Public Health - Local Suicide Fatality Review Teams - Authorization

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*hb1012*

HOUSE BILL 1012
J1 6lr2243

By: Delegate Fair Delegates Fair, Alston, Bagnall, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill,
S. Johnson, Kaufman, Lopez, Martinez, Rosenberg, Ross, Taveras,
White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Public Health – Local Suicide Fatality Review Teams – Authorization 2

FOR the purpose of authorizing a county or municipality to establish a local suicide fatality 3
review team; requiring a local team to coordinate with certain local child fatality 4
review teams and the State Suicide Fatality Review Committee; exempting certain 5
meetings of a local team from the Open Meetings Act; providing certain immunity 6
for certain actions taken by a person as a member of a local team; authorizing a local 7
team to request and receive certain information under certain authority; 8
establishing that a local team is a public health authority conducting certain 9
activities in accordance with a certain federal law; providing that certain information 10
acquired by a local team is confidential and exempt from disclosure under the 11
Maryland Public Information Act , discovery, or introduction as evidence in any 12
proceeding; prohibiting certain persons from testifying in any proceeding about 13
details of a local team meeting; and generally relating to local suicide fatality review 14
teams. 15

BY adding to 16
Article – Health – General 17
Section 5–1101 through 5–1105 5–1110 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 11. 18
Local Suicide Fatality Review Teams” 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21

2 HOUSE BILL 1012

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2

Article – Health – General 3

SUBTITLE 11. LOCAL SUICIDE FATALITY REVIEW TEAMS. 4

5–1101. 5

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE , “LOCAL THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE 6
MEANINGS INDICATED. 7

(B) “LOCAL TEAM” MEANS A MULTIDISCIPL INARY AND MULTIAGENC Y 8
SUICIDE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM ESTABLISHED UNDER § 5–1102 § 5–1103 OF THIS 9
SUBTITLE. 10

(C) “STATE TEAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND SUICIDE FATALITY REVIEW 11
COMMITTEE. 12

15–1102. 13

THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO SUPERSEDE, LIMIT, INTERFERE 14
WITH, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE AUTHORITY OR DUT IES OF A LOCAL CHILD 15
FATALITY REVIEW TEAM UNDER SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS TITLE. 16

5–1102. 5–1103. 17

(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A COUNTY OR 18
MUNICIPALITY MAY ESTABLISH A MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND MULTIAGENCY SUICIDE 19
FATALITY REVIEW TEAM. 20

(B) TWO OR MORE COUNTIES MAY ESTABLISH A SING LE MULTICOUNTY 21
LOCAL TEAM. 22

(C) A MULTICOUNTY LOCAL TE AM SHALL EXECUTE A M EMORANDUM OF 23
UNDERSTANDING ON MEMBERSHIP, STAFFING, AND OPERATION. 24

(D) THE LOCAL TEAM MEMBERSHIP SHALL BE DRAWN, IF AVAILABLE, FROM 25
THE FOLLOWING INDIVI DUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, AND AREAS OF 26
EXPERTISE: 27

(1) THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER, OR THE OFFICER’S DESIGNEE; 28

HOUSE BILL 1012 3

(2) THE DIRECTOR OF THE L OCAL DEPARTMENT OF S OCIAL 1
SERVICES, OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; 2

(3) THE DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY 3
OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; 4

(4) THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE COUN TY, OR THE 5
SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEE; 6

(5) A STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; 7

(6) THE DIRECTOR OF BEHAV IORAL HEALTH SERVICE S IN THE 8
COUNTY, OR THE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE; 9

(7) AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER IN THE COUNTY; 10

(8) A REPRESENTATIVE OF A HOSPITAL; 11

(9) A HEALTH CARE PROFESSI ONAL WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE 12
PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF MEN TAL HEALTH OR BEHAVI ORAL 13
HEALTH CONDITIONS; 14

(10) A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WITH INTEREST OR EXPE RTISE IN 15
SUICIDE PREVENTION, APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER; AND 16

(11) ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL NECESSARY FOR THE WO RK OF THE 17
LOCAL TEAM, RECOMMENDED BY THE LOCAL TEAM AND APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY 18
HEALTH OFFICER. 19

(E) EACH LOCAL TEAM SHALL ELECT A CHAIR FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS. 20

(F) EACH LOCAL TEAM SHALL: 21

(1) MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY TO: 22

(I) REVIEW THE STATUS OF SUICIDE FATALITY CASES; 23

(II) RECOMMEND ACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE COORDINATION OF 24
SERVICES AND INVESTIGATIONS AMONG AGENCIES; AND 25

