[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6616220,"mediaKeyId","2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c","parentId",2853817,"title","Committee approves bill letting counties augment state nursing‑home surveys if inspections fall six months behind","audioSeconds",1353,"startMs",313000,"endMs",1666000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c&start=313&end=1666","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c/thumbnail_313000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6616220/Maryland/Committee-approves-bill-letting-counties-augment-state-nursinghome-surveys-if-inspections-fall-six-months-behind","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616220-196b814163e175e56a5bec2706c8c291/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147477&Signature=WtYnMO97XKqq6161dtzRkND~O-S8XTyD5UCqWtHCMIpECC0H6EeYmf-bP0U5-58syrKRJSdX9mBX3ECqNY0qmrh5OA80y1IWNuKVU6dd6wt9TRw0oj-G2SVJgad0pqGrUBc4k05sVuqoigkBZhAnr~bLsCwmZkqj-zXmpcvZBRNsZDmXQjDmIBx-RTHbPHKUAWP3391WWJ4wJpeEJ6cUZ2IhCyO54D4NUtkaYKeQpYBo2nDP20hCV4MwNi6PLh-HB6Gv-V7OJmvsv-7Kfe0E5UHr0VMp6DuNe~37w4H3iO-BYUmZ~HxRWcd9XfQO6sbfvDUnHyWdbkydcUVQailQSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Health and Government Operations","date","2025-04-02T19:53:48Z","article","The Health and Government Operations Committee on April 2 approved amendments to House Bill 429 that would let counties augment state nursing‑home survey staff with county funds if the Maryland Department of Health is six months or more behind required Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) survey intervals.

The bill, as amended, requires the Department of Health to start a memorandum of understanding within 45 days of a county request and to develop a plan for how the county augmentation would operate. It also establishes reporting requirements so the department must provide localities information every six months about which nursing homes in each locality have had required surveys completed and the department’s statewide progress toward meeting CMS intervals.

Vice Chair Bonnie Collison, speaking as sponsor of the amended language, summarized the committee’s work and the department’s progress: “They have indeed put a number of things in place to fix it and as a result they have significantly, progressed in their annual surveys required by CMS,” and said the department expects to complete required surveys by June 1, 2026 given current staffing and temporary contract support. Collison stressed the amendments are intended to add accountability rather than supplant the state’s role.

Committee members pressed for clarity on how “behind” would be measured and on the timeline before county involvement could begin. Delegate Hill said average statewide interval data may mask local problems and asked for range data, not just averages. Collison and other members explained the bill uses a statewide interval metric to determine whether the state is behind and clarified that if the state remains behind after the six‑month check the county could pursue an MOU; based on committee discussion the earliest a county MOU could be in place is likely 2027.

Several delegates raised concerns about residents in the facilities that would be last to receive inspections. One member asked whether Montgomery County — which historically conducted its own inspections under an earlier MOU — would receive special treatment; Collison said Montgomery County is not an outlier and that CMS confirmed states may permit localities to perform the full range of inspection tiers.

Committee members also asked about staffing and federal funding. Collison said the department hired temporary contract surveyors and has 45 staff with 15 in training; she said training timelines mean it could take roughly a year to train new surveyors and that the department expects a full complement of staff by late 2025. When asked whether there is an enforcement mechanism beyond reporting, Collison said the committee will have the data to determine enforcement actions and will monitor compliance.

After discussion, the committee moved and adopted the amendments and then moved the bill as amended. Chair Jocelyn Pena Milnick summarized committee action: “We're gonna take the department at their word. We're gonna give them the time,” and said the committee will revisit the issue.

The amendment and the bill as amended passed in committee. The cross‑file, Senate Bill 376, was moved and amended to conform to the House changes and also passed in committee.

What the bill does: If the department is six months or more behind federal (CMS) survey intervals and a county requests help, the department must initiate an MOU within 45 days to allow the county to augment state survey staff using county funds; the department must report at least semiannually to localities on survey completion by facility and statewide progress. The bill clarifies that counties may perform the full tiers of inspection with appropriate authority.

