HB 1559

Enacted

Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Hospital Overstay Patients - Placement

Sponsor: SpeakerCommittee: AppropriationsSubject: ChildrenStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 160 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting the placement of children in unlicensed settings under the out-of-home placement program required to be established by the Social Services Administration; altering the duties of the pediatric hospital overstay coordinators; establishing the Child and Youth Placement Review Panel in the Governor's Office for Children with the Senior Advisor for Children and Families as its head; establishing the Advisory Council on Maryland's System of Care for Children, Youth, and Families; 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 (55)

MGA witness list

FAV 43FavorableFWA 11Favorable with amendmentsINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown-Burnett, Gloria	Department of Human Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Margolis, Leslielobbyist	Disability Rights Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shepter, Brian	Howard County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stockwell, David	Johns Hopkins Hospital	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sidh, Sameerlobbyist	Johns Hopkins University and Medicine	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arneson, Emilylobbyist	Kennedy Krieger Institute	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, JD	MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)	Position only
FAV	Williams, Krystal	MD Office of the Public Defender	Position only
FAV	Williams, Krystal	MD Office of the Public Defender	Oral
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chessen, Sonia	Maryland Department of Health	Oral
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Nicklas, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Griffith, Delegate Griffithlegislator	Maryland House of Delegates	Oral
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Position only
FAV	Dickerson, Taylor	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Routson, Kimberlylobbyist	MedStar Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Geddes, Annlobbyist	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Geddes, Annlobbyist	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peña-Melnyk, Joseline	Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Peña-Melnyk, Joseline	Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Melcer, Emily	The State Policy Advocacy Clinic	Written (PDF)
FAV	Melcer, Emily	The State Policy Advocacy Clinic	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bryce, Kristinlobbyist	University of Maryland Medical System	Oral
FAV	Bryce, Kristinlobbyist	University of Maryland Medical System	Oral
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mirviss, Mitchell	Venable LLP	Written (PDF)
FAV	Floyd, Meagan	maryland psychiatric society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Barnes, Andrea	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hopwood, Erin	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mortoro, Lynn	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
FWA	Fox Tolentino, Secretary Betsy	DJS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Brown-Burnett, Gloria	Department of Human Services	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Lee, Melanie	Luminis Health	Oral
FWA	Chessen, Sonia	Maryland Department of Health	Oral
FWA	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FWA	Nicklas, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FWA	Barnes, Andrea	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Basler, Robert	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Brown, Carmen	MSDE	Oral

Organizations on record

Behavioral Health System BaltimoreFAV 2

Coalition to Protect Maryland's ChildrenFAV 1FWA 1

Department of Human ServicesFAV 1FWA 1

Disability Rights MarylandFAV 1

DJSFWA 1

Howard CountyFAV 1

Johns Hopkins HospitalFAV 1

Johns Hopkins University and MedicineFAV 1

Kennedy Krieger InstituteFAV 1

Luminis HealthFWA 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 2

Maryland Department of HealthFAV 2FWA 2

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 1FWA 1

Maryland House of DelegatesFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFAV 1

maryland psychiatric societyFAV 1

Maryland Psychological AssociationFAV 1

Maryland State Department of EducationFWA 1

MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)FAV 1

MD Office of the Public DefenderFAV 2

MedStar HealthFAV 1

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 2

MSDEINFO 1

Speaker, Maryland House of DelegatesFAV 2

The State Policy Advocacy ClinicFAV 2

University of Maryland Medical SystemFAV 4

Venable LLPFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMargolis, LeslieDisability Rights MarylandRegistered for: Disability Rights Maryland

FAVSidh, SameerJohns Hopkins University and MedicineRegistered for: Johns Hopkins

FAVArneson, EmilyKennedy Krieger InstituteRegistered for: Kennedy Krieger Institute

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVNicklas, AndrewMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association; Adventist HealthCare, Inc.

FAVRoutson, KimberlyMedStar HealthRegistered for: MedStar Health

FAVGeddes, AnnMental Health Association of MarylandRegistered for: Mental Health Association of Maryland; Maryland Coalition of Families

FAVBryce, KristinUniversity of Maryland Medical SystemRegistered for: University of Maryland Medical System

FAVHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

FWANicklas, AndrewMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association; Adventist HealthCare, Inc.

FWAKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…