1. (a) In this section, “Advisory Council” means the Advisory Council on Maryland's System of Care for Children, Youth, and Families.
2. (b) There is an Advisory Council on Maryland's System of Care for Children, Youth, and Families.

3. (c) The Advisory Council shall consist of the following members:

   1. (1) the Special Secretary, or the Special Secretary's designee;
   2. (2) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary's designee;
   3. (3) the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary's designee;
   4. (4) the Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary's designee;
   5. (5) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary's designee;
   6. (6) the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner's designee;
   7. (7) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent's designee;
   8. (8) the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Care Commission, or the Executive Director's designee;
   9. (9) the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients, or the Executive Director's designee;
   10. (10) a representative from the State-authorized administrator of 2-1-1 services in Maryland, appointed by the Governor;
   11. (11) the coordinators, as defined in § 19-388 of the Health--General Article;
   12. (12) the Public Defender, or the Public Defender's designee;
   13. (13) the State Foster Youth Ombudsman; and

   14. (14) the following members, who have experience and knowledge of working with children with behavioral health challenges, adverse childhood experiences, and developmental disabilities, appointed by the Governor:

       1. (i) the Senior Advisor;
       2. (ii) one representative of a local department of social services;
       3. (iii) one representative of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth;
       4. (iv) one representative of Disability Rights Maryland;
       5. (v) one representative of the Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland;
       6. (vi) one representative of Maryland Legal Aid;
       7. (vii) one representative of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Maryland;
       8. (viii) one representative of the National Association of Social Workers--Maryland who is a hospital-based clinical social worker;
       9. (ix) one representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;
       10. (x) one representative of the Maryland Hospital Association;
       11. (xi) one representative of a specialty psychiatric hospital;
       12. (xii) one representative of an acute care hospital emergency department;
       13. (xiii) one representative of the Maryland Resource Parent Association;
       14. (xiv) one representative of the Maryland Mental Health Association;
       15. (xv) one representative of a residential treatment provider in the State; and
       16. (xvi) one representative with lived experience in the State foster care system.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The Special Secretary, or the Senior Advisor, shall serve as chair of the Advisory Council.
   2. (2) The Advisory Council shall meet quarterly at the times and places the Advisory Council determines.
   3. (3) The Office shall provide staff for the Advisory Council.

5. (e) A member of the Advisory Council:

   1. (1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Advisory Council; but
   2. (2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

6. (f) The Advisory Council shall:

   1. (1) review existing laws and regulations to ensure that they facilitate the provision of adequate medical and behavioral health care in the State, including to youth in out-of-home placements in the State;
   2. (2) recommend any additions or changes to existing laws or regulations designed to facilitate the provision of adequate medical and behavioral health care to children in need of medical and behavioral health care in the State, including youth in out-of-home placements in the State;
   3. (3) identify any grant or money from the federal government, private foundations, or other sources that may be available for programs related to children in out-of-home placements;
   4. (4) recommend improvements for education, outreach, and support to foster care parents in the State to prevent disruption in placements;
   5. (5) examine the New Jersey Children's System of Care model and provide recommendations on how the model can be replicated in the State in consultation with an institution of higher education or a private research entity with expertise in the model;

   6. (6) review existing laws and regulations, provide recommendations if gaps are identified, and make recommendations to ensure, if a parent or guardian is not available to make medical decisions or while in the process of obtaining a voluntary placement agreement, all pediatric hospital overstay patients have access to:

      1. (i) legal representation; and
      2. (ii) education services;
   7. (7) review any recommendations of the Workgroup on Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Hospital Overstays; and
   8. (8) review barriers to capacity expansion, including rate reform and insurance parity, and make recommendations.

7. (g)

   1. (1) The Advisory Council shall form a subgroup consisting of the members listed under subsection (c)(1) through (12) of this section.
   2. (2) The subgroup of the Advisory Council may consult with experts as necessary, including insurers, payors, and the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.

   3. (3) The subgroup of the Advisory Council shall:

      1. (i) complete an assessment of the current number of licensed beds, staffed beds, and physical beds intended to serve the needs of children and youth by agency, categorized by type of bed inclusive of age, gender, diagnosis, severity, and specialty accepted for the following bed types:

         1. 1. traditional foster homes;
         2. 2. private and public treatment foster homes;
         3. 3. group homes;
         4. 4. residential treatment centers;
         5. 5. private and public inpatient psychiatric beds; and
         6. 6. respite beds;
      2. (ii) develop an electronic process for tracking the real-time location, length of stay, and discharge plans for pediatric hospital overstay patients, as defined in § 19-388 of the Health--General Article, including youth under or in the process of a voluntary placement agreement;

      3. (iii) 1. develop a model for standardized data collection with mandated uniform metrics, including age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, county of origin, payor type, and length of stay for pediatric hospital overstay patients, as defined in § 19-388 of the Health--General Article, including youth under or in the process of a voluntary placement agreement; and

         1. 2. designate an entity to serve as a central repository for data collected; and
      4. (iv) develop a plan and identify resources needed to expand mobile response and stabilization services across the State to ensure statewide access and full implementation by 2030.
8. (h) On or before October 1 each year, beginning in 2027, the Advisory Council shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.

Added by Acts 2026, c. 160, § 4, eff. June 1, 2026.