Division 10. County Health Systems
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Division 10. County Health Systems
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-170 (2026)
Sec. 2-170. ReservedLinkCopy Citation
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-171 (2026)
Sec. 2-171. County Health Resource CouncilsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
There are hereby established the following County health resource advisory councils to plan, coordinate, assess, evaluate, and make recommendations for the improvement of existing services and the development of new programs and facilities in their respective designated areas of concern as hereinafter delineated:
(1)
The Mental Health Advisory Committee;
(2)
The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-172 (2026)
Sec. 2-172. Mental Health Advisory Committee: Composition, Appointments, Terms of OfficeLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Mental Health Advisory Committee for Prince George's County, hereinafter referred to as the "Advisory Committee," is established pursuant to Section 10-308, et seq., Health-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, to serve as advocate for a comprehensive mental health system for persons of all ages and shall have and exercise the powers, duties, and functions provided hereinafter.
(b)
The voting membership shall be representative of the County's major socioeconomic and ethnic groups and shall consist of:
(1)
Seven (7) representatives to be selected from among the following groups or agencies:
(A)
The County Board of Education;
(B)
The County Department of Social Services;
(C)
The County Medical Society;
(D)
Mental health professionals who are not physicians;
(E)
Member of the clergy;
(F)
The Prince George's County Bar Association;
(G)
The Mental Health Association of Prince George's County;
(H)
The Police Department;
(I)
The Sheriff's Department;
(J)
A local general hospital that contains an inpatient psychiatric unit;
(K)
A local agency working with the elderly;
(L)
The Department of Juvenile Services;
(M)
A local alcohol and drug abuse agency;
(N)
A local community rehabilitation or housing program; and
(O)
Members of the general public.
At least two members shall be appointed from (G) and (O), above.
(2)
At least seven (7), but no more than nine (9), individuals shall be selected from among the following groups or organizations:
(A)
At least two (2) individuals who are currently receiving or who have in the past received mental health services;
(B)
Parents or other relatives of adults with mental disorders;
(C)
Parents or other relatives of children or adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders, the onset of which occurred during childhood or adolescence.
(c)
The nonvoting ex-officio members shall be the following individuals or their designees:
(1)
The County Executive;
(2)
A Member of the County Council;
(3)
The County Health Officer;
(4)
The Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration, Southern Regional Office;
(5)
A representative from at least one of the State inpatient facilities that serves the County to be appointed by the Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration;
(6)
The Director of the Directorate of Mental Health of the County Health Department;
(7)
The Director of the Core Service Agency.
(d)
The term of office of each voting member of the Advisory Committee shall be for three (3) years, commencing on the first day of July of the year of an appointment. The terms of one-third of the members shall end each year. Members who have served two (2) consecutive, full three-year terms shall not be eligible for reappointment for a period of two (2) years following completion of such terms.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173 (2026)
Sec. 2-173. Same; Officers; Meetings; Bylaws; Subcommittees; Ex-Officio Members; Staff SupportLinkCopy Citation
(a)
A chairperson and other officers shall be elected annually from among and by the membership of the Advisory Committee. A member shall not serve as chairperson for more than two (2) consecutive years.
(b)
The Advisory Committee shall meet in public session as frequently as required to perform its duties and exercise its responsibilities at least six times per year at the times and places that the Advisory Committee determines. The minutes of each meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be recorded and copies thereof shall be made available at cost to any interested party upon request. Any member of the Advisory Committee who fails, without an excused absence, to attend three (3) consecutive meetings of the Advisory Committee, or six (6) or more of the meetings of the Advisory Committee in any given calendar year, shall be considered to have resigned from the Advisory Committee. Any member of the Advisory Committee may be removed by the County Executive, pursuant to Section 507 of County Charter.
(c)
The Advisory Committee shall adopt bylaws governing the conduct of its meetings and other official duties and activities.
(d)
The Advisory Committee may create internal subcommittees and solicit the assistance of additional participants as needed.