Next steps: The bill and its conforming Senate cross‑file will proceed in the legislative process; committee members said they expect to revisit implementation and monitoring as the department hires and trains staff.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HGO Committee Session, 4/2/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Health and Government Operations Committee on April 2 approved amendments to House Bill 429 that allow counties to augment state nursing‑home survey staff with county funds when the Maryland Department of Health is six months or more behind Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) inspection intervals.","taxTitle","Health and Government Operations Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15061,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6616210,"Votes at a glance: Health and Government Operations Committee (April 2)",3587,13000,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c&start=13&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c/thumbnail_13000.jpg","/articles/6616210/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Health-and-Government-Operations-Committee-April-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616210-45d71dd995dc53881f1afb72ab6fdf5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147477&Signature=OCJAUpbzglQG0q-bc7ybRvQs~qXZvVC3Ebwff2lph7fza5d4cmMf7IzOp-LmqAbgreLoVTVPQqXwFHKhiO~8dV1lIAL9WbPW1TmEPESNtid100zb8jR0wfijiKdWJtrV4EEYnEJJtr6xqjqUc55-1HnQoYJq6N-28M0yDmeFgBox-4Pbf4oJ1MYNV3frmtX9DPRHq~DkQLQso8sNm3P9MGiGuorDSxKxsrdAQxNsLeffkleTDmBQZ2MKEeXVirWYzHVtxLgSE9njtpwUL4Ul1tFyaKGmYcOVr5RIfkqocP2Fk8PW9xwcdO5tPs0euNdNTVFd~v60BRhpWWCoKXWNeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Health and Government Operations Committee held a voting session on April 2 and took action on multiple bills, including concurrences on Senate amendments, bills moved with amendments and a set of cross‑files. Below are the committee’s recorded actions and outcomes.

• House Bill 333 — Health care ecosystem stakeholder cybersecurity work group: Committee concurred with the Senate amendment (the amendment corrects a typographical error). Outcome: concurred/approved in committee.

• House Bill 664 — Health occupations: direct‑entry midwives; disciplinary action: Committee concurred with a stylistic amendment; no substantive change recorded. Outcome: concurred/approved in committee.

• House Bill 850 — Work group to create a public contracts and apprenticeship dashboard: Committee concurred with a Senate amendment adding members to the work group. Outcome: concurred/approved in committee.

• House Bill 991 — State procurement: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program extension and reports: Committee concurred with a Senate amendment extending certain MBE termination dates and adding sports‑wagering licensees to MBE requirements; sponsor explained the change came after both chambers had passed initial bills. Outcome: concurred/approved in committee.

• House Bill 957 — State procurement worker residency requirement (apprenticeship residency on large covered projects): Committee adopted subcommittee amendments that narrow applicability to covered large projects valued at $5,000,000 or more in specified jurisdictions and establish a 35% residency apprenticeship‑hour requirement; the committee moved and passed the bill with recorded delegates declining sponsorship. Outcome: approved in committee (some delegates recorded as not wishing to be on the bill).

• House Bill 429 and Senate Bill 376 — Nursing home inspections: See separate article for detailed coverage. Outcome: bill and conforming cross‑file passed as amended.

• House Bill 1468 and Senate Bill 867 — Cyber Maryland program and grants: Committee adopted amendments and passed the bill as amended. Outcome: approved in committee; committee discussion recorded objections on eligibility language for some grantees.

• Senate Bill 127 — Reimbursement of indirect costs for nonprofits receiving state grants or contracts: Committee adopted amendments to mirror the House cross‑file and removed a three‑year sunset provision; the amendment made the measure an emergency bill and aligned it with the House measure. Outcome: approved in committee.

• Senate Bills 294, 309, 459, 740, 773, 867 and others on the agenda: Committee adopted amendments where noted and passed the bills as amended; several bills were described as having conforming technical changes to match cross‑files.

Several votes recorded individual “no” positions or noted delegates who did not want to be listed as sponsors; where the transcript included recorded objections they are noted above. For votes that were conducted by voice with no roll call recorded, committee minutes show concurrence or passage.

