Confidentiality of Medical Records - Definition of Medical Record
HB0316 expands the statutory definition of a “9–1–1 specialist” under Maryland public safety law. The bill adds 9–1–1 technicians to the category of employees at county public safety answering points who are covered by that definition, alongside personnel who receive and process emergency calls, provide related support functions, or dispatch emergency responders.
The measure is limited in scope and does not create a new program or change how 9–1–1 services operate; rather, it updates terminology in the Public Safety Article to reflect additional job titles within emergency communications centers. The bill would take effect October 1, 2025, if enacted.
The bill would amend Section 1–301 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland by broadening the definition of “9–1–1 specialist” to expressly include 9–1–1 technicians employed by or working in a public safety answering point. This could affect which employees are treated as covered 9–1–1 specialists for purposes of state law, potentially influencing employment classification, eligibility for any statutory benefits or protections tied to that term, and how local emergency communications personnel are described in law.
There is little recorded committee or floor discussion in the available materials, and no votes are listed. The bill was ultimately withdrawn by the sponsor in the House, suggesting it did not advance to a recorded policy debate or final legislative decision. Based on the text alone, the proposal appears technical and noncontroversial, focused on updating terminology rather than changing substantive emergency response policy.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record. The only identifiable issue is whether the broader definition should expressly include 9–1–1 technicians, which may matter to local governments, public safety answering points, and emergency communications employees if the term is used elsewhere in law. Because the bill was withdrawn by the sponsor, any disagreement or concern was not captured in the available transcripts or votes.