Health Occupations Boards - Membership Alteration and Sunset Extensions
Summary
SB217 extends the sunset dates for several health occupations boards and one advisory committee under Maryland’s Program Evaluation Act. Specifically, it continues the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists; the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners; the State Board of Pharmacy; the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists; and the Behavior Analyst Advisory Committee. The bill pushes the termination dates for these entities’ statutory and regulatory authority out to later dates, allowing them to remain in operation without interruption.
The bill also changes the membership structure of the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners. It increases the board from seven to nine members, raising the number of licensed massage therapist members from five to six and consumer members from two to three. It also provides for the initial terms of the newly added members to expire in 2030. The bill takes effect June 1, 2025.
Impact
SB217 amends multiple sections of the Health Occupations Article to extend the life of several licensing and regulatory bodies and to revise the composition of the massage therapy board. In practical terms, it prevents the automatic sunset of these boards and committee, preserving their authority to license, regulate, and discipline practitioners in the affected professions. It also alters the appointment and membership requirements for the Massage Therapy Examiners Board, affecting how that board is constituted and governed.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 45-0 and the House 132-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript material also suggests there was little recorded public disagreement or extended debate over the measure.
Contention
No significant contention is evident in the available record. The only substantive policy change beyond the sunset extensions is the expansion of the Massage Therapy Examiners Board, which could have raised questions about board composition, professional representation, and consumer participation. However, the unanimous votes suggest any such concerns were either minimal or resolved without opposition.
State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists - Appointment of Hearing Aid Dispenser Members