Bill > HB1109

This bill enacts the Public Health Reform Act, which aims to strengthen Maryland's public health system by organizing the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, a statewide volunteer network for emergencies, and requiring the Department of Health to offer local health departments the opportunity to join procurements for electronic health records systems. It also mandates the Department of Legislative Services to create a process for assessing the health equity impacts of legislation, and the Department of Health to convene a workgroup to improve local health department hiring and classification processes. Additionally, the bill modifies the composition and duties of the Commission on Public Health, establishes a Population Health Improvement Fund and a Public Health Workforce Development Fund, and clarifies that interest earned on these funds will not go to the General Fund. It also allows health officers to serve on hospital boards without payment and makes other administrative changes to public health laws.