2013 Maryland Code
STATE GOVERNMENT
§ 2-10A-05 - Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services.

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

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

(c) Membership. --

(1) The Committee consists of ten members.

(2) Of the ten members:

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

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

(3) Of the five Senators:

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

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

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

(iv) one shall be a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.

(4) Of the five Delegates:

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

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

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

(iv) one shall be a member of the Judiciary Committee.

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

(e) Chair and cochair. --

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

(g) Duties. -- 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) Annual reports. -- 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.