SB 43 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Department of Health - Forensic Review Board - Established

SB 43 requires Maryland's Department of Health to establish a Forensic Review Board at every facility housing individuals committed as not criminally responsible for crimes due to mental illness. The board, composed of licensed health care providers, must review each person's case annually to determine eligibility for release and recommend discharge or conditional release to the court. The board's written findings and recommendations become part of the individual's medical record. Additionally, the bill creates a Community Forensic Aftercare Program to monitor individuals released on conditional terms.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2024

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Oct 29, 2024 Signed Apr 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Maryland Department of Health - Forensic Review Board and Community Forensic Aftercare Program - Established → Third - Maryland Department of Health - Forensic Review Board - Established · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision clarifies the role of forensic review boards by explicitly authorizing them to make recommendations for release or rehabilitation, while removing the requirement that all board members be healthcare providers. The changes also update the legal citation reference year and reorganize the bill structure to better reflect the new provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on forensic review boards and community forensic aftercare programs, but the operational requirements for board composition and authority have been modified.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that all forensic review board members be healthcare providers licensed under the Health Occupations Article.

Added explicit authority for forensic review boards to make recommendations relating to the release or rehabilitation of committed persons.

Added requirements for forensic review boards to provide notice to committed persons and their counsel at least 10 days before meetings and within 10 days after issuing recommendations to the court.

TECHNICAL

Updated the legal citation reference from 2023 Replacement Volume to 2018 Replacement Volume for the Annotated Code of Maryland.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'authorized agent' as an individual selected by a committed person to represent their interests in forensic review board matters.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 15, 2025

How they voted

41–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 46

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic33

28 Yea 5

84% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 116

executive

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 15, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-5)

house of delegates

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (41-0-5)

senate

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance and Judicial Proceedings

upper

Oct 29, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors