2004 Legislative Action - Senate Bills

Here you will find a running list of bills considered by MedChi's Legislative Committee, with positions taken by the committee and status of each. It is updated weekly during the legislative session (January 14-April 12, 2004) and derived from Legislative Committee Agendas.  Go to Legislative Action to sign up for up-to-the-minute e-mail alerts,  find and contact your legislators, write a letter to the media, or find biographical information on your legislators.

Full text and status of each bill is available by clicking on the bill number listed in the following chart. (You will need to be able to view RTF documents.)

There is also a wealth of knowledge about the Maryland General Assembly available at their homepage. To send an e-mail to a delegate or senator, click here. To determine which delegate or senator serves a particular district, click here.

Contact MedChi's Annapolis Office for more information.

SENATE BILLS - 2004 SESSION  
FINAL - Updated June 25, 2008  

The action indicated is the action of the Legislative Committee and not necessarily 
the final position of MedChi.  All information is accurate as of publication date. Hearing dates are subject to change, call to confirm.

Key to Abbreviations:
SWA: Support with Amendments (legislative committee took no action on these bills)
NP: No Position
HB: House Bill
SB: Senate Bill
POS: Position

2004 Senate Bills

Bill No. Title Position Status
SB 4 Regulation and Acquisition of Nonprofit Health Service Plans, Senator Middleton Support Vetoed, Duplicative
SB 29 Nonprofit Health Service Plans - Compensation of Officers and Executives - Authority of Insurance Commissioner, Senator Middleton Support Vetoed, Duplicative
SB 72 Respiratory Care Professional Standards Committee - Sunset Extension and Program Evaluation, The President (By Request - Department of Legislative Services) FYI Signed, Chapter 247
SB 79 Income Tax - Credit for Long-Term Care Premiums, Senator Haines FYI Bill Failed
SB 84 Creation of a State Debt - Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Senator Brochin FYI Bill Failed
SB 96 Nonprofit Health Service Plans - Submission of Premium Tax Exemption Reports, Senator Middleton Support Bill Failed
SB 98 Family Law - Child Abuse and Neglect - Failure to Report - Penalty, Senators Kelley et al SWA Bill Failed
SB 104 Creation of a State Debt - Prince George's Hospital Center, Senators Britt et al FYI Bill Failed
SB 113 Workers' Compensation - Accidental Injury - Unusual Activity, Senator Astle FYI Bill Failed
SB 130 Creation of a State Debt - Holy Cross Health, Senators Grosfeld et al FYI Bill Failed
SB 131 Maryland Health Care Commission - Affordability of Health Insurance in Maryland - Study and Recommendations, Senators Teitelbaum et al Support Signed, Chapter 93
SB 140 Clean Indoor Act of 2004, Senators Ruben et al Support Bill Failed
SB 144 General Assembly - Department of Legislative Services - Office of Legislative Audits - Audit Requirements, Senator McFadden et al Support Bill Failed
SB 148 Health Insurance - Small Group Market - Cost-Sharing Arrangements, Senator Astle Oppose Bill Failed
SB 167 Prescription Drugs - Canadian Mail Order Plan, Senators Pinsky et al NP Bill Failed
SB 176 Occupational and Professional Licensing - Disciplinary Actions - Grounds, Chairman, Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee (By Request - Departmental - Labor, Licensing and Regulation) FYI Bill Failed
SB 177 Maryland Office of Minority Health, Senators Exum et al Support Signed, Chapter 443
SB 189 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Federally Qualified Health Centers Grant Program, The President (By Request - Administration) NP Bill Failed
SB 193 Maryland Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, The President (By Request - Administration) SWA Bill Failed
