Read the full stored bill text
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.
*sb0587*
SENATE BILL 587
J1, J3 6lr2811
By: Senator Guzzone Senators Guzzone, Corderman, Hettleman, Lewis Young,
McCray, Rosapepe, Salling, and Zucker
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 23, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Patient Safety Center Fund – Funding 2
FOR the purpose of requiring, rather than authorizing, the Governor to include in the 3
annual budget bill a certain appropriation to the Maryland Patient Safety Center 4
Fund; and generally relating to funding for the Maryland Patient Safety Center 5
Fund. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Health – General 8
Section 19–112 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Health – General 14
19–112. 15
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
(2) “Center” means a Patient Safety Center designated by the Commission. 17
2 SENATE BILL 587
(3) “Fund” means the Maryland Patient Safety Center Fund. 1
(b) (1) On or before December 31, 2025, the Commission shall designate a 2
Center for the State. 3
(2) The Center designated under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 4
continue to act as the State –designated Center for the duration o f the designation period, 5
as determined by the Commission, if the Center continuously meets the standards and 6
requirements established by the Commission. 7
(c) The designated Center shall: 8
(1) Develop, coordinate, and implement patient safety initiatives across the 9
State; 10
(2) Be a model for patient safety innovation and implementation in the 11
State; 12
(3) Convene health care providers, patients, and families to: 13
(i) Improve the quality of health care and reduce preventable and 14
avoidable harm; and 15
(ii) Provide safe and equitable health care for State citizens; and 16
(4) Share information relating to best practices among providers and 17
patients in the State. 18
(d) (1) There is a Patient Safety Center Fund. 19
(2) The purpose of the Fund is to sub sidize a portion of the costs of the 20
Center so that the Center may perform the duties described under subsection (c) of this 21
section. 22
(3) The Commission shall administer the Fund. 23
(4) (i) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 24
7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 25
(ii) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 26
Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 27
(5) The Fund consists of: 28
(i) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 29
(ii) Interest earnings; and 30
SENATE BILL 587 3
(iii) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit 1
of the Fund. 2
(6) The Fund may be used only to subsidize a portion of the costs of the 3
Center so that the Center may perform the duties described under subsection (c) of this 4
section. 5
(7) (i) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the 6
same manner as other State money may be invested. 7
(ii) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 8
(e) (1) (i) For fiscal years 2023 through 2025, the Governor shall include in 9
the annual budget bill an appropriation of $1,000,000 for the Fund. 10
(ii) For fiscal year [2026] 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 11
Governor [may] SHALL include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $1,000,000 12
for the Fund. 13
(2) The Commission may provide an annual grant from the Fund to the 14
Center in the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) of this subsection, plus any interest 15
and other income distributed to the Fund. 16
(3) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the 17
State budget. 18
(4) Money expended from the Fund for the Center is supplemental to, and 19
is not intended to take the place of, funding that otherwise would be appropriated for the 20
Center. 21
(f) On or before October 1 each year, the Commission, in conjunction with the 22
Center, shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and 23
Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 24
Article, on: 25
(1) The Center’s statewide activities related to the development, 26
coordination, and implementation of patient safety initiatives; and 27
(2) How the Center’s st atewide initiatives align with State –designated 28
priorities. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 30
1, 2026. 31