(III) RECOMMEND ACTIONS TO RELEVANT AGENCIES TO 26
PREVENT SUICIDE DEATHS; 27

4 HOUSE BILL 1012

(2) COLLECT AND MAINTAIN DATA AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE 1
TEAM; 2

(3) ENSURE SAFE AND SECUR E STORAGE FOR PROTEC TED 3
INFORMATION AND RECORDS HELD BY THE LOCAL TEAM; 4

(4) PROVIDE ANY REPORTS R EQUIRED BY THE STATE TEAM, 5
INCLUDING: 6

(I) REPORTS ON INDIVIDUAL CASES; 7

(II) STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROV E COORDINATION OF SE RVICES 8
AND INVESTIGATIONS AMONG AGENCIES; 9

(III) STEPS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 10
LOCAL TEAMS BY APPLICABLE AGENCIES; AND 11

(IV) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR C HANGES TO STATE AND LOCAL 12
LAW, POLICY, AND PRACTICES DESIGNED TO PREVENT SUICIDE DEATHS; 13

(5) SUBJECT TO § 5–1104(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE , COORDINATE WITH 14
LOCAL CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAMS , AND LOCAL DRUG OVERDO SE FATALITY 15
REVIEW TEAMS TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENCY OF EACH LOCAL TEAM’S OPERATIONS; 16

(6) COORDINATE WITH THE STATE SUICIDE FATALITY REVIEW 17
COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBTITLE 10 OF THIS TITLE , INCLUDING TO 18
ESTABLISH OPERATING PROTOCOLS; AND 19

(2) (7) OPERATE SUBJECT TO STATE AND NATIONAL ST ANDARDS, 20
AND SUBJECT TO GUIDANCE ISSUED BY T HE STATE SUICIDE FATALITY REVIEW 21
COMMITTEE. 22

5–1103. 5–1104. 23

(A) THE PURPOSE OF A LOCAL TEAM IS TO PREVENT SUICIDE DEATHS BY: 24

(1) REVIEWING SUICIDE DEATHS OF RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY OR 25
THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE COUNTY; 26

(2) IDENTIFYING SYSTEMIC , SERVICE, AND POLICY FACTORS 27
ASSOCIATED WITH RISK OF SUICIDE; 28

(3) PROMOTING COORDINATIO N BETWEEN ENTITIES I NVOLVED IN 29
SUICIDE PREVENTION, CRISIS RESPONSE, TREATMENT, AND POSTVENTION; AND 30
HOUSE BILL 1012 5

(4) DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT SUICIDE. 1

(B) A LOCAL TEAM MAY: 2

(1) EXAMINE TRENDS IN SUI CIDE AND FACTORS THA T CONTRIBUTE 3
TO SUICIDE RISK; 4

(2) SHARE INFORMATION WIT H OTHER PUBLIC HEALT H 5
AUTHORITIES OR THEIR DESIGNEES AS THE LOCAL TEAM DETERMINES NECESSARY 6
TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBTITLE; 7

(3) IDENTIFY GAPS IN SYST EMS OF CARE OR COORD INATION 8
BETWEEN ENTITIES INV OLVED IN SUICIDE PRE VENTION, CRISIS RESPONSE , 9
TREATMENT, AND POSTVENTION; AND 10

(3) (4) SUBMIT RECOMMENDATION S TO THE STATE SUICIDE 11
FATALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBTITLE 10 OF THIS TITLE, 12
OR OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE LOCAL TEAM. 13

(C) A LOCAL CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM: 14

(1) FOR A SUICIDE DEATH INVO LVING AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE 15
AGE OF 18 YEARS, SHALL RETAIN THE PRI MARY AUTHORITY TO CO NDUCT THE 16
REVIEW IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBTITLE 7 OF THIS TITLE; AND 17

(2) MAY COORDINATE OR CON DUCT A JOINT REVIEW WITH THE 18
LOCAL TEAM. 19

5–1104. 5–1105. 20

A PERSON SHALL HAVE TH E IMMUNITY FROM LIAB ILITY UNDER § 5–637 OF 21
THE COURTS ARTICLE FOR ANY ACTIO N AS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL TEAM FOR 22
GIVING INFORMATION TO, PARTICIPATING IN, OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE FUNCTION 23
OF THE LOCAL TEAM. 24