(e)
The County Health Officer shall annually confer with the Advisory Committee in order to ascertain the need for and provide such staff services to the Advisory Committee as are, in the Health Officer's judgement, essential to insure that the Advisory Committee's work is facilitated. Upon establishment of a County Core Service Agency, the Director of that agency shall assume the above duties.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.01 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.01. Same; Duties and ResponsibilitiesLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Advisory Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1)
To monitor, review, and evaluate the allocation and adequacy of publicly-funded mental health services for County residents through means such as conducting or participating in site visits;
(2)
To determine the needs of the County mental health system, including quality of services, gaps in the system, and interagency coordination;
(3)
To participate in the development of the local mental health plan and local mental health budget;
(4)
To prepare and disseminate an annual report to the following:
(A)
The Health Officer;
(B)
The County Mental Health Director;
(C)
The County Executive and County Council;
(D)
The Director of the local Core Service Agency, if any;
(E)
The regional mental health director;
(F)
The Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration;
(G)
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and
(H)
The Maryland Advisory Council on Mental Hygiene;
(5)
The annual report shall include the following:
(A)
A description of the progress of the County mental health system;
(B)
Recommendations on actions needed to improve the system;
(C)
Recommendations on priorities for allocation of funds; and
(D)
In accordance with those priorities and after consideration of financial resources, recommendations on appropriate allocation of funds;
(6)
To review and comment on the annual Core Service Agency or County mental health plan and preliminary budget, prior to submission of the budget to the State; and
(7)
To review and comment on the annual fiscal report.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.02 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.02. Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council; Establishment; Appointments; MembershipLinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is hereby established a Prince George's County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as "EMSAC," to develop an emergency medical health systems plan for Prince George's County; to promote cooperation among lay and professional health resources concerned with emergency health care in Prince George's County; to advise all agencies concerned with health services of the County personnel, services, and equipment used or required to be used for effective delivery of emergency health services.
(b)
Voting members of the EMSAC shall be appointed in conformity with County Charter provisions. Initial appointments shall be made within thirty (30) calendar days of the effective date of the enactment of this Division.
(c)
The voting membership of the EMSAC shall be so constituted so as to provide the following representation:
(1)
One (1) member representing the County Council;
(2)
One (1) member representing the County Executive;
(3)
One (1) member representing the County Department of Education;
(4)
One (1) member representing the County Medical Society;
(5)
One (1) licensed physician representing the emergency department of a County-operated hospital;
(6)
One (1) licensed physician representing the emergency department of a privately-operated hospital within the County;
(7)
One (1) nurse representing the emergency department of a County-operated hospital;
(8)
One (1) nurse representing the emergency department of a privately-operated hospital within the County;
(9)
One (1) member representing the County Police Department;
(10)
Two (2) members representing the County Fire Department, one (1) each concerned with the areas of operations and training, respectively;
(11)
One (1) member representing the County Volunteer Fireman's Association;
(12)
One (1) member representing the County Volunteer Rescue Squad Association;
(13)
One (1) member representing the County Office of Emergency Preparedness;
(14)
One (1) member representing a news or mass media organization in the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area;
(15)
One (1) member representing the Prince George's County Chapter of the American Red Cross;
(16)
One (1) member representing the Heart Association of Prince George's County;
(17)
One (1) member representing the County Bar Association;
(18)
One (1) member representing the administrative staff of a County-operated hospital;
(19)
One (1) member representing the administrative staff of a privately-operated hospital within the County;
(20)
One (1) member representing the County Health Officer;
(21)
One (1) member representing the Director of the County Department of Hospitals and Health Services; and
(22)
At least three (3) members representing citizens of the County who are consumers rather than providers of emergency medical services.
(d)
In addition to the voting members, the ex officio, nonvoting member of the EMSAC shall be a representative of the Maryland Division of Emergency Medical Services for Region 5. Said ex officio member shall not require appointment and confirmation pursuant to Section 322 of County Charter, but shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing body.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.03 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.03. Same; Terms of Office; Officers; Bylaws; Subcommittees; Staff SupportLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The terms of office of each voting member of EMSAC shall be for three (3) years, commencing on the first day of July of the year of an appointment; except, that of the members initially appointed to EMSAC, one-third (1/3) shall be appointed for a period of one (1) year, one-third (1/3) shall be appointed for a period of two (2) years, and one-third (1/3) shall be appointed for a period of three (3) years.
