ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WMAR) — Maryland's House of Delegates have voted 137-0 on emergency legislation aimed at reforming the University of Maryland Medical System Board.
House Bill 1428 would prohibit members from intentionally using their positions on the board for their own personal gain and would ban elected officials from serving.
Additionally, the bill would require the board to adopt a conflict of interest policy to be sent to Maryland's Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President. Each board member would then have to submit an annual disclosure of financial interest to the Health Services Cost Review Commission by the end of May 2019.
If the bill makes it out of the General Assembly, UMMS would be mandated to hire an independent auditor who would have to send a copy of their findings to state lawmakers by the end of the year.
The legislation will now make its way to the State Senate who has already proposed a similar bill of their own, SB619 which recently was voted out of committee.
With the State Legislature set to adjourn on April 8, this latest flurry of proposals comes amid the recent controversy surrounding Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh's book deal with UMMS.
