HB 1744 - Child Abuse and Neglect – Substance–Exposed Newborns – Reporting

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (ACLU) opposes HB 1744, which would expand the existing requirement that healthcare providers report substance-exposed newborns to local social services departments to include, even as amended, newborns whose mothers’ substance use was consistent with a medication prescribed or dispensed to her by her health care provider. This bill could have severely negative consequences.