Department of Social and Economic Mobility - Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund
HB1070 requires the Maryland Department of Health to study whether it is feasible to install and maintain landline telephone systems in assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, and nursing homes. The study must examine the current state of telephone access in these facilities, including privacy and usability, and evaluate the costs and logistics of providing telephones in individual rooms or common areas, such as equipment, installation, labor, and ongoing maintenance.
The bill also directs the Department to assess the practical benefits of improved telephone access, including social connection, access to support services, and emergency preparedness, while identifying barriers such as infrastructure constraints, regulatory requirements, and facility-specific limitations. It further requires the Department to consider when access might need to be limited for safety, medical, mental health, behavioral, or security reasons, and to compare costs across public and private facilities. The Department must also identify funding options and consult with facility representatives, advocacy groups, residents, and families before reporting recommendations to the legislature by September 30, 2026.
This bill does not directly change operating requirements for assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, or nursing homes; instead, it creates a mandated study and reporting requirement for the Maryland Department of Health. Its immediate legal effect is to direct the Department to gather information, consult stakeholders, and provide recommendations to the General Assembly, which could inform future legislation or regulation on resident telephone access in long-term care and behavioral health settings.
The bill appears generally supportive of resident communication rights and quality-of-life improvements, with an emphasis on access, privacy, and emergency readiness. Because it is a study bill rather than a mandate, it is likely designed to build consensus and gather evidence before any operational requirements are imposed. No committee transcript or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded opposition or formal sentiment from hearings or floor votes in the supplied materials.
The main points of potential contention are practical and financial: facility operators may be concerned about installation, staffing, maintenance, and infrastructure costs, especially in older buildings or publicly funded facilities. There may also be debate over whether landline access should be universal or limited in some cases for safety, behavioral, mental health, or security reasons. Advocacy groups for seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals with mental illness are likely to favor expanded access, while facilities and administrators may emphasize operational burdens and the need for flexibility.