Maryland

FOR the purpose of altering State tax rates for alcoholic beverages sold in Maryland; altering the distribution of the alcoholic beverage tax revenue; requiring the Comptroller to distribute a portion of the alcoholic beverage tax revenue to certain special funds to be used only for certain purposes; establishing the Developmental Disability Support Fund as a special fund to be used to support certain services for individuals with developmental disabilities WHEREAS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder are the leading known preventable causes of intellectual and physical disabilities; and WHEREAS, One in 100 live births is affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder each year, with lifetime health care costs of more than $800,000 incurred;...

Comptroller to distribute a portion of the alcoholic beverage tax revenue to certain special funds to be used only for certain purposes; establishing the Developmental Disability Support Fund as a special fund to be used to support certain services for individuals with developmental disability; establishing the Addiction Treatment and Prevention Fund as a special fund to be used to support certain programs for the treatment and prevention of drug and alcohol addictions... WHEREAS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the leading known preventable cause of intellectual and physical disabilities; and WHEREAS, One in 100 live births is affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder each year, with lifetime health care costs of more than $800,000 incurred.

Comptroller to distribute a portion of the alcoholic beverage tax revenue to certain special funds to be used only for certain purposes; establishing the Developmental Disability Support Fund as a special fund to be used to support certain services for individuals with developmental disability; establishing the Addiction Treatment and Prevention Fund as a special fund to be used to support certain programs for the treatment and prevention of drug and alcohol addictions... WHEREAS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the leading known preventable cause of intellectual and physical disabilities; and WHEREAS, One in 100 live births is affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder each year, with lifetime health care costs of more

than $800,000 incurred

Requiring the State Superintendent of Schools and the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board to require applicants for a teacher’s certificate to complete a minimum number of semester hours covering fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and to determine the minimum number of specified semester hours required for a teacher’s certificate; etc.

Task Force to Study the Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Creates a task force to jointly with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, identify certain at-risk individuals and groups, review and coordinate certain State programs related to fetal alcohol syndrome, and develop guidelines for the creation of a certain campaign related to fetal alcohol syndrome. Requiring the Task Force to submit a certain report to the Governor and certain committees of the General Assembly on or before a certain date; providing for the termination of this Act; and generally relating to the Task Force to Study the Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Teachers – Certification – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Course Credit. For the purpose of requiring the State Superintendent of Schools and the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board to require certain applicants for a teacher’s certificate to complete a certain number of semester hours covering fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and to determine the number of minimum semester hours covering fetal alcohol spectrum disorders required for a teacher’s certificate.

Public Health – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention – Public Awareness Campaign. For the purpose of requiring the secretary of health and mental hygiene, in collaboration with other State agencies, to establish and promote a statewide public information, awareness, and education campaign relating to the prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome; providing for the components of the campaign; authorizes the Secretary to use specified resources to carry out the provisions of the Act.

State Board of Physicians – Licensing and Continuing Education Requirements. For the purpose of requiring physicians to complete a course or program on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders before becoming licensed; and authorizing the State Board of Physicians to require licensees to complete continuing education requirements on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.