Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council and the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs - Recommendations for Elopement Response Devices

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1117*

HOUSE BILL 1117
J5, J1 6lr2439

By: Delegates Lopez, Embry, Kaufman, and Wims Wims, Alston, Bagnall, Cullison,
Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, Kipke, Martinez, M. Morgan, Reilly, Rosenberg,
Ross, Szeliga, White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 10, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Elopement Response Devices – Insurance and Maryland Medical Assistance 2
Program Coverage and Provision Under State Programs 3
Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Council and the 4
Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs – Recommendations for 5
Elopement Response Devices 6

FOR the purpose of requiring that certain State programs consider approved elopement 7
response devices as a medical device, durable medical equipment, or assistive 8
technology for purposes of the State programs; requiring the Maryland Medical 9
Assistance Program, subject to certain limitations, to provide coverage for approved 10
elopement response devices and supports; esta blishing requirements and 11
prohibitions regarding the Program coverage for approved elopement response 12
devices; requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health 13
maintenance organizations to provide coverage for approved elopement respo nse 14
devices and associated supports to certain individuals under certain circumstances 15
authorizing the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias 16
Council and the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism –Related Needs to 17
recommend the use of el opement response devices as safety tools for certain 18
individuals who are at risk of elopement ; and generally relating to elopement 19
response devices. 20

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
Article – Health – General 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1117

Section 13–3201(a) and (b) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3

BY adding to 4
Article – Health – General 5
Section 13–32B–01 and 13 –32B–02 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 32B. 6
Elopement Response Devices”; and 15–103(a)(2)(xxix) and 15–160 13–3206.1 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Health – General 11
Section 15–103(a)(1) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Health – General 16
Section 15–103(a)(2)(xxvii) and (xxviii) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
Article – Insurance 21
Section 15–801 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 24

BY adding to 25
Article – Insurance 26
Section 15–801.1 27
Annotated Code of Maryland 28
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 29

BY adding to 30
Article – Human Services 31
Section 7–112.1 32
Annotated Code of Maryland 33
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 34

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 35
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 36

Article – Health – General 37

13–3201. 38
HOUSE BILL 1117 3

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

(b) “Council” means the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related 2
Dementias Council. 3

13–3206.1. 4

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 5
INDICATED. 6

(2) (I) “ELOPEMENT” MEANS BEHAVIOR IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL 7
WITH A COGNITIVE , DEVELOPMENTAL, OR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION LEAVES OR 8
ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE A SAFE AND SUPERVISED AREA WITHOUT: 9

1. THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE OR AVOID RISK; OR 10

2. THE ABILITY TO RETURN SAFELY WITHOU T 11
ASSISTANCE. 12

(II) “ELOPEMENT” INCLUDES WANDERING T HAT CREATES A 13
RISK OF HARM, INJURY, OR DEATH. 14

(3) (I) “ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DE VICE” MEANS AN ASSISTIVE 15
TECHNOLOGY DEVICE OR A MEDICAL SAFETY DEVICE THAT IS: 16

1. A WEARABLE, PORTABLE, OR INTEGRATED 17
ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR SYSTEM THAT USES GLO BAL POSITIONING SYST EM 18
TECHNOLOGY, RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, BLUETOOTH, OR 19
SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE IDENTIFICATION, MONITORING, OR RAPID 20
LOCATION OF AN INDIV IDUAL AT RI SK OF ELOPEMENT DUE TO A COGNITIVE , 21
DEVELOPMENTAL, NEUROLOGICAL, OR MEMORY–RELATED CONDITION; AND 22

2. USED FOR PURPOSES OF PATIENT SAFETY , 23
FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDE NCE, AND PARTICIPATION IN HOME OR COMMUNITY 24
SETTINGS. 25

(II) “ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE” INCLUDES: 26

1. A DEVICE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 27
PARAGRAPH THAT HAS F EATURES THAT ENABLE THE SECURE STORAGE A ND 28
TRANSMISSION OF CRIT ICAL INDIVIDUAL INFO RMATION TO CAREGIVER S, 29
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL , OR FIRST RESPONDERS TO FACILITATE TIMELY , 30
INFORMED, AND COORDINATED RESP ONSE IN ELOPEMENT EM ERGENCY 31
SITUATIONS; AND 32
4 HOUSE BILL 1117

2. ANY ELECTRONIC MONITO RING SERVICES 1
NECESSARY FOR A DEVICE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH 2
TO FUNCTION AS A MEDICAL SAFETY AND ASSISTIVE TOOL. 3

(B) THE COUNCIL MAY RECOMMEND THE USE OF ELOPEMENT RES PONSE 4
DEVICES AS SAFETY TO OLS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT RISK OF E LOPEMENT 5
BECAUSE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS. 6

