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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0702*
SENATE BILL 702
J3, J1 6lr2579
CF HB 922
By: Senator Mautz
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Behavioral Health Administration – Behavioral Health Program Relocation – 2
Regulations 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Behavioral Health Administration to adopt certain 4
regulations authorizing an existing behavioral health program to move to relocate to 5
a new site; and generally relating to the relocation of behavioral health programs. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Health – General 8
Section 7.5–402(a) 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
7.5–402. 15
(a) Regulations adopted under this subtitle shall include: 16
(1) The requirements for licen sure of a behavioral health program, 17
including a requirement that the behavioral health program: 18
(i) 1. Establish and implement a safety plan for the safety of the 19
individuals served by the behavioral health program; or 20
2. Implement a safety or emergency plan established for the 21
program for another purpose; and 22
2 SENATE BILL 702
(ii) Revise the safety plan not less than every 5 years; 1
(2) The process for a behavioral health program to apply for a license; 2
(3) A description of the behavioral health programs that are required to be 3
licensed; 4
(4) Any requirements for the governance of a behavioral health program, 5
including: 6
(i) A provision prohibiting a conflict of interest between the 7
interests of the provider and those of the individual receiving services; 8
(ii) A provision authorizing a behavioral health program licensed as 9
an outpatient mental health center to satisfy any regulatory requirement that the medical 10
director be on site through the use of telehealth by the director; and 11
(iii) A provision authorizing a psychiatric nurse practitioner to serve 12
as a medical director of an outpatient mental health center accredited in accordance with 13
COMAR 10.63.03.05, including through telehealth; 14
(5) Provisions for inspections of a behavioral hea lth program, including 15
inspection and copying of the records of a behavioral health program in accordance with 16
State and federal law; [and] 17
(6) Provisions for denials, sanctions, suspensions, and revocations of 18
licenses, including imposition of civil monetary penalties, and notice and an opportunity to 19
be heard; AND 20
(7) PROVISIONS AUTHORIZING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM TO 21
RELOCATE TO ANOTHER SITE, INCLUDING: 22
(I) A PROVISION PROVIDING AN EXPEDITED APPROVA L 23
PROCESS FOR THE RELO CATION OF AN EXISTIN G BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM 24
THAT IS SEPARATE FRO M THE APPLICATION PR OCESS FOR A NEW BEHA VIORAL 25
HEALTH PROGRAM; 26
(II) A PROVISION AUTHORIZIN G A RELOCATING BEHAV IORAL 27
HEALTH PROGRAM TO US E DOCUMENTATION PREV IOUSLY SUBMITTED TO THE 28
ADMINISTRATION IF THE INFORMATION IN THE DOCU MENTATION IS UNCHANG ED 29
OR NOT RELEVANT TO THE PROCESS OF RELOCATING TO A NEW SITE; 30
(III) A PROVISION AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY APPROVAL FOR A 31
RELOCATING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM TO BEGIN PRACTICING AT THE NEW 32
SENATE BILL 702 3
SITE ON A DETERMINAT ION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT T HE NEW LOCATION 1
MEETS LIFE SAFETY STANDARDS; 2
(IV) A PROVISION AUTHORIZIN G THE ADMINISTRATION TO 3
CONSIDER THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM’S REGULATORY RECORD AS A BASIS 4
FOR STREAMLINING THE RELOCATION REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS; AND 5
(V) A PROVISION REQUIRING THE ADMINISTRATION TO 6
PROVIDE CLEAR TIMELI NES AND STANDARDS FO R THE RELOCATION REV IEW AND 7
APPROVAL PROCESS. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10