HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                    2003

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assess certain health-care facilities and health insurance

companies at certain times in a certain manner; and

generally relating to the establishment, powers, and duties
of the People's Advocate for Health establishing a Health
Education and Advocacy Unit in the Division of Consumer
Protection; authorizing the Unit to implement a certain
educational advocacy program, to assist health care
consumers with certain health care billing and coverage
problems, and to make certain recommendations to certain
governmental officials and agencies; requiring the Unit to
refer certain matters to certain persons and to work with
the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to assist with
certain problems; requiring the Attorney General's Office,
to the extent possible, to include in its annual budget
funds for the administration and operation of the Unit;
requiring a certain report; providing for the termination of
the Unit on a certain date; and generally relating to the
establishment of a Health Education and Advocacy Unit.

BY adding to

Article - Health - General

Section 2-108 through 2-113

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

Article - Commercial Law

Section 13-4A-01 through 13-4A-03 to be under the new

subtitle "Subtitle 4A. Health Education and Advocacy

Unit"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1983 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General

Article - Commercial Law

2-108.

THERE IS AN OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH.
2-109.

(A) THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE FOR
HEALTH WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, FROM A LIST
SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE SECRETARY. THE NUMBER OF NAMES
ON THE LIST SHALL BE 3 TIMES THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES.

(B) THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH SHALL BE:

(1) AN ATTORNEY AT LAW OF THE STATE; AND