Court Order, Delegates Morhaim, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 835 Wholesale Prescription Drug and Device Distribution Protection and Licensing Act of 2005, Delegates Stern, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 845 Family Law- Child Abuse or Neglect- Failure to Report- Penalty, Delegates Kelley, et al Oppose Bill Failed
HB 857 Creation of a State Debt- Montgomery County- Mercy Health Clinic, Delegates Barkley, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 877 Medicaid Quality Improvement Act of 2005, Delegates Nathan-Pulliam, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 883 Income Tax- Subtraction Modification for Health Insurance and Medical Expenses, Delegates Hixson, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 885 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005, Delegates Anderson, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 890 Health Care Malpractice Claims- Physician Assistants, Delegates Morhaim and Petzold Support Bill Failed
HB 908 Creation of a State Debt- Washington County- Community Free Clinic, Washington County Delegation FYI Bill Failed
HB 925 Health Insurance- Health Care Provider Credentialing Process, Delegate Donoghue Support Bill Failed
HB 926 State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners- Physical Therapists and Assistants- Qualifications and Scope of License, Delegate Donoghue FYI Signed, Chapter 80
HB 948 Maryland Assault Weapons Ban of 2005, Delegates Quinter, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 953 Prescription Drugs- Preferred Drug List- Price, Delegate Gilleland FYI Bill Failed
HB 955 Health Insurance- Premium Tax on Health Maintenance Organization- Repeal, Delegates O'Donnell and Edwards No Position Bill Failed
HB 990 Maryland Medical Assistance Program- Institutions for the Treatment of Mental Disease- Suspension of Benefits, Delegates Hubbard and Rosenberg No Position Signed, Chapter 82
HB 991 Mortality and Quality Review Committee- Serious Incidents, Delegates Hubbard, et al Support with Amendments Bill Failed
HB 992 Circuit Courts- Interlocutory Orders- Right of Appeal, Delegates Trueschler, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 1004 Public Power of Attorney- Health Care Decisions, Delegates Smigiel FYI Bill Failed
HB 1017 Health Insurance- Small Group Market- Premium Rates, Delegates Kach, et al Oppose Signed, Chapter 409
HB 1020 Health Care Practices and Facilities- Closure- Patient Medical Records, Delegates Bobo, et al Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1022 Maryland Polysomnography Act, Delegate Benson Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1025 State Board of Physicians- Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals, Delegates Hammen and Frank Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1034 Task Force to Study the Reorganization of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Delegate C. Davis FYI Bill Failed
HB 1060 Cancer Drug Repository Program, Delegates Rudolph, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 1087 Health Occupations- License Waiver- Pro Bono Services of Federal Employees, Delegates Hurson, et al Oppose unless amended Bill Failed
HB 1089 Health Insurance- Mandated Benefits- Exclusions for Preexisting Conditions, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee No Position Bill Failed
HB 1090 Discount Medical Plan Organizations and Discount Drug Plan Organizations- Registration and Regulation, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee Support with amendments Bill Failed
HB 1091 Health Insurance- Prohibition Against Reunderwriting, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee Support Bill Failed
HB 1098 Vehicle Laws- Medical Advisory Board- Safe Operation of Motor Vehicles, Delegates Mandel, et al Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1099 Statewide Commission on the Nursing Workforce, Delegates Mandel et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 1143 Maryland Pharmacy Discount Program- Expansion- State Discount, Delegates Rudolph, et al FYI Signed, Chapter 418
HB 1144 Public-Private Partnership for Health Coverage for all Marylanders, Delegates Hubbard, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 1145 Public Health- Licensed Pharmacists- Emergency Contraception Dispensing Program, Delegates Hubbard, et al No Position Bill Failed
HB 1171 Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Commission, Delegates Sophocleus Support the concept Bill Failed
HB 1182 Insurance- Rate Filings- Prior Approval, Delegates Gordon and Krysiak No Position Bill Failed
HB 1183 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005, Delegates Rosenberg, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 1185 Courts - Trial Jury Improvement Act of 2005, Delegates Shewell et al Support Signed, Chapter 596
HB 1193 Health Care Malpractice- Medical Experts- Maintaining or Defending Claim or Action in Bad Faith or Without Substantial Justification, Delegates Shank, et al Support with amendments Bill Failed
HB 1200 Civil Proceedings and Medical Injury Claims- Venue, Witnesses, and Evidence, Delegates Barve, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 1210 Health- Immunizations- Exemptions from Immunization Requirements, Delegates Dwyer Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1212 Courts- Medical Injury Claims- Damages, Delegates Barve, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 1215 Courts- Medical Injury Recoveries- Attorney's Fees, Delegates Barve, et al Support Bill Failed
HB 1227 Income Tax- Subtraction Modification for Uncompensated Care, Delegates Shank and Myers Support with amendments Bill Failed
HB 1230 Courts- Health Care Injuries- Standard of Proof for Liability for Emergency Care, Delegates Shank, et al Support the concept Bill Failed
HB 1263 Maryland Medbank Program- Grants from Nonprofit Health Service Plans, Delegate Donoghue FYI Signed, Chapter 425
HB 1284 Fair Share Health Care Fund Act, Delegates Healey, et al No Position Vetoed, Policy. Veto overridden, Chap 3 of 2006 session
HB 1287 Maryland Rx Program, Delegate Rudolph FYI Signed, Chapter 428
HB 1289 Workers' Compensation- Evaluation of Permanent Impairments- Social Workers, Delegates McHale, et al Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1315 Maryland Birth Defects Program- Authority to Obtain Medical Information, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee Support Bill Failed
HB 1316 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene- Office of the Inspector General- Health Program Integrity and Recovery Act, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee Oppose Bill Failed
HB 1320 Health Care Facilities and Laboratories- Accreditation Organizations and Deeming, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee No Position Bill Failed
HB 1328 Health Insurance- Authority of Maryland Health Insurance Plan, Chairman, Health and Government Operations Committee No Position Bill Failed
HB 1341 Public Health- Child Abuse and Neglect Centers of Excellence Initiative, Delegate Hurson Support Vetoed, Duplicative
HB 1356 Public Health- Adult Stem Cell Research Program, Delegates Shewell FYI Bill Failed
HB 1359 Maryland Patients' Access to Quality Health Care Act of 2004- Implementation and Corrective Provisions, The Speaker and Delegates D. Davis and Hurson Support Bill Failed
HB 1362 Civil Actions- Limitations on Awards for Noneconomic Damages- Latent Diseases or Injuries, Delegates McComas, et al FYI Bill Failed
HB 1366 Managed Care Organizations- Adjustment to Capitation Payments- Quality Improvement Incentive, Delegates Frank and Boteler No Position Bill Failed
HB 1386 Impairment of Health Care Services Contracts, Delegate Hurson Support the concept Bill Failed
HB 1419 Political Subdivisions- Smoking Regulations- Restriction, Delegates Arnick and Oaks To be determined Bill Fail