(b)
The officers of EMSAC shall be elected annually from among and by its voting membership.
(c)
EMSAC shall meet in public session on call by the Chairman, but not less than once each quarter. The minutes of each meeting shall be recorded and copies thereof be made available to any interested party upon request at cost. Any member who fails, without an excused absence, to attend three (3) consecutive meetings of EMSAC, or six (6) or more meetings in any given calendar year, shall be considered to have resigned from EMSAC. Any member may be removed by the County Executive, pursuant to Section 507 of County Charter.
(d)
EMSAC shall adopt bylaws governing the conduct of its meetings and other official duties and activities.
(e)
EMSAC may create internal subcommittees and solicit the assistance of additional participants as needed.
(f)
EMSAC shall receive technical assistance and full-time, professional staff support on a regular and timely basis from the Director of the County Department of Hospitals and Health Services.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.04 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.04. Same; Duties and ResponsibilitiesLinkCopy Citation
(a)
EMSAC shall assist the Director of the County Department of Hospitals and Health Services in the preparation of, and in the revision of, on an annual basis thereafter, an emergency medical health systems plan for the County.
(b)
EMSAC shall annually prepare a report on the progress of the County's health program in the area of emergency medical services and care and shall include therein recommendations for program improvements. Each such report shall be distributed to the County Executive and the County Council.
(c)
EMSAC shall make recommendations to the County Executive and the County Council for the appropriate allocation of funds associated with emergency medical services and programs in accordance with the priorities set forth in the County's current emergency medical health systems plan, as prepared under Subsection (a), above, and in consideration of available financial resources.
(d)
EMSAC shall promote cooperation with the Maryland Division of Emergency Medical Services for Region 5 and with other similar organizations functioning within the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.05 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.05. Nursing Home Advisory Committee; Creation; CompositionLinkCopy Citation
There is hereby established the Nursing Home Advisory Committee (NHAC) which shall consist of nine (9) members appointed for three (3) year terms or until their successors are confirmed. All terms shall commence on July 1 and terminate on June 30. No member shall serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms. Each member shall be a resident of Prince George's County, Maryland. Members of the NHAC shall serve without compensation. One (1) of said members shall be a representative of the Prince George's County Department of Health; one (1) of said members shall be a representative of the Prince George's County Department of Services and Programs for the Aging; one (1) of said members shall be a representative of the Prince George's County Medical Society; one (1) of said members shall be the owner and/or administrator of a nursing home located in Prince George's County; five (5) of said members shall be of the Public at large, provided that three (3) of the five (5) shall be representatives of the senior citizen population within Prince George's County. For the purpose of the foregoing, the term "senior citizen" shall mean any person fifty-five (55) years of age or older. For the first nine (9) members appointed to the NHAC, two (2) public members and the Medical Society member shall be appointed for one (1) year terms; one (1) public member, the Department of Services and Programs for the Aging member and the nursing home owner and/or administrator member shall be appointed for two (2) year terms; and two (2) public members and the Health Department member shall be appointed for three (3) year terms. The members of the NHAC shall be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council pursuant to Section 322 of the Charter. Every appointment shall specify the term or remaining portion thereof for which the appointment is made. Any member of the NHAC may be removed by the County Executive pursuant to Section 507 of the County Charter.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.06 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.06. Same; Officers; Meetings; Bylaws; Subcommittee; Staff SupportLinkCopy Citation
The officers of the NHAC shall be elected annually from among and by the membership of the Advisory Committee. The chairmanship of the NHAC shall not be held by the same person for more than two (2) consecutive years. The NHAC shall adopt Bylaws governing the conduct of its meetings and other activities. The NHAC may create internal subcommittees and solicit the assistance of additional participants as needed. The Prince George's County Department of Health shall provide staff assistance as needed by the NHAC.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.07 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.07. Same; Duties and ResponsibilitiesLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The NHAC shall assist the County Council sitting as the Board of Health and the County Health Officer in the following ways:
(1)
To review and make recommendations on nursing home policies and programs as they relate to the licensing and regulation of nursing homes in Prince George's County; and,
(2)
To meet with members of the nursing home industry in Prince George's County to discuss matters of mutual concern and to advise County Council sitting as the Board of Health and the County Health Officer as to the need for legislation pertaining to nursing home policies and regulations.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.08 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.08. Substance Abuse Advisory Council; created; membershipLinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is hereby established the Substance Abuse Advisory Council. The Council shall be appointed by the Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Council, pursuant to Section 322 of the Charter.
