Developmental Disabilities Administration - Self-Directed Services Manual - Public Comment

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0583*

SENATE BILL 583
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By: Senators Jennings, Bailey, Salling, Gallion, Carozza, and Ready
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Finance

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Developmental Disabilities Administration – Self–Directed Services Manual – 2
Public Comment 3

FOR the purpose of requiring the Deputy Secretary for Developmental Disabilities to 4
provide notice to the public before making changes to the Self –Directed Services 5
Manual; requiring the Deputy Secretary to receive and consider comments on the 6
proposed changes from the public for at least a certain period; prohibiting the Deputy 7
Secretary from adopting the proposed changes until the public comment period has 8
ended; and generally relating to the Self–Directed Services Manual. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Health – General 11
Section 7–101(a), (b), (f), (w), and (x) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY adding to 15
Article – Health – General 16
Section 7–409.1 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21

Article – Health – General 22

7–101. 23

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 24

2 SENATE BILL 583

(b) “Administration” means the Developmental Disabilities Administration. 1

(f) “Deputy Secretary” means the Deputy Secretary for Developmental 2
Disabilities. 3

(w) (1) “Self–directed services” means waiver program services: 4

(i) For which participants or their representatives have 5
decision–making authority over and take direct responsibility for management of the 6
services with the assistance of available supports chosen by the participant or the 7
participant’s representative; and 8

(ii) That are provided in a manner that: 9

1. Furthers the right of individuals and their 10
representatives, as applicable, to make choices about and direct all aspects of their lives, 11
including by choosing and controlling the delivery of waiver servi ces, who provides the 12
services, and how services are provided; and 13

2. Recognizes that all individuals have the capacity to make 14
choices and may be supported in making choices. 15

(2) “Self–directed services” includes services that: 16

(i) Provide an individual with: 17

1. The decision–making employer authority to recruit, hire, 18
train, supervise, and dismiss the employees and vendors who furnish the individual’s 19
services; and 20

2. The budget authority over how funds in a budget are spent 21
within the total approved annual budget; 22

(ii) Maximize the opportunities of an individual to live as 23
independently as possible in the most inclusive community –based setting of the 24
individual’s choice; 25

(iii) Empower an individual to exercise choice and contr ol over 26
needed long–term services and supports; and 27

(iv) Help to maintain and improve the individual’s health and quality 28
of life in the individual’s community. 29

(x) “Services” means residential, day, or other services that provide for 30
evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care, supervision, assistance, or attention to individuals 31
with developmental disability and that promote habilitation of these individuals. 32

SENATE BILL 583 3

7–409.1. 1

(A) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC 2
BEFORE MAKING CHANGES TO THE SELF–DIRECTED SERVICES MANUAL 3
DEVELOPED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. 4

(B) IF THE DEPUTY SECRETARY PROPOSES TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE 5
SELF–DIRECTED SERVICES MANUAL, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL RECEIVE 6
AND CONSIDER COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES FROM THE PUBLIC FOR A 7
PERIOD OF AT LEAST 90 DAYS AFTER THE DATE NOTICE IS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC 8
UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 9

(C) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY MAY NOT ADO PT THE PROPOSED CHAN GES 10
UNTIL AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF 11
THIS SECTION HAS ENDED. 12

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
October 1, 2026. 14