SB 207 Creation of a State Debt - St. Joseph Medical Center, Senators Brochin et al FYI Bill Failed
SB 232 Frederick County - Sheriff - Appointment of Medical Advisors, Senators Brinkley, Garagiola, and Mooney FYI Bill Failed
SB 247 Public Health - Liscensed Pharmacists - Dispensing Emergency Contraception, Senators Grosfeld et al Oppose Bill Failed
SB 248 Public Health - Licensed Pharmacists - Emergency Contraception Dispensing Program, Senators Grosfeld et al Oppose Bill Failed
SB 265 Abortion - The Women's Health Protection Act, Senators Greenip et al NP with a letter Bill Failed
SB 270 Creation of a State Debt - Laurel Regional Hospital, Senator Currie FYI Bill Failed
SB 281 State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pathologists - Membership, Senator Conway Oppose Vetoed, Duplicative
SB 296 Maryland Health Care Foundation and Maryland Health Care Trust, Senator Della Support Signed, Chapter 262
SB 330 Health Occupations Boards - Misdemeanor Offenses - Delegation of Authority, Fines, and Penalties, Senator Hollinger (By Request) NP and will monitor it's progress Bill Failed
SB 332 Hospitals - Umbilical Cord Blood - Donation, Senators Jacobs, Kelley, Lawlah, and Stone NP Signed, Chapter 450
SB 349 Unborn Victims of Violence Act , Senators Green et al NP Bill Failed
SB 351 Public Health - Abortion - Parental Notice. Introduced at SB 457 in 2003 and no position was taken., Senators Jacobs et al NP with a letter Bill Failed
SB 352 Health Care Decisions - "Patient's Plan of Care" Form - Communication of Patient Preferences, Senator Hollinger Support Vetoed, Duplicative
SB 360 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Medical Assistance Programs - Disclosure of Employer, Senators Pinsky et al NP Bill Failed
SB 364 Creation of a State Debt - Franklin Square Hospital Center, Senators Harris et al FYI Bill Failed
SB 378 Tobacco Tax - Rate, Senators Ruben et al Support Bill Failed
SB 386 Medicare Supplement Act - Scope, Senators Klausmeier and Stone Withdrawn before position could be taken Bill Failed
SB 389 Maryland Pharmacy Act - Practice of Pharmacy - Administration of Medication, Senator Klausmeier Oppose Vetoed, Duplicative
SB 401 Workers' Compensation - Evaluation of Permanent Impairments, Senators Exum, Gladden, and Hafer Oppose Bill Failed
SB 402 Health - Ambulatory Surgical Facilities - Definition and Regulation Introduced as SB 612 in 2003 and a Support position was taken, Senator Klausmeier Support Bill Failed
SB 406 State Board of Nursing - Skilled Nursing Assistants - Establishment and Certification, Senator Hollinger FYI Signed, Chapter 270
SB 411 Health Occupations - Maryland Athletic Trainers Act, Senators Britt, Astle, and Grosfeld Support Bill Failed
SB 436 Medical Malpractice Insurance - Rates and Rate Filings, Senators Kelley et al Oppose Bill Failed
SB 437 Health Insurance - Required Reimbursements - Podiatrists, Senators Kelley et al Oppose Signed, Chapter 459
SB 438 Medical Malpractice Insurance - Excessive Rates, Senators Kelley et al Oppose Bill Failed
SB 451 Health Care Providers - Collection of Medicare Copayment and Deductibles, Senators Astle and Stoltzfus Support Signed, Chapter 278
SB 454 Health Insurance - Health Insurance Benefit Cards, Senator Hafer SWA Bill Failed
SB 461 Health Insurance - Pharmacies - Electronic Reimbursement, Senator Klausmeier NP Bill Failed
SB 466 Workers' Compensation - Medical Services and Treatment - Health Care Provider Panel, Senator Astle Oppose Bill Failed
SB 468 Workers' Compensation - Accidental Personal Injury - Definition, Senator Astle NP Bill Failed
SB 469 Maryland Health Care Commission - Fees - Health Care Practitioners, Senator Jacobs FYI Bill Failed
SB 471 Freestanding Ambulatory Care Facilities - Licensing - Abortion Services, Senators Harris et al NP with a letter Bill Failed
