ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 262

Review Program; and generally relating to the Maternal Mortality Review
Program.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 74 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2000
Section 2

Preamble

WHEREAS, The General Assembly found in 2000 that maternal deaths were a
serious public health concern that had a tremendous family and societal impact and
that maternal deaths were significantly underestimated and inadequately
documented, preventing efforts to identify and reduce or eliminate the causes of
death; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly also found in 2000 that the State did not
have a process for the confidential identification, investigation, or dissemination of
findings regarding maternal deaths and found a need to establish a maternal
mortality review program to review maternal deaths and to develop strategies for the
prevention of maternal deaths; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly of Maryland enacted the Maternal Mortality
Review Program on April 25, 2000; and

WHEREAS, The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene established the
Program to review maternal deaths and to develop strategies for the prevention of
maternal deaths in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, The Program has successfully fulfilled its objectives; and

WHEREAS, Maternal deaths are still a serious public health concern, however,
and there is still a need for the Program to continue in existence in order to review
maternal deaths and develop strategies for the prevention of maternal deaths; now,
therefore,

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

Chapter 74 of the Acts of 2000

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2000. [It shall remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of
September 30, 2003, with no further action required by the General Assembly, this
Act shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 2003.

Approved May 13, 2003.

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