Bill > SB790

This bill aims to reform public health in Maryland by requiring the Department of Health to organize the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, a statewide volunteer network for emergencies, and to maintain an efficient electronic registration system for its members. It also modifies the membership and leadership selection process for the Commission on Public Health, which will now provide guidance for implementing its own recommendations, and establishes a Public Health Workforce Development Fund to support education and training for public health professionals, which can receive funds from the Population Health Improvement Fund. Additionally, the Department of Legislative Services will develop a process to assess the health equity impacts of legislation, and a workgroup will be convened to review and improve local health department recruitment and classification processes. The bill also includes provisions for a community benefits modernization subcommittee to review and recommend improvements to hospital community benefit activities.