Genome Statute and Legislation Database

This bill amends the Personal Information Protection Act, which governs the use of personal information contained in the records of certain businesses. The definition of personal information is amended to include an individual's unique biometric or genetic print. In the Senate. Died.

Requires the University of Maryland to develop and adopt an information security and risk management program for the protection of personally identifiable information. Personally identifiable information is defined to include biometric information such as an individual's DNA. Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective 10/1/2024.

This bill provides an individual with a right to civil if the state genetic nondiscrimination insurance statutes are violated. Measure failed.

Establishes the Healthy Maryland Program. Requires the Board to establish requirements and standards to consistent with state nondiscrimination laws, including those pertaining to genetic information. Participating providers may not refuse to provide health care services on the basis of genetic information. 3/28/2019 Unfavorable Report by Health and Government Operations. Withdrawn.

A hospital or related institution may not discriminate in admitting or providing personal care based on genetic information. Died.

Sets forth requirements for governmental units, including an executive, legislative or judicial agency, a department, a board, a commission, an authority, a public institution of higher education, or a unit or instrument of the state that collects or discloses personal information. Defines personal information to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

Prohibits a hospital or related institution from discriminating in admitting or providing care for an individual based on various factors, including genetic information. Died.

An insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization, which does not include life insurance policies, annuity contracts, long-term care insurance policies, or disability insurance policies, may not (1) use a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to affect a health insurance policy or contract, (2) request or require a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, or genetic information for certain purposes, or (3) release identifiable genetic information or the results of a genetic test except for internal business and to a participating health care provider without prior written authorization. Disclosure of identifiable genetic information to an employee or authorized health care provider may only be for the purpose of providing medical care to patients or conducting research approved by an institutional review board established in accordance with federal law. The insurance commissioner has the authority to issue orders where a violation is found.

Amends statute requiring a business that maintains personal information of an individual residing in the State to implement and maintain certain security procedures and practices. The bill adds the following to the definition of personal information: genetic information with respect to an individual, including the genetic sample of an individual; the genetic test of an individual; the genetic test of an individual's family member; the manifestation of a disease or disorder in a family member of an individual; any request for and receipt of genetic counseling, or genetic education; and any information derived from genetic information with respect to an individual. In the Senate - Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. Died.

For a stop-loss insurance policy or contract issues to a small employer, a medical stop-loss insurer may not increase cost-sharing or decrease coverage for a specific individual within the plan or exclude any employee or dependent base on an actual or expected health-status related factor, including genetic information. Died.

Prohibits a hospital from withholding financial assistance or from denying a patient's application for financial assistance based on genetic information. Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective 10/1/2020.

This bill restricts access to, use of and retention of DNA samples and disclosure of DNA test results without consent with some exceptions. The bill also provides personal property rights to DNA samples and DNA test results. The bill requires the health department to develop a uniform written informed consent form. Civil and criminal penalties are set forth, and individuals whose rights are violated may bring civil action. Measure failed.

A business that owns or licenses computerized data that includes personal information such as genetic information of an individual must conduct a reasonable and prompt investigation upon the breach of the security of a system. Died.

Establishes the Healthy Maryland Program. Requires the Board to establish requirements and standards to consistent with state nondiscrimination laws, including those pertaining to genetic information. Participating providers may not refuse to provide health care services on the basis of genetic information. Died.

Requires certain businesses, when destroying a customers records that contain personal or private information of the customer, to take specific steps to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information. Personal information is defined to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

Requires the University of Maryland to develop and adopt an information security and risk management program for the protection of personally identifiable information, including biometric information. Biometric information is defined as physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including an individual's DNA, that can be used singly, in combination with each other, or with other identifying data to establish individual identity. Died.

Prohibits health insurers, health maintenance organizations, nonprofit health insurance plan or any person or organization that provides health benefits plans from excluding or limiting certain benefits or denying certain coverage based on a health-status related factor, including genetic information. Health status-related factors also may not be used to (1) cancel or refuse to renew a small employer group plan or individual health plans; (2) establish rules for eligibility; or (3) charge higher premiums than similarly situated individuals in a group health plan.

