HB 12
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2020 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader - Revised
House Bill 12 (Delegate Rogers, et al.)
Health and Government Operations Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs - Homes for Veterans - Veterans of Uniformed
Service
This bill expands eligibility to reside at a veterans home supervised by the
Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to include a veteran who has an
honorable discharge from active service with a uniformed service of the United States
(rather than from the armed forces). The bill takes effect July 1, 2020.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: The bill is not anticipated to materially affect State operations or finances,
as discussed below.
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law/Background: Under federal law, there are eight uniformed services:
(1) U.S. Army; (2) U.S. Marine Corps; (3) U.S. Navy; (4) U.S. Air Force; (5) U.S. Coast
Guard; (6) Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service; (7) National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps; and (8) U.S. Space Force.
MDVA currently supervises one veterans home, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home (CHVH)
in St. Mary’s County. Managed by a contractor, the facility includes a 168-bed
assisted living unit and a 286-bed skilled nursing unit. The facility is Medicare and
Medicaid certified and is inspected annually. All veterans receive a per diem subsidy
($112.36 per day for nursing home care or $48.50 per day for assisted living care) from the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to subsidize their cost of care.
State Fiscal Effect: As the bill expands eligibility for residency at CHVH to a likely
limited number of eligible individuals in the State and the 2019 average occupancy rate at
CHVH was 89%, it is assumed that the bill has a minimal operational impact on MDVA.
MDVA advises that the bill’s requirements can be implemented with existing resources.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: SB 341 (Senator Griffith, et al.) - Education, Health, and
Environmental Affairs.
Information Source(s): U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services; Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs; Department of Legislative
Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - January 27, 2020
rh/jc Third Reader - March 14, 2020
Revised - Amendment(s) - March 14, 2020
Analysis by: Thomas S. Elder Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 12/ Page 2


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Department of Veterans Affairs - Homes for Veterans - Veterans of Uniformed Service: 9-901 State Government, 9-909 State Government, 9-911 State Government
Text - Third - Department of Veterans Affairs - Homes for Veterans - Veterans of Uniformed Service: 9-901 State Government, 9-909 State Government, 9-911 State Government