CHAPTER 50
(Senate Bill 774)

AN ACT concerning

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act of 1999

FOR the purpose of prohibiting the use of certain genetic information to deny or
otherwise affect a health insurance policy or contract; prohibiting the request or
requirement of certain genetic information as a basis for issuing or renewing
health benefits coverage; prohibiting the disclosure of certain genetic
information to certain persons without certain authorization of the individual
from whom the genetic information was obtained; identifying certain
permissible purposes for disclosure of genetic information; defining certain
terms; repealing the termination date of certain provisions of law that relate to
the use of genetic tests; and generally relating to prohibiting discrimination on
the basis of genetic information in health insurance.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Insurance
Section 27-909
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1997 Volume and 1998 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 24 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1996
Section 2

BY repealing

Chapter 70 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1997
Section 21, 23, and 26

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Insurance

27-909.

(a) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2) "GENE PRODUCT" MEANS THE BIOCHEMICAL MATERIAL, EITHER RNA
OR PROTEIN, MADE BY A GENE.

(3) (I) "GENETIC INFORMATION" MEANS INFORMATION:

1. ABOUT CHROMOSOMES, GENES, GENE PRODUCTS, OR
INHERITED CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAY DERIVE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OR A
FAMILY MEMBER;