Article – Human Services 7

7–112.1. 8

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 9
INDICATED. 10

(2) (I) “ELOPEMENT” MEANS BEHAVIOR IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL 11
WITH A COGNITIVE , DEVELOPMENTAL, OR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION LEAVES OR 12
ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE A SAFE AND SUPERVISED AREA WITHOUT: 13

1. THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE OR AVOID RISK; OR 14

2. THE ABILITY TO RETUR N SAFELY WITHOUT 15
ASSISTANCE. 16

(II) “ELOPEMENT” INCLUDES WANDERING T HAT CREATES A 17
RISK OF HARM, INJURY, OR DEATH. 18

(3) (I) “ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DE VICE” MEANS AN ASSISTIVE 19
TECHNOLOGY OR A MEDICAL SAFETY DEVICE THAT IS: 20

1. A WEARABLE , PORTABLE, OR INTEGRATED 21
ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR SYSTEM THAT USES GLO BAL POSITIONING SYST EM 22
TECHNOLOGY, RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, BLUETOOTH, OR 23
SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE IDENTIFICATION, MONITORING, OR RAPID 24
LOCATION OF AN INDIV IDUAL AT RISK OF ELO PEMENT DUE TO A COGN ITIVE, 25
DEVELOPMENTAL, NEUROLOGICAL, OR MEMORY–RELATED CONDITION; AND 26

2. USED FOR PURPOSES OF PATIENT SAFETY , 27
FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDE NCE, AND PARTICIPATION IN HOME, COMMUNITY, OR 28
EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS. 29

(II) “ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE” INCLUDES: 30

HOUSE BILL 1117 5

1. A DEVICE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 1
PARAGRAPH THAT HAS F EATURES THAT ENABLE THE SECURE STORAGE A ND 2
TRANSMISSION OF CRIT ICAL INDIVIDUAL INFO RMATION TO CAR EGIVERS, 3
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL , OR FIRST RESPONDERS TO FACILITATE TIMELY , 4
INFORMED, AND COORDINATED RESP ONSE IN ELOPEMENT EM ERGENCY 5
SITUATIONS; AND 6

2. ANY ELECTRONIC MONIT ORING SERVICES 7
NECESSARY FOR A DEVICE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH 8
TO FUNCTION AS A MEDICAL SAFETY AND ASSISTIVE TOOL. 9

(B) THE ADVISORY STAKEHOLDER GROUP ON AUTISM–RELATED NEEDS 10
MAY RECOMMEND THE US E OF ELOPEMENT RESPO NSE DEVICES AS SAFET Y TOOLS 11
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT RISK OF ELOPEMENT BECAUSE OF AUTISM. 12

SUBTITLE 32B. ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICES. 13

13–32B–01. 14

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
INDICATED. 16

(B) “APPROVED ELOPEMENT RE SPONSE DEVICE ” HAS THE MEANING 17
STATED IN § 15–160 OF THIS ARTICLE. 18

(C) “ELOPEMENT” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 15–160 OF THIS 19
ARTICLE. 20

13–32B–02. 21

(A) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE MARYLAND MEDICAL 22
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 23

(B) (1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, IF A STATE PROGRAM 24
PROVIDES FUNDING OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR OR THE DIRECT PROVISION OF 25
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT OR MEDICAL–RELATED SUPPLIES TO OLDER ADULTS OR 26
INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS ABILITIES, THE STATE PROGRAM SHALL C ONSIDER AN 27
APPROVED ELOPEMENT R ESPONSE DEVICE TO BE A MEDICAL DEVICE , DURABLE 28
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, OR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR PURPOSES OF THE STATE 29
PROGRAM. 30

(2) PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION APPLIES WITHOUT REGARD 31
TO WHEN THE STATE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED. 32

6 HOUSE BILL 1117

15–103. 1

(a) (1) The Secretary shall administer the Maryland Medical Assistance 2
Program. 3

(2) The Program: 4

(xxvii) Beginning on January 1, 2026, if providing coverage for the 5
delivery of anesthesia, shall provide coverage for the delivery of anesthesia in accordance 6
with § 15–862 of the Insurance Article; [and] 7

(xxviii) Beginning on January 1, 2026, shall provide calcium score 8
testing in accordance with § 15–863 of the Insurance Article; AND 9

(XXIX) SHALL PROVIDE , SUBJECT TO THE LIMIT ATIONS OF 10
THE STATE BUDGET AND FEDE RAL FINANCIAL PARTIC IPATION, COVERAGE OF 11
ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICES AND SUPPORTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 15–160 OF 12
THIS SUBTITLE. 13

15–160. 14

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
INDICATED. 16

(2) (I) “APPROVED ELOPEMENT RE SPONSE DEVICE ” MEANS A 17
MEDICAL DEVICE OR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR 18
THE PREVENTION OF OR RESPONSE TO ELOPEMENT. 19

(II) “APPROVED ELOPEMENT RE SPONSE DEVICE ” INCLUDES 20
DOOR OR WINDOW SENSO RS, WEARABLE OR PORTABLE LOCATION–ENABLED 21
DEVICES, AND RELATED ALERTING TECHNOLOGY. 22

(3) “ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT” MEANS A PROGRAM RECIPIENT WHO: 23

(I) IS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS AND ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY 24
AND PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSTIC, AND TREATMENT SERVICES, AS DEFINED 25
IN § 15–149 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 26

(II) IS ELIGIBLE FOR COVER AGE THROUGH A HOME – AND 27
COMMUNITY–BASED SERVICES WAIVER; OR 28

(III) HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WIT H ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE OR A 29
RELATED DEMENTIA AND MEETS MEDICAL NECESS ITY CRITERIA ESTABLI SHED BY 30
THE DEPARTMENT. 31
HOUSE BILL 1117 7

(4) (I) “ELOPEMENT” MEANS BEHAVIOR IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL 1
WITH A COGNITIVE , DEVELOPMENTAL, OR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION LEAVES OR 2
ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE A SAFE AND SUPERVISED AREA WITHOUT: 3

1. THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE OR AVOID RISK; OR 4

2. THE ABILITY TO RETURN SAFELY WITHOUT 5
ASSISTANCE. 6

(II) “ELOPEMENT” INCLUDES WANDERING T HAT CREATES A 7
RISK OF HARM, INJURY, OR DEATH. 8

(5) “QUALIFIED LICENSED PROVIDER” MEANS A PHYSICIAN, A NURSE 9
PRACTITIONER, A PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT, OR ANY OTHER LICENSED HEALTH CARE 10
PRACTITIONER ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER’S 11
LICENSE. 12

(6) “QUALIFYING PLAN ” MEANS AN INDIV IDUALIZED EDUCATION 13
PROGRAM, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLAN, AN INDIVIDUALIZED FA MILY SERVICE 14
PLAN, OR ANY OTHER CLINICA L OR EDUCATIONAL PLA N THAT DOCUMENTS A 15
HISTORY OR RISK OF ELOPEMENT. 16

(B) (1) SUBJECT TO FEDERAL AP PROVAL, THE PROGRAM SHALL COVER 17
AN APPROVED ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED SUPPORTS FOR AN 18
ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT WHEN ORDERED OR PRESC RIBED BY A QUALIFIED LICENSED 19
PROVIDER AND DOCUMENTED IN A QUALIFYING PLAN. 20

(2) COVERAGE MAY BE PROVI DED UNDER THE STATE PLAN , 21
INCLUDING: 22

(I) AS DURABLE MEDICAL EQ UIPMENT OR A COMPARA BLE 23
BENEFIT CATEGORY; 24

(II) AS AN EPSDT SERVICE WHEN MEDICALLY NECESSARY FOR 25
ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS; OR 26

(III) AS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLO GY OR SPECIALIZED ME DICAL 27
EQUIPMENT FOR PURPOS ES OF A HOME– AND COMMUNITY –BASED SERVICES 28
WAIVER. 29

(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH: 30

8 HOUSE BILL 1117

(I) REASONABLE PRIOR AUTH ORIZATION TO ENSURE 1
COST–EFFECTIVENESS OF APP ROVED ELOPEMENT RESP ONSE DEVICES PROVIDE D 2
UNDER THE PROGRAM; AND 3

(II) REPLACEMENT AND MAINT ENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR 4
APPROVED ELOPEMENT R ESPONSE DEVICES PROV IDED UNDER THE PROGRAM TO 5
ENSURE SAFETY OF ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS. 6

(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQU IRE INFORMED CONSENT FOR 7
ANY LOCATION –ENABLED DEVICE FROM THE ELIGIBLE RECIPIE NT OR , IF THE 8
ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT LACKS THE CAPACITY TO CONSENT, THE ENROLLEE’S PARENT 9
OR GUARDIAN. 10

(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS AND 11
DATA MINIMIZATION STANDARDS FOR APPROVED ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICES, 12
INCLUDING LIMITS ON DATA ELEMENTS , RETENTION, AND ACCESS CONSISTENT 13
WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. 14

(3) THE USE OF AN APPROVE D ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE OR 15
FAILURE TO USE AN AP PROVED ELOPEMENT RES PONSE DEVICE UNDER T HIS 16
SECTION MAY NOT BE A CONDITION OF ELIGIBI LITY FOR SERVICES OR BENEFITS 17
UNDER THE PROGRAM. 18