(b)
The Substance Abuse Advisory Council shall consist of the following voting members:
(1)
One (1) member representing the County Executive and one (1) member representing the County Council;
(2)
One (1) member representing the Board of Education;
(3)
One (1) member representing the Department of Social Services;
(4)
One (1) member from the Prince George's County Medical Society representing practicing physicians;
(5)
One (1) member representing the clergy;
(6)
One (1) member representing the legal profession;
(7)
Two (2) members employed in local alcoholism and drug abuse treatment programs;
(8)
One (1) member representing the nursing profession;
(9)
One (1) member representing the County Mental Health Association;
(10)
One (1) member representing the Southern Maryland Health Systems Agency;
(11)
One (1) member representing veterans' concerns; and
(12)
At least nineteen (19) members representing the community as a whole, ten (10) of whom shall be of high school age.
The term of office of each voting member of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council, except the student members, shall be for three (3) years, commencing on the first day of July of the year of appointment. Appointments shall be staggered so that one-third (1/3) expire each year, exclusive of student members. The student members shall be appointed for terms of one (1) year. Members who serve two (2) consecutive full terms are not eligible for reappointment for three (3) years following completion of their terms.
(c)
The County Health Officer and the Drug Policy Coordinator shall be ex officio members of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council. Additional County department heads and employees may be designated as ex officio members of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council by Executive Order.
(d)
Officers shall be elected annually by the voting members. A member may not be Chairman for more than two (2) consecutive years.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-173.09 (2026)
Sec. 2-173.09. Organization; subcommittees; dutiesLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Substance Abuse Advisory Council shall have five (5) standing subcommittees and a nine (9) member policy board. The policy board shall be composed of the Chairman of each of the five (5) subcommittees and four (4) citizen members of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council. Each subcommittee shall be comprised of a minimum of five (5) members of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council, at least two (2) of whom shall be citizen members and two (2) of whom shall be student members.
(b)
The duties of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Policy Board are as follows:
(1)
Periodically review, with the advice and assistance of the State Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, available services and facilities and determine local substance abuse program needs;
(2)
Advise and report annually to the County Health Officer, the County Executive, and the County Council, and through the Drug Policy Coordinator to the Directors of the State Alcoholism Control Administration and the Drug Abuse Administration on the progress of the local substance abuse control program and the actions needed for further improvements;
(3)
Make recommendations for appropriate allocations of funds in accordance with agreed-upon priorities and consideration of financial resources;
(4)
Assist the Drug Policy Coordinator in the development of the annual alcoholism and drug abuse plan;
(5)
Review and comment on all local new and renewal State grant applications;
(6)
Review and comment on all local federal grant applications for alcoholism and drug abuse programs;
(7)
Provide input to the State Advisory Council on Alcoholism Control;
(8)
Act as a local advocate for alcoholism and drug abuse programming;
(9)
Participate in program evaluation;
(10)
Review of the State alcoholism plan and drug abuse plan.
(c)
The five (5) advisory subcommittees shall have the following duties and purposes:
(1)
The Business and Labor Advisory Subcommittee shall identify and make recommendations concerning work place policies and the role that businesses can play in the County's plan to eliminate substance abuse.
(2)
The Education Advisory Subcommittee shall identify and make recommendations concerning effective methods to teach substance abuse awareness.
(3)
The Community Involvement Advisory Subcommittee shall identify and coordinate the efforts of service clubs; recreation and community groups; religious institutions; and civic, tenant, and condo organizations that are designed to create a substance-free environment.
(4)
The Law Enforcement Advisory Subcommittee shall provide policy recommendations and coordinate the efforts of the County's public safety agencies in efforts to fight substance abuse.
(5)
The Medical Treatment Advisory Subcommittee shall identify and make recommendations concerning County-wide needs for providing drug treatment and prevention programs.