HB 279

Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual

Sponsor: Chair, Health CommitteeCommittee: HealthSubject: CorrectionsStatus: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the establishment of a medication review committee within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services that convenes to determine whether to approve the administration of psychotropic medication to a certain incarcerated individual under certain circumstances; providing that psychotropic medication may not be administered to an incarcerated individual who refuses the medication except under certain circumstances; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (17)

MGA witness list

FAV 7FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Ackerman, Laura	Acute Psychiatry Service at Johns Hopkins Hospital	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kale, Oludolapo	Centurion	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Harris Jones, Lisa	The Maryland Psychiatric Society & Washington Psychiatric Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Israel, Steven	Washington Psychiatric Society	Oral
FAV	Chair, Health Committee, Chair, Health Committee	Individual	Oral
FAV	Dima, Rania	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Parsley, Luciene	Disability Rights Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
UNF	Varghese, Sanjeev	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral
UNF	Watts, Kimberlee	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral
UNF	Martin, Dan	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Livshin, Michelle	On Our Own of Maryland, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Bonieskie, Dr. Lynda	DPSCS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Merles, Dr. Bevin	DPSCS	Oral
FWA	Burton, Evelyn	Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Acute Psychiatry Service at Johns Hopkins HospitalFAV 1

CenturionFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsINFO 1

Disability Rights MarylandUNF 1

DPSCSFWA 2

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 3

Mental Health Association of MarylandUNF 1

On Our Own of Maryland, Inc.UNF 1

Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action AllianceFWA 1

The Maryland Psychiatric Society & Washington Psychiatric SocietyFAV 1

Washington Psychiatric SocietyFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

INFOMills, MorganCompass Government RelationsRegistered for: Alley Cat Allies; CFG Health Network; Coinbase, Inc.; Girl Scouts of Central Maryland; Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The; Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.…