(D) AN APPROVED ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE MAY NOT BE 19
DETERMINED TO BE INELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE OR FUNDING UNDER THIS SECTION 20
OR ANY OTHER STATE PROGRAM SOLELY ON THE BASIS THAT TH E APPROVED 21
DEVICE INCORPORATES GLOBAL POSITIONING S YSTEM TECHNOLOGY , WIRELESS 22
COMMUNICATIONS, OR CONSUMER–AVAILABLE COMPONENTS. 23

(E) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT 24
OF EDUCATION, SHALL ISSUE GUIDANCE TO ENABLE SCHOOL –BASED BILLING OR 25
COST ALLOCATION WHEN FEDERALLY ALLOWABLE , INCLUDING FOR USE OF 26
APPROVED ELOPEMENT RESPO NSE DEVICES IN SCHOO L SETTINGS CONSISTEN T 27
WITH A QUALIFYING PLAN. 28

(F) (1) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 29
SUBMIT ANY NECESSARY STATE PLAN AMENDMENTS AND, IF APPLICABLE, WAIVER 30
AMENDMENTS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION. 31

(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAXI MIZE FEDERAL FINANCI AL 32
PARTICIPATION. 33

HOUSE BILL 1117 9

(3) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ESTABL ISH PILOTS OR PHASED 1
IMPLEMENTATION. 2

(G) THE DEPARTMENT MAY CARRY OUT THIS SECTION THR OUGH 3
REGULATIONS, PROVIDER BULLETINS, OR GUIDANCE PRIOR TO FINAL ADOPTION OF 4
REGULATIONS. 5

(H) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2027, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 6
THEREAFTER THROUGH 2029, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT TO THE SENATE 7
FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE 8
WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON IMPLEMENTATION 9
STATUS, UTILIZATION OF APPROVED DEVICES, COSTS, AND OUTCOMES. 10

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 11
as follows: 12

Article – Insurance 13

15–801. 14

(a) This section applies to: 15

(1) insurers that propose to issue or deliver in the State group or blanket 16
health insurance policies that are written on an expense–incurred basis; and 17

(2) nonprofit health service plans that propose to issue or deliver in the 18
State group medical or major medical contracts that are written on an expense –incurred 19
basis. 20

(b) [An] SUBJECT TO § 15–801.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE, AN entity subject to this 21
section shall offer the policyholder the option of providing benefits for expenses arising from 22
the care, including nursing home care an d intermediate or custodial nursing care, of 23
individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease. 24

(c) [An] SUBJECT TO § 15–801.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE, AN entity subject to this 25
section shall offer the policyholder the option of providing benefits for expenses arising from 26
the care of elderly individuals, including nursing home care and intermediate or custodial 27
nursing care of elderly individuals who have any disease, other than Alzheimer’s disease, 28
that is designated in regulations adopted by the Commissioner. 29

(d) An entity subject to this section may establish reasonable limits on the 30
benefits offered under this section, including copayment and deductible provisions and 31
maximum annual and lifetime dollar limits. 32

15–801.1. 33
10 HOUSE BILL 1117

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANI NGS 1
INDICATED. 2

(2) “APPROVED ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE” HAS THE MEANING 3
STATED IN § 15–160 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 4

(3) “ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN 5
DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE OR A RELAT ED DEMENTIA AND MEETS 6
MEDICAL NECESSITY CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 7
HEALTH. 8

(4) “ELOPEMENT” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 15–160 OF THE 9
HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 10

(5) “QUALIFIED LICENSED PROVIDER” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN 11
§ 15–160 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 12

(6) “QUALIFYING PLAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 15–160 OF 13
THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 14

(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO: 15

(1) INSURERS AND NONPROF IT HEALTH SERVICE PL ANS THAT 16
PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS 17
ON AN EXPENSE –INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICIES OR 18
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE; AND 19

(2) HEALTH MAINTENANCE O RGANIZATIONS THAT PR OVIDE 20
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS UNDER 21
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE. 22

(C) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR 23
AN APPROVED ELOPEMENT RESPONSE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED SUPPORTS FOR AN 24
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL WHEN ORDERED OR PRESCRIBED BY A QUALIFIED LICENSED 25
PROVIDER AND DOCUMENTED IN A QUALIFYING PLAN. 26

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall 27
apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the 28
State on or after January 1, 2027. 29

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 30
effect January 1, 2027. 31

HOUSE BILL 1117 11

SECTION 5. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , except as provided in 1
Section 4 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 2

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