5–1106. 25

(A) A LOCAL TEAM MAY REQUE ST RECORDS UNDER THI S SECTION UNDER 26
THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE TEAM. 27

(B) ON REQUEST OF THE CHA IR OF A LOCAL TEAM A ND AS NECESSARY TO 28
CARRY OUT THE PURPOS E AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL TEAM , A HEALTH CARE 29
PROVIDER OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY SHALL IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE TO 30
6 HOUSE BILL 1012

THE LOCAL TEAM ANY R ECORDS OF THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR LOC AL 1
GOVERNMENT AGENCY NE CESSARY TO COMPLETE THE REVIEW OF A SPEC IFIC 2
FATALITY, INCLUDING: 3

(1) HOSPITAL RECORDS; 4

(2) OUTPATIENT CLINIC , HEALTH CARE PROVIDER , AND 5
LABORATORY RECORDS; 6

(3) POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DATA; 7

(4) MEDICAL EXAMINER INVESTIGATIVE DATA; 8

(5) CAUSE OF DEATH INFORMATION IN VITAL RECORDS; 9

(6) SOCIAL SERVICES RECORDS; AND 10

(7) OTHER RECORDS FROM LO CAL OFFICES , AGENCIES, AND 11
DEPARTMENTS. 12

(C) THE LOCAL TEAM MAY RE QUEST THAT A PERSON WITH DIRECT 13
KNOWLEDGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING A FATALITY PROVIDE THE LOCAL 14
TEAM WITH THE INFORM ATION NECESSARY TO C OMPLETE REVIEW OF TH E 15
PARTICULAR FATALITY, INCLUDING INFORMATION FROM: 16

(1) A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR STAFF INVOLVED IN THE CARE OF 17
THE DECEDENT; AND 18

(2) THE PERSON WHO FIRST RESPONDED TO A REPORT CONCERNING 19
THE DECEDENT. 20

5–1107. 21

A LOCAL TEAM IS A PUBL IC HEALTH AUTHORITY, AS DEFINED IN 45 C.F.R. § 22
164.501, CONDUCTING PUBLIC HE ALTH ACTIVITIES IN ACCORD ANCE WITH THE 23
FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. 24

5–1108. 25

(A) MEETINGS OF LOCAL TEAMS SHALL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND ARE 26
NOT SUBJECT TO THE MARYLAND OPEN MEETINGS ACT WHEN THE LOCAL TE AMS 27
ARE DISCUSSING INDIVIDUAL CASES OF SUICIDE. 28

HOUSE BILL 1012 7

(B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, MEETINGS 1
OF LOCAL TEAMS SHALL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLI C AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE 2
MARYLAND OPEN MEETINGS ACT WHEN THE LOCAL TE AM IS NOT DISCUSSING 3
INDIVIDUAL CASES OF SUICIDE. 4

(C) (1) DURING A PUBLIC MEETI NG, INFORMATION MAY NOT BE 5
DISCLOSED THAT IDENTIFIES: 6

(I) A DECEASED INDIVIDUAL; 7

(II) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SUICIDE OR A 8
SUICIDE ATTEMPT; 9

(III) A FAMILY MEMBER , GUARDIAN, OR CARETAKER OF AN 10
INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED IN ITEM (I) OR (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; OR 11

(IV) AN INDIVIDUAL CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR ADJ UDICATED 12
AS HAVING COMMITTED A DELINQUENT ACT THA T CAUSED A DEATH OR NEAR 13
FATALITY. 14

(2) DURING A PUBLIC MEETI NG, INFORMATION MAY NOT BE 15
DISCLOSED ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF AN AGENCY WITH: 16

(I) A DECEASED INDIVIDUAL; 17

(II) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SUICIDE OR A 18
SUICIDE ATTEMPT; 19

(III) A FAMILY MEMBER , GUARDIAN, OR CARETAKER OF A 20
DECEASED INDIVIDUAL OR OF AN INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED IN ITEM (I) OR (II) OF THIS 21
PARAGRAPH; OR 22

(IV) AN INDIVIDUAL CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR ADJ UDICATED 23
AS HAVING COMMITTED A DELINQUENT ACT THA T CAUSED A DEATH OR NEAR 24
FATALITY. 25

(D) THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT A LOCAL TEAM FROM REQUESTING 26
THE ATTENDANCE OF A PERSON WHO HAS INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE LOCAL 27
TEAM’S EXERCISE OF ITS PURPOSE AND DUTIES AT A TEAM MEETING. 28