Requires certain private entities in possession of biometric identifiers or biometric information to develop a written policy, made available to the public, establishing a certain retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying biometric identifiers and biometric information. Biometric identifier is defined to includes a genetic print. The bill defines confidential and sensitive to include a genetic marker and genetic testing information. In the Senate - Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. Died.

Authorizes a person to advertise for, solicit business in the State for, offer, or perform direct to consumer genetic testing, if certain conditions are met. Died.

Prohibits the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission from discriminating against a person on the basis of genetic information. Requires that contracts entered into by the Commission include a provision stating that contractors will not to discriminate in any manner against an employee or an applicant for employment based on a variety of factors, including genetic information. Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective 10/1/2020.

Prohibiting carriers that offer life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance policies or contracts from taking certain action regarding coverage based on whether an applicant or...

Amends the state law pertaining to direct and indirect advertisement of or solicitation of business for medical laboratory tests. Died.

Requires certain businesses that collect a consumer's personal information, including biometric information such as an individual's DNA, to provide certain clear and conspicuous notices to the consumer at or before the point of collection. Authorizes a consumer to submit a certain request for information to a business that collects the consumer's personal information. Requires a business to comply with a request for information within 45 days after receiving a request. Died.

Sets forth requirements for governmental units, including an executive, legislative or judicial agency, a department, a board, a commission, an authority, a public institution of higher education, or a unit or instrument of the state that collects or discloses personal information. Defines personal information to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

This bill prohibits long-term care insurance carriers from requesting or requiring a genetic test to deny or limit coverage or charge a higher rate for the same coverage. These entities may not use the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to deny or limit coverage or charge a higher rate for the same coverage except that genetic information or the results of a genetic test may be used for such purposes if based on sound actuarial principles. Approved by the Governor May 22, 2008.

Requires the University of Maryland to develop and adopt an information security and risk management program for the protection of personally identifiable information. Personally identifiable information is defined to include biometric information such as an individual's DNA. Not effective until 10/1/2024.

Amends the statute requiring certain units of State government to employ reasonable security procedures and practices. Proposed changes to the law include altering the definition of biometric information by removing the term genetic print and adding an individual's DNA to the definition. In the House - Hearing 3/31 at 1:30 p.m. Died.

Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to make available to an applicant for a driver's license, an identification card, or a moped operator's permit the opportunity to upgrade to an enhanced identification document. A person who applies for enhanced identification must provide a biometric identifier, which may include DNA. Died.

Prohibits health insurers, health maintenance organizations, nonprofit health insurance plan or any person or organization that provides health benefits plans from excluding or limiting certain benefits or denying certain coverage based on a health-status related factor, including genetic information. Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective upon enactment.

This bill prohibits an insurer from requesting or requiring a genetic test or from using a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to deny or limit life insurance coverage or benefits or to charge a different rate for the same coverage or benefits under an annuity contract; defining terms; and providing for an exception if the use is based on sound actuarial principles. Measure failed.

Requires managers and supervisors in the Legislative and Executive branches of State government to immediately report certain incidents of workplace bullying, including bullying based on genetic information. 3/5/2019 Unfavorable Report by House Rules and Executive Nominations; Withdrawn.

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act by adding activity tracking data to the scope of protected information. Activity tracking data is defined to include genetic information; genetic samples; genetic tests of an individual or family member; and requests for or receipt of a genetic test, genetic counseling or genetic education. Died.

The law requires businesses to establish certain protections when using personal information. Personal information is defined to include an individual's genetic print.

Requires certain businesses, when destroying a customers records that contain personal or private information of the customer, to take specific steps to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information. Personal information is defined to include an individual's genetic print. Died.