","The committee approved numerous concurrence motions, technical amendments and several bills. This roundup lists final committee actions and recorded objections where noted.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6616215,"Committee keeps Cyber Maryland program funding and broad grant eligibility after debate over labor unions and industry groups",448,1904000,2352000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c&start=1904&end=2352","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2853817-51e9f75b51767fdedfc44be2de13e56c/thumbnail_1904000.jpg","/articles/6616215/Maryland/Committee-keeps-Cyber-Maryland-program-funding-and-broad-grant-eligibility-after-debate-over-labor-unions-and-industry-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616215-5fa6a552a8cfed354bac81efd805cc61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147477&Signature=H4P9p9SWmApHhg8T6cV~4Hm-Yv6AwNsOKREGmw7BbTzMkLKoGqseo1zwGh8vBRgfNiPrzbIcewxT8PlESZK3-3NZXajS851J5p9qYu~9aOL25gsYEUGLMGYxa8EuOL1Mj6pozRjzf3jdB6rADKCNec5YuVEKKoWVrwzjKpJzzocm9hRSZqEJlL7UjtcZIBAlBSPNarDXN60AAGpQNEvGu55i~NKzSpQg6oMnuSM60CWABG5T6DKhXHmiuWuCA0U-0WAloT~LMbacXN4z2XIN9hbsIOClzxrfcPqY9LiFrI3TcfPunaYrzILMk8jAPULr7NlIiZlm8yWKE8uKPoBGbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Health and Government Operations Committee on April 2 voted to pass House Bill 1468, which transfers the Cyber Maryland program, fund and board and revises grant and program language to conform to the Senate cross‑file. Amendments adopted in subcommittee and in committee change grant awarding language, relax some appropriation requirements and direct the program to seek nonstate funding sources.

During committee debate, Delegate Shaliga moved to strike “industry associations and labor unions” from a list of entities eligible for grants from the Cyber Maryland fund. Shaliga argued those entities should not receive taxpayer dollars; the motion to strike was seconded. Delegate Bandari responded that organized labor and other groups are “essential partners” in workforce development and that registered apprenticeship and training programs often rely on those entities’ infrastructure.

Chair Jocelyn Pena Milnick said the bill requires the Department to adopt standards to award grants and that the fund’s applications must meet those standards. She also said the committee often conducts public‑private partnerships to support workforce pipelines and that organizations training cybersecurity workers can be part of those efforts. After discussion, Delegate Shaliga withdrew the motion to strike while also noting she opposed some of the broader list in principle. The committee then moved and passed the bill as amended. Several delegates recorded that they did not want to be listed as sponsors; the committee also recorded multiple “no” positions for the record on the final tally.

Key elements of the bill as amended include a transfer of the Cyber Maryland program and fund, authorization to seek nonstate funding sources, direction that the board adopt bylaws rather than specifying membership in statute, and a requirement that the program report on cyber workforce activities in coordination with specified partners. The bill also specifies that amounts awarded may be allocated for cybersecurity clinics and clarifies allowable uses of the fund.

Delegate Carr, presenting the bill, said the program’s money remained in the budget and that the bill is ready to proceed. When asked why unions appeared in the list of eligible grantees, Carr said she did not have an immediate answer but the item was negotiated during bill drafting and had not been controversial during subcommittee.

After further remarks and a motion by the sponsor to adopt the amendments, the committee adopted the amendments and passed House Bill 1468 as amended. The conforming Senate cross‑file, Senate Bill 867, was also amended to add one member to the Cyber Maryland Board and passed in committee.

","Health and Government Operations Committee approved House Bill 1468 (conforming to Senate Bill 867) to move Cyber Maryland to a different agency and to authorize grantmaking; committee members debated and declined an amendment to remove industry associations and labor unions from eligible grantees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves bill letting counties augment state nursing‑home surveys if inspections fall six months behind

Votes at a glance: Health and Government Operations Committee (April 2)

Committee keeps Cyber Maryland program funding and broad grant eligibility after debate over labor unions and industry groups