House Bill 840 proposed changes to the Human Services Article affecting operation of the State Coordinating Council (SCC) and Local Coordinating Council (LCC) during the 2011 Legislative Session. This bill was passed unanimously by the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor O'Malley on May 19, 2011. The purpose of the bill was to:
- Remove the identified barriers to family-driven care
- Align Maryland's service delivery system with system of care values set forth in the Child and Family Services Interagency Strategic Plan and current practices in Maryland
The legislation:
- Supports the implementation of Maryland's shift to a more family-driven service delivery process
- Facilitates the provision of community-based services for children with intensive needs by allowing families to self-refer for services without a lead agency
- Provides for child and family teams selected by the family to develop plans of care for community-based services rather than the currently-required local inter-agency bodies
Changes to the Human Services Article, including the establishment of a Local Care Team (LCT) in each jurisdiction are effective as of July 1, 2011.