Maryland HB 244: Task Force to Study Access to Mental Health Care in Higher Education

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0244*

HOUSE BILL 244
F2, J1 1lr1109
HB 1504/20 – APP (PRE–FILED) CF SB 161
By: Delegate Valentino–Smith
Requested: October 23, 2020
Introduced and read first time: January 13, 2021
Assigned to: Appropriations

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Task Force to Study Access to Mental Health Care in Higher Education 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Task Force to Study Access to Mental Health Care in 3
Higher Education; providing for the composition, chair, and staffing of the Task 4
Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving certain compensation, 5
but authorizing the reimbursement of certain expenses; requiring the Task Force to 6
study and make recommendations regarding certain matters; requiring the Task 7
Force to submit an interim and a final report to certain committees of the General 8
Assembly on or before certain dates; providing for the termination of this Act; and 9
generally relating to the Task Force to Study Access to Mental Health Care in Higher 10
Education. 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That: 13

(a) There is a Task Force to Study Access to Mental Health Care in Higher 14
Education. 15

(b) The Task Force consists of the following members: 16

(1) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 17
the Senate; 18

(2) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 19
the House; 20

(3) two representatives of the University System of Maryland, designated 21
by the Chancellor of the System; 22

(4) two representatives of private nonprofit institutions of higher 23

2 HOUSE BILL 244

education, designated by the President of the Maryland Independent College and 1
University Association; 2

(5) one representative of the Mental Health Association of Maryland, 3
designated by the Board of Directors of the Association; 4

(6) one representative of the Maryland Chapter of the National Alliance on 5
Mental Illness, designated by the Board of Directors of the Chapter; 6

(7) three members, designated by the Chancellor of the University System 7
of Maryland, each of whom is a family member of an individual who is: 8

(i) enrolled in an institution of higher education on the date the 9
member is designated; or 10

(ii) a former student at an institution of higher education with 11
experience using campus mental health services; and 12

(8) the following members appointed by the Governor: 13

(i) one psychiatrist; and 14

(ii) one nurse psychotherapist experienced in providing mental 15
health services. 16

(c) The Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House 17
jointly shall designate the chair of the Task Force. 18

(d) (1) The Maryland Higher Education Commission shall provide staff for the 19
Task Force. 20

(2) The Chancellor of the University System of Maryland shall appoint an 21
individual to assist the Commission with staffing. 22

(e) A member of the Task Force: 23

(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 24

(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 25
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 26

(f) The Task Force shall: 27

(1) study the policies and procedures adopted by institutions of higher 28
education in the State regarding access to mental health care and the prevention and 29
treatment of mental illness in students; 30

HOUSE BILL 244 3

(2) examine the challenges for institutions of higher education in meeting 1
the demand for mental health services; 2

(3) review best practices for accessing off–campus mental health services; 3

(4) review best practices for, and barriers to, the implementation of 4
counseling services, including crisis, personal, mental health, sexual violence, and 5
substance abuse counseling; 6

(5) review and identify the best models for accessing mental health 7
services, including consideration of stand–alone centers, centers with integrated student 8
health services, comprehensive services, case management, and crisis resources; 9

(6) identify concerns in rural areas and workforce shortage areas; 10

(7) study any other matters the Task Force considers appropriate; and 11

(8) make recommendations regarding: 12

(i) ways to reduce costs and barriers to providing access to mental 13
health services on campus; 14

(ii) the use of telemedicine and video conferencing; 15

(iii) the use of hotlines and other means to disseminate information 16
to students related to mental health services on and off campus, including information 17
concerning availability and fees; 18

(iv) the implementation of general mental health counseling services 19
and specialized counseling services; and 20

(vi) any other matters the Task Force considers appropriate. 21

(g) (1) On or before December 1, 2021, the Task Force shall submit an interim 22
report of its findings and