Maryland State Government Section 2-10A-05

      (a)      In this section, "Committee" means the Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services.

      (b)      There is a Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services.

      (c)      (1)      The Committee consists of eight members.

            (2)      Of the eight members:

                  (i)      four shall be Senators, appointed by the President; and

                  (ii)      four shall be Delegates, appointed by the Speaker.

            (3)      Of the four Senators:

                  (i)      two shall be members of the Finance Committee;

                  (ii)      one shall be a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee; and

                  (iii)      one shall be a member of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.

            (4)      Of the four Delegates:

                  (i)      two shall be members of the Health and Government Operations Committee;

                  (ii)      one shall be a member of the Appropriations Committee; and

                  (iii)      one shall be a member of the Economic Matters Committee.

      (d)      The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them.

      (e)      (1)      From among the membership of the Committee, the President shall appoint a Senator to serve as the Senate Chair of the Committee, and the Speaker shall appoint a Delegate to serve as the House Chair of the Committee.

            (2)      The Senate Chair and the House Chair shall alternate annually as presiding chairs and cochairs of the Committee.

      (f)      The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance to the Committee.

      (g)      The Committee shall monitor access to:

            (1)      public mental health services for eligible individuals; and

            (2)      medically necessary mental health services for individuals covered by private insurance.

      (h)      The Committee shall submit an annual report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of this title, to the General Assembly, regarding:

            (1)      systemic barriers to access to mental health services; and

            (2)      recommendations to mitigate these barriers.