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Maryland committee hears paired bills to modernize state law for all uniformed services
Summary
Delegate Nicholas Kipke told the House Health and Government Operations Committee that two crossfiled measures would modernize Maryland code to treat all eight uniformed service branches consistently for licensing, benefits and statutory definitions.
Delegate Nicholas Kipke, sponsor, told the House Health and Government Operations Committee the twin bills would update Maryland law to apply existing benefits and licensing accommodations across all eight uniformed service branches and to centralize definitions in the state code. "These bills are not changing any underlying policy," Delegate Kipke said, "It just simply expands it to all the uniform services."
Dave Dragic, legislative director for the Maryland Military Coalition and a retired Army colonel, urged a "favorable with amendment" report, saying the changes would make Maryland code consistent with federal terminology and help avoid future misinterpretation. "Our position is to make certain that those who have served in the public health service and NOAA continue to have the same rights and benefits as those veterans who have served in the armed forces," Dragic said.
Both measures were described as technical and nonfiscal. Delegate Kipke said the bills carry a zero fiscal impact and that senators were drafting minor wording amendments. The measures would (1) expand where state health occupation boards must consider military training and deployments when awarding credits or renewing licenses, (2) revise statutory definitions (including the terms "veteran," "service member," and "uniformed services ID card") to align with federal usage, and (3) centralize a base definition of uniformed services in the State Government article so future laws can reference a single source.
Committee members asked whether the bills would change eligibility for benefits for service members with less-than-honorable discharges. Dragic replied that the Maryland Military Coalition had discussed related legislation in the Senate intended to expand eligibility in some cases, but that those changes were separate bills and not part of the two modernization measures before the committee.
Committee staff noted that the sponsors expected and were coordinating minor technical amendments from the Boards of Nursing and other stakeholders. No formal vote occurred during the hearing; sponsors and supporters said they would continue to work with Senate counsel and the governor's office on final language.
