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*hb0771*
HOUSE BILL 771
J2 6lr1643
CF 6lr1644
By: Delegates Miller, Alston, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, Lopez, McComas, Reilly,
Rose, Turner, White Holland, and Woorman Woorman, Bagnall,
Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Kipke, Martinez, Rosenberg, Ross, and
Taveras
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 1, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations – Human Trafficking Awareness Training 2
FOR the purpose of requiring each health occupations board to allow an applicant to receive 3
continuing education credits for completing a certain human trafficking awareness 4
training program, adopt certain regulations, and conduct certain outreach related to 5
continuing education credits for a certain human trafficking awareness training 6
program; establishing requirements for the training program; and generally relating 7
to human trafficking awareness training for health care practitioners. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Health Occupations 10
Section 1–225.1 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Health Occupations 16
1–225.1. 17
2 HOUSE BILL 771
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION , “LOCAL UNIVERSITY ” MEANS A PUBLIC OR 1
PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE WITH A PUBLIC 2
HEALTH, LAW, OR SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM. 3
(2) “LOCAL UNIVERSITY ” INCLUDES A PROGRAM W ITHIN AN 4
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION DESCRIBE D IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 5
SUBSECTION, SUCH AS THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SAFE CENTER FOR HUMAN 6
TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. 7
(B) EACH HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD SHALL: 8
(1) ADOPT REGULATIONS THA T ALLOW ALLOW AN APPLICANT 9
SEEKING LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE RENEWAL TO RECEIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION 10
CREDITS FOR COMPLETI NG A HUMAN TRAFFICKI NG AWARENESS TRAININ G 11
PROGRAM DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION; AND 12
(2) CONDUCT OUTREACH TO MAKE INDIVIDUALS REGULATED BY THE 13
BOARD AWARE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENES S TRAINING OPTIONS , 14
INCLUDING BY PROVIDI NG INFORMATION IN GE NERAL BOARD COMMUNIC ATIONS 15
AND ON THE BOARD’S WEBSITE; AND 16
(3) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION. 17
(C) A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR WHICH AN APPLICANT MAY REC EIVE 18
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL: 19
(1) BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH A 20
LOCAL UNIVERSITY AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MARYLAND HUMAN 21
TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES 22
TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS; 23
(2) BE AT LEAST 1 HOUR IN DURATION; 24
(3) BE READILY ACCESSIBLE AND PROVIDED TO AN I NDIVIDUAL 25
DESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION FREE OF CHARGE; AND 26
(4) INCLUDE INSTRUCTION ON: 27
(I) THE DEFINITIONS AND F ORMS OF SEX AND LABO R 28
TRAFFICKING UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE LAW; 29
(II) AN UNDERSTANDING OF T HE TRAUMA –INFORMED CARE 30
MODEL; 31
HOUSE BILL 771 3
(III) THE PHYSICAL , BEHAVIORAL, AND EMOTIONAL 1
INDICATORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PARTICULARLY THOSE P RESENTING IN A 2
HEALTH CARE SETTING; 3
(IV) APPROPRIATE SCREENING PROTOCOLS AND 4
DOCUMENTATION METHODS; 5
(V) MANDATORY REPORTING R EQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE 6
LAW AND ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED CASES OF HUMAN 7
TRAFFICKING TO THE A PPROPRIATE AUTHORITI ES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL 8
HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE; AND 9
(VI) AVAILABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RESOURCES AND 10
SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 12
(a) On or before July 1, 2026, the Maryland Department of Health, in 13
collaboration and consultation with required stakeholders, shall approve the training 14
program required under § 1 –225.1 of the Health Occupations Article, as enacted under 15
Section 1 of this Act. 16
(b) On or before October January 1, 2026 2027, each health occupations board 17
shall adopt the regulations necessary to carry out required under § 1 –225.1(b)(3) of the 18
Health Occupations Article, as enacted by this Act. 19
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 20
1, 2026. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.