Bill > HB771

This bill mandates that all health occupations boards in Maryland must allow licensed professionals to earn continuing education credits for completing a human trafficking awareness training program, and requires these boards to actively inform regulated individuals about available training options. The training program itself must be approved by the Department of Health in partnership with a local university (defined as a state institution of higher education with public health, law, or social work programs) and in consultation with the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force and survivor service organizations. This training must be at least one hour long, free of charge, and cover topics such as the definitions and forms of sex and labor trafficking, trauma-informed care, indicators of trafficking, screening protocols, mandatory reporting requirements, and available resources for survivors. Health occupations boards are also required to adopt regulations to implement these provisions by January 1, 2027, with the Department of Health needing to approve the training program by July 1, 2026, and the bill taking effect on June 1, 2026.