This bill prohibits long-term care insurance carriers from requesting or requiring a genetic test to deny or limit coverage or charge a higher rate for the same coverage. These entities may not use the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to deny or limit coverage or charge a higher rate for the same coverage except that genetic information or the results of a genetic test may be used for such purposes if based on sound actuarial principles. Approved by the Governor May 22, 2008.

An employer may not (1) discriminate against any individual because of genetic information or because of an individuals refusal to submit to a genetic test or provide the results of a genetic test, (2) limit, segregate, or classify its employees or applicants because of genetic information or the individual's refusal to submit to a genetic test or provide the results of a genetic test, or (3) request or require a genetic test as a condition of hiring or determining benefits.

Alters the definition of "practice pharmacy" to include the ordering and administering of certain laboratory tests. Requires the State Board of Pharmacy, on or before January 1, 2022, to adopt regulations authorizing a pharmacist to order and administer laboratory tests, without a written, oral or electronically transmitted prescription from an authorized prescriber that measure biomarkers, including deoxyribonucleic acid. In the Senate - Hearing 3/02 at 1:00 p.m. Died.

Removes the ban on directly or indirectly advertising for or soliciting business for any medical laboratory, regardless of location, from anyone except a physician, hospital, medical laboratory, clinic, clinical installation, or other medical care facility. Died.

Prohibits health insurers, health maintenance organizations, nonprofit health insurance plan or any person or organization that provides health benefits plans from excluding or limiting certain benefits or denying certain coverage based on a health-status related factor, including genetic information. Enacted without Governor's signature 5/8/2020. Effective upon enactment.

This bill prohibits an insurer from requesting or requiring a genetic test or from using a genetic test, the results of a genetic test, genetic information, or a request for genetic services to deny or limit life insurance coverage or benefits or to charge a different rate for the same coverage or benefits under an annuity contract; defining terms; and providing for an exception if the use is based on sound actuarial principles. Measure failed.

Amends the definition of personal information used in the state data privacy act. Personally identifiable information is defined to include an individual's DNA. Died.

Prohibits a hospital or related institution from discriminating in admitting or providing care for an individual based on various factors, including genetic information. Died.

Establishes requirements for the use of genetic genealogical DNA analysis for criminal justice purposes.

Declares that it is the policy of the state to provide affordable health care to all regardless of various factors, including genetic information. Prohibits discrimination based on genetic information by a hospital; a person licensed or otherwise regulated by the Maryland Department of Health; and a person, including a health maintenance organization, that provides health benefits and has a certificate of authority from issued by the Maryland Department of Insurance. Died.

Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to offer to an applicant for a driver's license, identification card, or moped operator's permit the opportunity to upgrade to an enhanced identification document. The enhanced ID will be embedded with memory and a microprocessor chip that stores biometric identifiers, which may include DNA. Died.

Amends existing law pertaining to carriers, defined as insurers, nonprofit health service plans and health maintenance organizations, that offer wellness programs. Health factors are defined to include genetic information. Carriers may seek verification from health care providers that a health factor makes it unreasonably difficult or medically inadvisable for an individual to satisfy or attempt to satisfy an otherwise applicable standard to qualify for a reward of the wellness program. Approved by the Governor April 8, 2014.

Prohibits the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission from discriminating against a person on the basis of genetic information. Requires that contracts entered into by the Commission include a provision stating that contractors will not to discriminate in any manner against an employee or an applicant for employment based on a variety of factors, including genetic information.

Requires certain businesses that collect a consumer's personal information to provide certain clear and conspicuous notices to the consumer at or before the point of collection. The bill defines biometric information to include an individual's DNA. In the Senate - First Reading Senate Rules. Died.

Requires certain state and local governmental units to secure by encryption personal information of an individual that the unit has collected as computerized data. Personal information includes a genetic print or image. Died.

This bill establishes that a certain forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and search may not be initiated without certifying certain information before a court and obtaining a certain authorization from the court; prohibits certain biological samples subjected to certain forensic genetic genealogical profile analysis to be used to determine certain information about a certain donor; requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to produce a certain annual report; etc.