Maryland House Bill HB0971

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Caption

Maryland Medical Advisory Committee - Duties and Workgroup to Study the Adoption of a Fee-for-Service Model for All Medicaid Services

Summary

HB0971 establishes the Anne Arundel County Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park Advisory Committee as a new advisory body in the Local Government Article. The committee is tasked with advising Anne Arundel County officials and the county legislative delegation on planning for the Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park, including community involvement, public input, and recommendations for development of the site. The committee is structured to include state, county, university, and community representation. Members include appointees from the Governor, legislative leaders, Anne Arundel County, Bowie State University, and county administrative offices, along with individuals with expertise in cultural history, parks and recreation, infrastructure, health and wellness, civil rights, and adjacent communities. The county executive designates the chair, and the county administrative officer serves as a nonvoting ex officio member. The committee’s duties focus on ensuring the park reflects the site’s history and serves public purposes. It must consider the master plan, the cultural history of Crownsville Hospital, residents’ health and recreation needs, and the infrastructure needed to support those goals. It is also directed to make recommendations so the park is equitable in access, truthful about the hospital’s history, protective of the natural environment and built environment, and supportive of educational opportunities. The bill affects Maryland local government law by adding a new temporary title to the Local Government Article and creating a five-year advisory committee framework for the Crownsville project. It requires annual reporting to Anne Arundel County officials and the county delegation to the General Assembly, and it is set to take effect October 1, 2025, with automatic repeal on September 30, 2030 unless renewed. The available context does not show committee debate or recorded votes, and the bill history indicates it was withdrawn by the sponsor in the House. As a result, there is no documented floor or committee sentiment in the provided materials, though the bill text itself reflects a generally collaborative, planning-oriented approach centered on historical recognition, equity, and community input.

Impact

The bill adds a new temporary chapter to Maryland’s Local Government Article creating the Anne Arundel County Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park Advisory Committee. It does not directly regulate private conduct or create a new program of state funding; instead, it establishes an advisory structure that influences county and state planning for the memorial park, with annual reporting obligations and a five-year sunset.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or votes are provided, so there is no recorded legislative debate to gauge support or opposition. The bill’s text suggests a broadly positive, consensus-driven purpose focused on memorialization, public access, equity, and community engagement, but the sponsor’s withdrawal in the House indicates it did not proceed through the normal enactment process in the available history.

Contention

Because there are no transcripts or votes, specific points of contention are not documented. Based on the bill’s design, likely areas of interest would include the composition of the committee, the balance between historical preservation and park development, equitable access to the site, and how much authority the advisory body would have over county planning versus merely offering recommendations.