Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Child health and safety - a variety of bills during the 2016 General Assembly session

There are a variety of bills pending in the General Assembly that involve child health and safety in one form or another --- from a variant of Erin's Law (requiring the development of age-appropriate curricula focusing on sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention), to legislation specifying penalties for youth sports coaches who fail to follow concussion awareness and prevention protocols,  and even a bill requiring elementary students to get more physical activity during school hours!

The Student Diabetes Management Program bill is also back this year - a bill that would allow students with diabetes more autonomy to manage their diabetes in school, and would also provide the opportunity for school staff who volunteer to be trained to assist diabetic students.  Currently, only school nurses and school health aides may assist students with diabetes management.

Here are some bills that focus on child health and safety:

HB29  Youth Sports Programs - Concussion prevention – coaching – sponsor Del. Chang
This bill would expand current law on concussion prevention in youth sports programs by requiring the suspension of coaches who violate concussion protocols by allowing an athlete to return to play or practice after a suspected concussion injury without adequate medical clearance. For school sports programs the Act would require the State Board of Education to establish this policy; and all local boards of education to follow it.  The Act also requires non-school based youth sports programs to institute and follow this policy.

Of interest, the fiscal note cites MCPS policy as state-wide best practices that already embody the substance of this bill.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb0029&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee, and had an initial hearing on 1/28– no further action yet.  As of 2/3 there is no Senate cross-file.  Here is a link to the Ways and Means committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:


HB72 Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program - sponsor Del. Luedtke
The bill would require the State Board of Education and specified nonpublic schools to develop and implement a program of age-appropriate education relating to the awareness and prevention of sexual abuse and assault.  This information would be incorporated into the health curriculum and taught by teachers specially trained to deliver the content.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?id=hb0072&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee, and is set for an initial hearing on 2/4.  As of 1/31 there is no Senate cross-file.  Here is a link to the Ways and Means committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=w%26m&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS


HB198 – School Resource Officers -   sponsor Del. Cluster
The bill would require every school district to hire and staff a School Resource Officer for every Maryland public school.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:

The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee, and is set for an initial hearing on 2/11. As of 2/1 there was no Senate crossfile. Here is a link to the Ways and Means committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=w%26m&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS


HB 245/SB310 – Child Abuse and Neglect – Failure to Report -  Del. Dumais
The bill specifies penalties when, during the course of an investigation into a case of suspected child abuse or neglect, an investigating agency suspects that an individual or organization legally required to report suspected abuse failed to do so.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=hb0245&stab=01&ys=2016RS

The bill is assigned to the House Judiciary committee, and is set for an initial hearing on 2/11.  Here is a link to the membership of the Judiciary committee – each name is a hyperlink to the delegate’s contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=jud&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

The Senate crossfile – SB310 -is assigned to the Judicial Proceedings committee. There is a hyperlink to the Senate bill page on the HB245 bill page. As if 2/3 no Senate hearing date has been set. Here is a link to the Judicial Proceedings committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=jpr&tab=subject7&ys=2016RS

HB409 – Providing alcohol to minors - penalty– Alex and Calvin’s Law Del. Fraser-Hidalgo
This bill would increase the penalties for adults who obtain or provide alcohol to minors.


Here’s a link to the bill page on the GA website:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb0409&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

The bill is assigned to the House Judiciary committee. As of 2/2 it does not have a hearing date, and has no Senate cross-file.  Here is a link to the Judiciary committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=jud&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS

HB474 – Elementary Schools – Daily Physical Activity – Del. Walker
The bill would require that all elementary school students be provided a daily program of physical activity totaling 150 minutes each week, a minimum of 90 minutes of which must be physical education.
 
Here’s a link to the bill page on the GA website:

The bill is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee. As of 2/2 it does not have a hearing date, and has no Senate cross-file.  Here is a link to the Ways and Means committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.goEv/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=w%26m&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS


SB71 – Student Diabetes Management Program – Senator Young

This bill requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), to establish guidelines for volunteer school employees to become trained diabetes care providers. Each school system would create a Student Diabetes Management Program that includes training volunteers to become diabetes care providers. Students requiring diabetes care at school must provide a Diabetes Medical Management Plan to the school. If a student’s plan states that the student may independently monitor and treat their diabetes while at school, the student may perform the authorized tasks wherever the student considers necessary, and possess and carry any necessary supplies and equipment.

Here is a link to the bill’s page on the GA website:

The bill is assigned to the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committee, and had an initial hearing on 1/20 - no further action as of 2/6. Here is a link to the EHEA committee members – each name is a hyperlink to their contact information:


HB771 is the House crossfile.  Here's the link to the house bill page:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=hb0771&stab=01&ys=2016RS

HB771 is assigned to the House Ways and Means committee.  As of 2/6 no hearing has been scheduled.  Here is a link to the membership of the Ways and Means committee - each name is a hyperlink to that delegate's contact information:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&stab=04&id=w%26m&tab=subject3&ys=2016RS
 

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