MD HB1012

Counties and municipalities may establish multidisciplinary local suicide fatality review teams, with two or more counties permitted to form a single multicounty team under a memorandum of understanding

Teams must include representatives from county health, social services, behavioral health, schools, law enforcement, EMS, hospitals, and mental health professionals, meeting at least quarterly to review cases and recommend prevention actions

Local child fatality review teams retain primary authority over suicide deaths involving individuals under age 18, though they may coordinate joint reviews with local suicide fatality review teams

Team meetings discussing individual cases are closed to the public and exempt from the Open Meetings Act; all acquired information is confidential, exempt from public disclosure, and cannot be introduced as evidence in any proceeding

Violations of confidentiality provisions constitute a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 fine or 90 days imprisonment; the bill takes effect October 1, 2026