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*sb0870*
SENATE BILL 870
J1, J3 6lr3016
CF HB 1092
By: Senator A. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Department of Health – Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Beds – 2
Reports on Capacity in Prince George’s County and Report and Outcomes 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to ensure the 4
establishment and ongoing operation of a minimum number of licensed adolescent 5
psychiatric inpatient beds in Prince George’s County; requiring, under certain 6
circumstances, the Department to issue a request for proposals to establish 7
adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds in the county and to administer a certain grant 8
program; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to report to the Governor 9
and the General Assembly on certain information related to adolescent psychiatric 10
inpatient bed capacity in the State; requiring the Department to report to the 11
Governor and the General Assembly on certain information related to outcomes for 12
adolescents receiving care in adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds; and generally 13
relating to adolescent psychiatric inpatient bed capacity and outcomes. 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Health – General 16
Section 19–310.7 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
Preamble 20
WHEREAS, Maryland hospitals experience pediatric psychiatric overstay and 21
boarding pressures, and State law recognizes the occurrence of pediatric psychiatric 22
2 SENATE BILL 870
overstays and the need to transfer youth to appropriate treatment settings when clinically 1
indicated; and 2
WHEREAS, Prince George’s County has experienced reductions in adolescent 3
psychiatric inpatient service capacity, including the revocation of adolescent psychiatric 4
inpatient bed licenses; and 5
WHEREAS, The Maryland Department of Health maintains a statewide psychiatric 6
bed registry and referral system to identify available inpatient psychiatric beds and to 7
coordinate behavioral health placement; and 8
WHEREAS, State and local behavioral health planning documents identify an 9
ongoing need to expand and stre ngthen the quality and availability of behavioral health 10
services for children and youth; now, therefore, 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
19–310.7. 15
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17
(2) “ADOLESCENT” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL AT LEAST 12 YEARS OLD 18
AND UNDER THE AGE OF 17 YEARS. 19
(3) “ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BED ” MEANS A UNIT OF 20
LICENSED INPATIENT P SYCHIATRIC CAPACITY THAT PRO VIDES OVERNIGHT , 21
24–HOUR, FACILITY–BASED PSYCHIATRIC EV ALUATION, STABILIZATION, AND 22
TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS. 23
(B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PRINCE 24
GEORGE’S COUNTY LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, SHALL ENSURE THE 25
ESTABLISHMENT AND ON GOING OPERATION OF A T LEAST 24 ADOLESCENT 26
PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BEDS IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY BY: 27
(I) EXPANDING THE LICENSE D INPATIENT BED CAPA CITY AT 28
AN EXISTING INPATIENT FACILITY IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY; 29
(II) CONTRACTING WITH A PRIVATE OR NONPROFIT OPERATOR 30
THAT WILL ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A LICENS ED ADOLESCENT PSYCHI ATRIC 31
INPATIENT FACILITY; OR 32
SENATE BILL 870 3
(III) ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC –PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO 1
FINANCE AND OPERATE ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BEDS. 2
(2) IN CARRYING OUT PARAGRA PH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 3
DEPARTMENT SHALL PRIORITIZE SOLUTIONS THAT: 4
(I) REDUCE PEDIATRIC PSYC HIATRIC EMERGENCY 5
DEPARTMENT BOARDING AND INPATIENT OVERSTAYS; 6
(II) ARE REFLECTED IN AND MEASURABLE THROUGH T HE 7
STATE’S INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BED REGISTRY AND REFERRAL SYSTEM; AND 8
(III) ENSURE ACCESS REGARDL ESS OF PAYER SOURCE , 9
INCLUDING THE MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 10
(3) (I) IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT EXPANDING BED 11
CAPACITY UNDER PARAG RAPH (1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION W ILL NOT MEET THE 12
DEADLINE ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION , ON OR 13
BEFORE JUNE 30, 2027, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSU E A REQUEST FOR 14
PROPOSALS TO ESTABLISH THE ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BEDS. 15
(II) A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL S ISSUED UNDER 16
SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SH ALL BE DISTRIBUTED T O, AT A 17
MINIMUM, PRIVATE OR NONPROFIT OPERATORS WITH DEMON STRATED 18
EXPERIENCE IN ESTABL ISHING AD OLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BED 19
CAPACITY IN THE STATE. 20
(4) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2028, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 21
ENSURE THAT THE ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BEDS REQUIRED UNDER 22
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION A RE FULLY OPERATIONAL AND AVAILABLE 23
FOR PATIENT ADMISSION. 24
(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER A COMPETITIVE GRANT 25
PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH THE ADOLESCENT PSYCH IATRIC INPATIENT BED S 26
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 27
(2) (I) GRANT FUNDS AWARDED U NDER A PROGRAM 28
ADMINISTERED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION M AY BE DISBURSED 29
ONLY TO: 30
1. HOSPITALS; 31
2. PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES; 32
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3. NONPROFIT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; OR 1
4. PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. 2
(II) GRANT FUNDS AWARDED U NDER A PROGRAM 3
ADMINISTERED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION M AY BE USED ONLY 4
FOR THE FOLLOWING CA PITAL COSTS ASSOCIAT ED WITH OPERATING TH E 5
ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT BEDS: 6
1. RENOVATION; 7
2. CONSTRUCTION; 8
3. SAFETY OR LIGATURE UPGRADES; OR 9
4. WORKFORCE START–UP EXPENSES. 10
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 11
(a) On or before October December 1, 2027 2026, and annually thereafter until 12
2030, the Maryland Department of Health shall report to the Governor and, in accordance 13
with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on: 14
(1) the number and location of licensed adolescent psychiatric inpatient 15
beds by county; 16
(2) metrics for pediatric psychiatric emergency department boarding and 17
overstay; 18
(3) any barriers to staffing licensed adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds, 19
including licensure barriers; and 20
(4) recommendations for rate or regulatory changes needed to maintain 21
sufficient capacity of licensed adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds. 22
(b) The Department shall use available data systems, including the State 23
inpatient psychiatric registry and referral system, to generate data for the report required 24
under subsection (a) of this section. 25
SECTION 3. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 26
(a) On or before December 1, 2026, the Maryland Department of Health, in 27
consultation with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and 28
the Prince George’s County local behavioral health authority, shall study and report to the 29
SENATE BILL 870 5
Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General 1
Assembly on the resources, staffing parameters, treatment plans, and therapeutic 2
environments that would ensure: 3
(1) the best possible outcomes for adolescents receiving care in adolescent 4
psychiatric inpatient beds; and 5
(2) that the correct services are provided to the adolescents. 6
(b) The Maryland Department of Health may partner with relevant organizations 7
in conducting the study under subsection (a) of this section. 8
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
June 1, 2026. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.