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<section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="8-1408" title_number="8" title_name="Children, Youth, and Families" subtitle_number="14">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Advisory Council” means the Advisory Council on Maryland’s System of Care for Children, Youth, and Families.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is an Advisory Council on Maryland’s System of Care for Children, Youth, and Families.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the Special Secretary, or the Special Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>the Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Care Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients, or the Executive Director’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>a representative from the State–authorized administrator of 2–1–1 services in Maryland, appointed by the Governor;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>the coordinators, as defined in § 19–388 of the Health – General Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="12">
      <text>the Public Defender, or the Public Defender’s designee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="13">
      <text>the State Foster Youth Ombudsman; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="14">
      <text>the following members, who have experience and knowledge of working with children with behavioral health challenges, adverse childhood experiences, and developmental disabilities, appointed by the Governor:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Senior Advisor;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>one representative of a local department of social services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>one representative of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>one representative of Disability Rights Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>one representative of the Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>one representative of Maryland Legal Aid;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>one representative of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>one representative of the National Association of Social Workers – Maryland who is a hospital–based clinical social worker;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>one representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="x">
        <text>one representative of the Maryland Hospital Association;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xi">
        <text>one representative of a specialty psychiatric hospital;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xii">
        <text>one representative of an acute care hospital emergency department;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiii">
        <text>one representative of the Maryland Resource Parent Association;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiv">
        <text>one representative of the Maryland Mental Health Association;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xv">
        <text>one representative of a residential treatment provider in the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xvi">
        <text>one representative with lived experience in the State foster care system.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Special Secretary, or the Senior Advisor, shall serve as chair of the Advisory Council.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Advisory Council shall meet quarterly at the times and places the Advisory Council determines.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Office shall provide staff for the Advisory Council.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A member of the Advisory Council:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>may not receive compensation as a member of the Advisory Council; but</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Advisory Council shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>review existing laws and regulations to ensure that they facilitate the provision of adequate medical and behavioral health care in the State, including to youth in out–of–home placements in the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>recommend any additions or changes to existing laws or regulations designed to facilitate the provision of adequate medical and behavioral health care to children in need of medical and behavioral health care in the State, including youth in out–of–home placements in the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>identify any grant or money from the federal government, private foundations, or other sources that may be available for programs related to children in out–of–home placements;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>recommend improvements for education, outreach, and support to foster care parents in the State to prevent disruption in placements;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>examine the New Jersey Children’s System of Care model and provide recommendations on how the model can be replicated in the State in consultation with an institution of higher education or a private research entity with expertise in the model;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>review existing laws and regulations, provide recommendations if gaps are identified, and make recommendations to ensure, if a parent or guardian is not available to make medical decisions or while in the process of obtaining a voluntary placement agreement, all pediatric hospital overstay patients have access to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>legal representation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>education services;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>review any recommendations of the Workgroup on Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Hospital Overstays; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>review barriers to capacity expansion, including rate reform and insurance parity, and make recommendations.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Advisory Council shall form a subgroup consisting of the members listed under subsection (c)(1) through (12) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The subgroup of the Advisory Council may consult with experts as necessary, including insurers, payors, and the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The subgroup of the Advisory Council shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>complete an assessment of the current number of licensed beds, staffed beds, and physical beds intended to serve the needs of children and youth by agency, categorized by type of bed inclusive of age, gender, diagnosis, severity, and specialty accepted for the following bed types:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>traditional foster homes;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>private and public treatment foster homes;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>group homes;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>residential treatment centers;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>private and public inpatient psychiatric beds; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>respite beds;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>develop an electronic process for tracking the real–time location, length of stay, and discharge plans for pediatric hospital overstay patients, as defined in § 19–388 of the Health – General Article, including youth under or in the process of a voluntary placement agreement;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>develop a model for standardized data collection with mandated uniform metrics, including age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, county of origin, payor type, and length of stay for pediatric hospital overstay patients, as defined in § 19–388 of the Health – General Article, including youth under or in the process of a voluntary placement agreement; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>designate an entity to serve as a central repository for data collected; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>develop a plan and identify resources needed to expand mobile response and stabilization services across the State to ensure statewide access and full implementation by 2030.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>On or before October 1 each year, beginning in 2027, the Advisory Council shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text>
  </level>
</section>
