HB 396

Residential Child Care Programs - Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners

Sponsor: Cheryl E. Pasteur (District 11A)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: ChildrenStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 640 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Repealing the maximum age for children in certain residential child care programs who receive educational support; requiring operators of certain residential child care programs to provide certain educational opportunities to the children for whom they have legal custody or care and control; requiring that applicants to be child and youth care practitioners undergo certain training; prohibiting an individual who holds a certificate as a residential child and youth care practitioner from being required to complete certain training; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

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 (26)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 4Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Patinella, Franklobbyist	ACLU of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Margolis, Leslielobbyist	Disability Rights Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Marshall, David	Founder & CEO, Journey to Josiah	Written (PDF)
FAV	Falcon, Gavin	Howard County Association of Student Councils	Written (PDF)
FAV	Magalhaes Service, Rayka	Howard County Association of Student Councils	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bergman, Dayana	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fieo, Alyssa	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kim, Shari	Maryland Psychological Assocation	Oral
FAV	Dickerson, Taylor	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rodriguez, Amanda	Turn Around Inc	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Zektick, Barbaralobbyist	Zektick + Company	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Pasteur, Delegate Pasteurlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Gregory, Dr. Henry	Individual	Oral
FAV	Grubb, Laura	Individual	Position only
FAV	Latino Caucus, Maryland Legislative	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Pasteur, Cheryl	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shettar, Saachi	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Turner, Daniel	Individual	Oral
FAV	Wimberly, Peggy	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FWA	Brown-Burnett, Gloria	Department of Human Services	Written (PDF)
FWA	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
INFO	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
INFO	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Maryland Assoc of Resources for Families & Youth	Written (PDF)
INFO	Fox Tolentino, Betsy	Maryland Department of Juvenile Services	Written (PDF)
INFO	Kolp, Ande	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

ACLU of MarylandFAV 1

Coalition to Protect Maryland's ChildrenINFO 1

Department of Human ServicesFWA 1

Disability Rights MarylandFAV 1

Founder & CEO, Journey to JosiahFAV 1

Howard County Association of Student CouncilsFAV 2

IndividualFAV 1

Maryland Assoc of Resources for Families & YouthINFO 1

Maryland Department of Juvenile ServicesINFO 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CouncilFWA 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFAV 1

Maryland Psychological AssocationFAV 1

Maryland Psychological AssociationFAV 1

Turn Around IncFAV 1

Zektick + CompanyFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPatinella, FrankACLU of MarylandRegistered for: ACLU of Maryland; American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland

FAVMargolis, LeslieDisability Rights MarylandRegistered for: Disability Rights Maryland

FAVZektick, BarbaraZektick + CompanyRegistered for: Citizens Coordinating Committee on Friendship Heights; Covista; Maryland Coalition of Families; Soteria LLC; Oracle America, Inc.; Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.…

INFOHessler, ThereseMaryland Assoc of Resources for Families & YouthRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…