(E) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR 29
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NO T EXCEEDING $500 OR 30
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 90 DAYS OR BOTH. 31
8 HOUSE BILL 1012

5–1105. 5–1109. 1

(A) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, ALL INFORMATION 2
AND RECORDS ACQUIRED BY A LOCAL TEAM IN THE EXERCISE OF ITS PURPOSE AND 3
DUTIES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE: 4

(1) ARE CONFIDENTIAL; 5

(2) ARE EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER THE MARYLAND PUBLIC 6
INFORMATION ACT; AND 7

(3) ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY AND MAY NOT BE INTRODUCED 8
AS EVIDENCE IN ANY PROCEEDING; AND 9

(3) (4) MAY BE DISCLOSED ONLY AS NECESSARY TO CARR Y OUT 10
THE LOCAL TEAM’S PURPOSE AND DUTIES. 11

(B) (1) MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO THE A DDITIONAL 12
LIMITATIONS UNDER § 4–307 OF THIS ARTICLE FOR DISCLOSURE OF A MEDI CAL 13
RECORD DEVELOPED PRIMARILY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROVISION OF MENTAL 14
HEALTH SERVICES. 15

(2) SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO ANY 16
ADDITIONAL LIMITATIO NS FOR DISCLOSURE OR REDISCLOSURE OF A ME DICAL 17
RECORD DEVELOPED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROVISION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE 18
TREATMENT SERVICES UNDER STATE LAW, 42 U.S.C. § 290DD–2, OR 42 C.F.R. PART 19
2. 20

(C) STATISTICAL COMPILA TIONS OF DATA THAT D O NOT CONTAIN ANY 21
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION INFORMATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE 22
IDENTIFICATION OF ANY PERSON TO BE ASCERTAINED ARE PUBLIC RECORDS. 23

(D) REPORTS OF A LOCAL TE AM THAT DO NOT CONTA IN ANY PERSONALLY 24
IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ARE PUBLIC RECORDS. 25

(E) EXCEPT AS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT A LOCAL TEAM’S PURPOSE AND 26
DUTIES, MEMBERS OF A LOCAL T EAM AND PERSONS ATTE NDING A LOCAL TEAM 27
MEETING MAY NOT DISCLOSE: 28

(1) ANY PROCEEDING AT A N ONPUBLIC MEETING UNDER § 5–1104 § 29
5–1108 OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 30

HOUSE BILL 1012 9

(2) ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY NOT BE DISCLOSED UNDER THIS 1
SECTION. 2

(F) (1) MEMBERS OF A LOCAL TE AM, PERSONS ATTENDING A LOCAL 3
TEAM MEETING, AND PERSONS WHO PRESENT INFORMATION TO A LOCAL TEAM MAY 4
NOT BE QUESTIONED IN ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCEEDING ABOUT INFORMATION 5
PRESENTED IN OR OPINIONS FORMED AS A RESULT OF A MEETING. 6

(2) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT A PERSO N FROM 7
TESTIFYING TO INFORM ATION THAT IS OBTAIN ED INDEPENDENTLY OF A LOCAL 8
TEAM OR THAT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. 9

(G) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 10
INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, OR RECORDS OF A LOCAL TEAM ARE NOT SUBJECT TO 11
SUBPOENA, DISCOVERY, OR INTRODUCTION INTO EVIDENCE IN ANY CIVI L OR 12
CRIMINAL PROCEEDING. 13

(2) INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, OR RECORDS OTHERWISE 14
AVAILABLE FROM OTHER SOURCES ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM SUBPOENA, DISCOVERY, 15
OR INTRODUCTION INTO EVIDENCE THROUGH THO SE SOURCES SOLELY BE CAUSE 16
THEY WERE PRESENTED DURING PROCEEDINGS O F A LOCAL TEAM OR AR E 17
MAINTAINED BY A LOCAL TEAM. 18

(H) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR 19
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NO T EXCEEDING $500 OR 20
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 90 DAYS OR BOTH. 21

5–1110. 22

THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTITLE, 23
INCLUDING: 24

(1) PROTOCOLS, PROCEDURES, AND METHODS FOR , AND THE 25
MANNER AND EXTENT OF INVESTIGATIONS AND REVIEWS BY LOCAL TEAMS; 26

(2) THE MANNER IN WHICH DATA PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT IS 27
TO BE STORED AND SECURED; 28

(3) THE MANNER IN WHICH , AND EXTENT TO WHICH , INFORMATION 29
BASED ON DATA PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT MAY BE DISSEMINATED. 30

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2026. 32