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MD SB859

MD SB859
Reproductive Health Protection Act


summary

Introduced
02/06/2023
In Committee
04/06/2023
Crossed Over
03/17/2023
Passed
04/07/2023
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/03/2023

Introduced Session

2023 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT concerning Reproductive Health Protection Act FOR the purpose of prohibiting a judge from requiring a person to give testimony or produce evidence in another state under certain circumstances and subject to certain exceptions; requiring that a request for the issuance of a foreign subpoena include a certain sworn statement; prohibiting an ex parte order to intercept certain communication for the purpose of investigating or recovering evidence related to legally protected health care, subject to a certain exception; prohibiting certain judgment creditors from filing a copy of certain foreign judgments; prohibiting the Governor from surrendering a person to the executive authority of another state for an alleged violation of the laws of the requesting state relating to legally protected health care if the violation would not be a crime in the State; prohibiting, subject to certain exceptions, a State agency or a political subdivision of the State, an agent or employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State, and certain private parties from assisting in an interstate investigation related to legally protected health care if the activity being investigated would not be subject to liability or sanction in the State; prohibiting health occupations boards from disciplining a health care practitioner or applicant because of certain actions relating to legally protected health care subject to certain exceptions; exempting certain high deductible insurance plans from covering certain abortion services; prohibiting insurers from taking certain adverse actions against certain health care practitioners; and generally relating to legally protected health care. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 9-302(a) and (b), 9-402(a), 10-408(c), and 11-802(a) Annotated Code of Maryland (2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Criminal Procedure Section 9-106 Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Health Occupations Section 1-227 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Insurance Section 15-857 Annotated Code of Maryland (2017 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Insurance Section 19-117 Annotated Code of Maryland (2017 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - State Personnel and Pensions Section 2-312 Annotated Code of Maryland (2015 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)

AI Summary

This bill, the Reproductive Health Protection Act, aims to protect access to legally protected health care services in Maryland. It does this by: 1. Prohibiting judges from requiring individuals in Maryland to provide testimony or evidence related to the provision of legally protected health care services if the underlying conduct would not be a crime in Maryland. 2. Requiring that foreign subpoenas seeking information related to legally protected health care services include a sworn statement that the request is not intended to further an investigation or proceeding related to such services, unless certain exceptions apply. 3. Prohibiting judges from issuing ex parte orders to intercept communications for the purpose of investigating or recovering evidence related to legally protected health care services, unless the underlying conduct would be a crime in Maryland. 4. Prohibiting the filing of foreign judgments related to litigation concerning legally protected health care services, unless certain exceptions apply. 5. Prohibiting the governor from surrendering a person to another state for alleged violations related to legally protected health care services if the conduct would not be a crime in Maryland. 6. Prohibiting state agencies, political subdivisions, and private parties from assisting in interstate investigations related to legally protected health care services if the underlying conduct would not be subject to liability or sanction in Maryland. 7. Prohibiting health occupations boards from disciplining health care practitioners for providing or supporting the provision of legally protected health care services, as long as the services were provided in accordance with the applicable standard of care. 8. Exempting certain high-deductible health plans from being required to cover abortion services. 9. Prohibiting insurers from taking adverse actions against health care practitioners for providing or referring patients for legally protected health care services.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 246 (on 05/03/2023)

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