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*hb1284*
HOUSE BILL 1284
J1, J2 6lr2685
By: Delegate Guzzone
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Residential Service Agencies – Private Duty Nursing – On–Site Nurse Training 2
Programs 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to adopt regulations 4
that authorize a residential service agency to provide training to a licensed nurse 5
after hire ; authorizing a residential service agency that provides private duty 6
nursing services to employ a licensed nurse who does not meet certain requirements 7
under certain circumstances; requiring a residential service agency to provide 8
training and a competency evaluation for certain nurses; and generally relating to 9
residential service agencies. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Health – General 12
Section 19–4A–03 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Health – General 17
Section 19–4A–03.2 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1284
Article – Health – General 1
19–4A–03. 2
(a) The Department shall adopt regulations that set standards for the care, 3
treatment, health, safety, welfare, and comfort of individuals who receive home health care 4
services through a residential service agency. 5
(b) The regulations shall provide for the licensing of residential service agencies. 6
(c) The regulations shall include provisions that: 7
(1) Provide for the establishment of residential service agencies; 8
(2) Establish qualifications for licensure; 9
(3) Set minimum standards for individuals who provide home health care 10
services through a residential service agency; [and] 11
(4) Require the residential service agency to screen and verify the 12
character references of all home health care providers that are employed by the residential 13
service agency; AND 14
(5) AUTHORIZE A RESIDENTI AL SERVICE AGENCY TO PROVIDE 15
TRAINING TO A LICENSED NURSE AFTER HIRE IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 19–4A–03.2 16
OF THIS SUBTITLE. 17
19–4A–03.2. 18
(A) A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES PRIVAT E DUTY 19
NURSING SERVICES MAY EMPLOY A LICENSED NU RSE WHO DOES NOT MEET THE 20
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT IF THE 21
RESIDENTIAL SERVICE AGENCY PROVIDES TRAI NING AND A COMPETENCY 22
EVALUATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION. 23
(B) A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE AGENCY THAT SEEKS TO EMPLOY A NURSE 24
DESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL: 25
(1) ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO 26
ENSURE SAFE AND COMPETENT CARE BASED ON PATIENT NEEDS; 27
(2) ENSURE THE NURSE RECE IVES CLINICAL SUPERVISION BY A 28
REGISTERED NURSE QUALIFIED IN PRIVATE DUTY NURSING SERVICES; 29
HOUSE BILL 1284 3
(3) ASSIGN THE NURSE TO A QUALIFIED PRECEPTOR OR CLINICAL 1
SUPERVISOR UNTIL COMPETENCY IS DEMONSTRATED; 2
(4) DOCUMENT SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF REQUIR ED 3
COMPETENCY STANDARDS IN THE NURSE’S PERSONNEL FILE; AND 4
(5) CONDUCT COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS OF THE NURSE: 5
(I) ANNUALLY; OR 6
(II) FOR DISCIPLINARY PURP OSES, ON A MORE FREQUENT 7
SCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 8
(C) A TRAINING PROGRAM AND COMPETENCY EVALUATION REQUIRED 9
UNDER THIS SECTION ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE DEPARTMENT. 10
(D) THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT REQUIREMENTS 11
RELATING TO OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE, SCOPE OF PRACTICE, OR STANDARDS OF 12
CARE. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14
October 1, 2026. 15
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.