In this article the following words have the meanings indicated. “Active duty” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article. “Armed forces” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article. “County” means a county of this State and, unless expressly provided otherwise, Baltimore City. “Department” means the Maryland Department of Health. “Household member” means someone who is: The individual’s: Spouse; Son; Daughter; Ward; or Parent; or The individual’s relative: Who shares the individual’s legal residence; or Whose financial affairs are under the legal or actual control of the individual. “Includes” or “including” means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. “Oral competency” means general English–speaking proficiency as evidenced by achievement of a passing score obtained on a Board approved standardized test. “Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind and any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity. “Physician” means, except in Title 14 of this article, an individual who is authorized by a law of this State to practice medicine in this State. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health. “State” means: A state, possession, or territory of the United States; The District of Columbia; or The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. “Substantial financial interest” means: An asset with a fair market value of $1,000 or more; or A source of income of $500 or more in a calendar year. “Uniformed services” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article. “Veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

It is the policy of the State that health occupations should be regulated and controlled as provided in this article to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The health occupations boards established by this article, the majority of whose members are licensed or certified under this article, are created to function as independent boards, with the intent that a peer group is best qualified to regulate, control, and otherwise discipline in a fair and unbiased manner the licensees or certificate holders who practice in the State.

In this section, “Commission” means the Maryland Health Centralization Commission. There is a Maryland Health Centralization Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to provide ongoing advice and recommendations to the General Assembly on how best to increase collaboration between the Department and the health occupations boards to achieve greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The Commission consists of the following members: One member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate; One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; The Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services; The Executive Director of the State Board of Nursing, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the State Board of Physicians, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the State Board of Pharmacy, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the State Board of Social Work Examiners, or the Executive Director’s designee; Three members who are the executive directors, or the executive directors’ designees, of health occupations boards not otherwise represented on the Commission, designated jointly by the health occupations boards not otherwise represented on the Commission; and Any additional members appointed by the cochairs that the cochairs, in consultation with the health occupations boards, determine to be necessary to accomplish the goals of the Commission. The member of the Senate of Maryland and the member of the House of Delegates appointed under subsection (d) of this section shall cochair the Commission. The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff for the Commission. Each health occupation board established under this article shall designate a representative of the health occupation board to be available to work with the Commission. Each health occupation board shall provide, as soon as practicable but not later than 10 business days after receiving a request, any information requested by the Commission. A member of the Commission: May not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Commission shall: Provide recommendations to ensure that: Each health occupation board remedies audit findings and violations of law, regulation, or policy; and Each health occupation board establishes policies and procedures for, as applicable: The timely processing of applications; Responding to complaints; Conducting investigations and inspections; Conducting criminal history records checks, including the receipt of revised criminal history information from the Central Repository after the date of an initial criminal history records check; The collection of fees and the accounting of financial activities, including the assessment of penalties for violations of those policies and procedures; Taking appropriate actions for license application fraud, including the assessment of fines; and Any other areas in which action is needed, as determined by the Commission; and Provide recommendations on: Establishing a comprehensive licensure system that may be used by a health occupations board; Authorizing a health occupations board that uses the comprehensive licensure system to use license fees to support the system; Consolidating administrative functions to establish and enhance efficiency and control in all areas, including through the use of existing Department systems for e–mail, finance, and human resources services across all health occupations boards; and Increasing public awareness and usage of the Maryland Quality Reporting website of the Maryland Health Care Commission to assist individuals with selecting appropriate health care settings. On or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2026, the Commission shall report its findings and recommendations, including any draft legislation, to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Finance Committee, the House Health Committee, and the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee.

On or before July 1 each year, each health occupations board shall certify to the Secretary of Information Technology that the information technology systems used by the health occupations board meet the State minimum cybersecurity requirements.