SB 472 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2004, Senators Harris et al FYI Bill Failed
SB 496 Public Health - Compulsive Gambling Treatment Program, Senator Dyson NP Bill Failed
SB 499 State Council on Cancer Control - Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, Senators Lawlah et al NP Signed, Chapter 283
SB 519 Health Occupations - State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Scope of Practice, Senators Conway et al Oppose Bill Failed
SB 524 Creation of a State Debt - Queen Anne's County - Hospice House, Senator Pipkin FYI Bill Failed
SB 529 Health Insurance - Maryland Health Insurance Plan - Specialist Services, Senator Ruben Support Bill Failed
SB 537 Health Insurance - Small Group Market - Premium Rates, Senator Astle Oppose Bill Failed
SB 544 Medical Malpractice Reform - Tax Credit for Malpractice Insurance, Senator Frosh Support the concept Bill Failed
SB 545 Medical Malpractice Insurance - Base Rates, Senators Miller et al Oppose Bill Failed
SB 566 Civil Actions - Liability of Insurer for Expenses, Litigation Costs, and Interest, Senator Grosfeld NP Bill Failed
SB 570 Health Insurance - Small Group Market - Limited Health Benefit Plan, Senators Teitelbaum et al SWA Signed, Chapter 287
SB 574 Community-Based Mental Health Services Funding, Senators Kelley et al FYI Bill Failed
SB 576 Health Insurance - Coverage of Groups of Mandated Health Insurance Services, Senator Teitelbaum NP Bill Failed
SB 592 Drunk and Drugged Driving - Death or Life Threatening Injury - Mandatory Tests, Senator Jacobs NP Signed, Chapter 468
SB 593 Health Insurance Carriers - Required Disclosures, Senators Gladden et al Support Bill Failed
SB 636 Jury Verdict - Damages - Revisory Power of Court, Senator Green Oppose Bill Failed
SB 638 Workers' Compensation - Accidental Personal Injury - Definition, Senator Astle FYI Bill Failed
SB 645 Health Maintenance Organizations - Reimbursement of Health Care Providers - Covered Services, Senator Astle Support Bill Failed
SB 687 Medical Assistance Program - Payments to Providers - Penalties, Senators Teitelbaum, Della, and Hollinger FYI Bill Failed
SB 708 Medical Malpractice Insurance - Policies with Deductibles, Senator Brochin NP Bill Failed
SB 714 Health Insurance - Small Group Market - Modifications and Clarifications, Senator Middleton SWA Vetoed, Duplicative
SB 715 Access to Health Care and Community Health Care Safety Net Act of 2004, Senators Hollinger and Middleton Support the concept of expanded access Bill Failed
SB 717 School-Based Health Centers - Physician Assistants, Senator Hollinger FYI Bill Failed
SB 737 Public-Private Partnership for Health Coverage for all Marylanders Bill was introduced as SB 557 in 2003 and was referred to the Future of Health Care Committee, Senator Arnick Support the goal of increased access Bill Failed
SB 756 Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Carve-Out of Specialty Mental Health Services, Senator Middleton Support Signed, Chapter 305
SB 798 Health Insurance - Maintenance Drug Prescriptions - Mail Order Purchase, Senator Middleton NP Bill Failed
SB 840 Maryland Physicians Noneconomic Damages Reimbursement Fund, Senator Brochin Oppose Bill Failed
SB 868 Health Insurance - Treatment of Morbid Obesity, Senator Middleton NP Signed, Chapter 486
SB 873 Mental Health - Emergency Evaluation - Psychiatric Nurses, Senator Hollinger NP Signed, Chapter 315
SB 896 Physicians - Practice of Medicine - Expert Witness Testimony, Senators Mooney et al SWA Bill Failed
SB 931 Maryland Health Insurance Plan - Board of Directors - Authority, Senator Middleton Refer to Health Insurance Bill Failed
SB 907 Health Reform Act of 2004, Chairman, Finance Committee (By Request - Departmental - Health and Mental Hygiene) Support Bill Failed


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