Mental Health Law - Danger to the Life or Safety of the Individual or of Others - Definition (Right to Treatment)

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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amendment.
*hb1014*

HOUSE BILL 1014
J1 6lr2350
CF SB 707
By: Delegates Woods, Cullison, Ivey, A. Johnson, S. Johnson, J. Long, McComas,
Patterson, and Roberts Roberts, Alston, Bagnall, Guzzone, Hill,
Hutchinson, Kaufman, Kipke, Lopez, Martinez, M. Morgan, Reilly,
Rosenberg, Ross, Szeliga, 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: March 21, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Mental Health Law – Danger to the Life or Safety of the Individual or of Others 2
– Definition 3
(Right to Treatment) 4

FOR the purpose of defining “danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others” for 5
purposes of the involuntary admission of individuals with mental disorders to a 6
facility or Veterans’ Administration hospital and the emergency evaluation of 7
individuals with mental disorders; and generally relating to involuntary admissions 8
and emergency evaluations of individuals with mental disorders. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Health – General 11
Section 10–601 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16

Article – Health – General 17

10–601. 18
2 HOUSE BILL 1014

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 1

(b) “Clinical social worker” means an individual who is licensed under Title 19 of 2
the Health Occupations Article to practice clinical social work. 3

(C) “DANGER TO THE LIFE OR SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR OF OTHERS” 4
MEANS THERE IS , AS A RESULT OF A MEN TAL DISO RDER, A SUBSTANTIAL RISK , 5
WHETHER OR NOT THE RISK IS IMMINENT BASED ON CONDUCT THAT IS RECENT AND 6
RELEVANT TO THE DANG ER THAT THE INDIVIDU AL MAY PRESENT AND IN 7
CONSIDERATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S CURRENT CONDITION AND, IF AVAILABLE, 8
RECENT PERSONAL, MEDICAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC HIST ORY, THAT AS A RESULT OF 9
THE MENTAL DISORDER THE INDIVIDUAL WILL: 10

(1) CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR ANOTHER 11
INDIVIDUAL; OR 12

(2) ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THA T WILL RESULT IN CRI MINAL JUSTICE 13
INVOLVEMENT; 14

(3) (2) BE UNABLE , EXCEPT FOR REASONS O F INDIGENCE , TO 15
PROVIDE FOR THE INDI VIDUAL’S BASIC NEEDS , INCLUDING FOOD , CLOTHING, 16
SHELTER, MEDICAL CARE, SELF–PROTECTION, OR SAFETY, TO SUCH A DEGREE AS 17
TO CREATE A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF SERIOUS BODILY HARM, SERIOUS ILLNESS, OR 18
DEATH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.; OR 19

(4) SUFFER SUBSTANTIAL DE TERIORATION OF THE I NDIVIDUAL’S 20
JUDGMENT, REASONING, OR ABILITY TO CONTROL BEHAVIOR, PROVIDED THAT THE 21
INDIVIDUAL IS CURREN TLY SUBSTANTIALLY IM PAIRED IN THE INDIVI DUAL’S 22
ABILITY TO MAKE A RA TIONAL AND INFORMED DECIS ION AS TO WHETHER TO 23
SUBMIT TO TREATMENT, THAT WILL LIKELY RES ULT IN THE INDIVIDUA L MEETING 24
ONE OF THE CRITERIA ENUMERATED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 25

[(c)] (D) “Electronic record” means a document communicated, received, or 26
stored by electronic means. 27

[(d)] (E) “Licensed clinical marriage and family therapist” means an individual 28
who is licensed under Title 17, Subtitle 3A of the Health Occupations Article to practice 29
clinical marriage and family therapy. 30

[(e)] (F) “Licensed clinical professional counselor” means an individual who is 31
licensed under Title 17, Subtitle 3A of the Health Occupations Article to practice clinical 32
professional counseling. 33

HOUSE BILL 1014 3

[(f)] (G) “Physician” means an individual who is licensed under Title 14 of the 1
Health Occupations Article to practice medicine in this State. 2

[(g)] (H) “Psychiatric nurse practitioner” means an individual who is: 3

(1) Licensed as a registered nurse and certified as a nurse practitioner 4
under Title 8 of the Health Occupations Article; and 5

(2) Practicing in the State as a certified registered nurse 6
practitioner–psychiatric mental health. 7

[(h)] (I) “Psychologist” means an individual who is licensed under Title 18 of the 8
Health Occupations Article to practice psychology. 9

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10
October 1, 2026. 11

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.