Bill > SB114

This bill establishes a 3-1-1 Nonemergency Community Information and Referral Systems program and an associated Oversight Board in Maryland. The bill defines key terms such as "Artificial Intelligence" (AI), "Chatbot" (a conversational AI program for text or voice interaction), "Voicebot" (a conversational AI program for voice interaction), and "3-1-1 System" (a nonemergency government service line). The Maryland 3-1-1 Oversight Board will be created within the Maryland Information Network and will consist of legislative members, gubernatorial appointees with expertise in AI and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and representatives from various state agencies, local government organizations, and counties. The Board's responsibilities include designating counties for the program, establishing evaluation criteria, selecting vendors, ensuring 3-1-1 systems align with best practices, approving marketing strategies, implementing the program, and developing statewide data standards. The bill mandates the establishment of a 3-1-1 program to evaluate and expand the use of these systems, requiring the Board to designate specific counties to participate. By June 30, 2027, chatbots with multilingual support and GIS integration must be established in participating counties, and by December 1, 2028, voicebots with similar capabilities, including the ability to transfer calls to emergency and mental health lines, will be implemented. The bill also requires the Board to submit reports on the program's progress, including data on call deflection, user satisfaction, costs, and recommendations for expansion, with a comprehensive plan for statewide implementation due by July 1, 2028. The Act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0114?ys=2026RS