Maryland Code § HG-18-338

Section HG-18-338
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(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Correctional employee" means:
(i) A person who is employed by a correctional institution; or
(ii) A person who performs duties in a correctional institution
by virtue of federal, State, or local government employment.
(3) "Correctional institution" means a place of detention or
correctional confinement operated by or for the State or a local government.
(4) "Court" means a district or circuit court of the State.
(5) "Exposure" means, as between a correctional employee and an
incarcerated individual:
(i) Percutaneous contact with blood, semen, or blood
contaminated fluids;
(ii) Mucocutaneous contact with blood, semen, or blood
contaminated fluids;
(iii) Open wound, including dermatitis, exudative lesions, or
chapped skin, contact with blood, semen, or blood contaminated fluids; and
(iv) Intact skin contact with large amounts of blood, semen, or
blood contaminated fluids for a prolonged period.
(6) "Health care provider" means:
(i) Any person, including a physician or hospital, who is
licensed or otherwise authorized in this State to provide health care services and is
under contract with or operated by the correctional facility; or
(ii) An employee's private physician.
(b) An incarcerated individual shall furnish to the correctional institution a
blood sample or buccal (cheek) swab to be tested for the presence of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when:
(1) There has been an exposure involving the incarcerated
individual;
(2) The exposure occurred in connection with the incarcerated
individual's violation of institutional regulations;

(3) The incarcerated individual has been found guilty of the violation
of institutional regulations described in paragraph (2) of this subsection;
(4) The correctional employee involved in the exposure has given
written notice of the exposure to the managing official of the correctional institution,
or the official's designee; and
(5) The exposure is confirmed by a health care provider.
(c) The correctional institution shall collect the blood sample from the
incarcerated individual, and shall have the sample tested for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by a test and test procedure approved by the
Department.
(d) (1) If the incarcerated individual refuses to furnish to the
correctional institution a blood sample or buccal (cheek) swab to be tested for the
presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as required under subsection (b) of
this section, a court may order the incarcerated individual to furnish the blood sample
or buccal (cheek) swab if:
(i) The correctional employee involved in the exposure or the
correctional employee's representative requests the testing in writing to the State's
Attorney in the county where the exposure occurred; and
(ii) The court finds probable cause to believe that the exposure
occurred.
(2) Before ordering a test under paragraph (1) of this subsection and
subject to the provisions of paragraph (6) of this subsection, the court shall hold a
hearing at which the correctional employee or the correctional employee's
representative and the incarcerated individual or the incarcerated individual's
representative have the right to be present.
(3) The correctional employee or the correctional employee's
representative and the incarcerated individual or the incarcerated individual's
representative shall be notified of:
(i) The date, time, and location of the hearing; and
(ii) Their right to be present at the hearing.
(4) During the hearing, the court may admit into evidence only
affidavits, counter-affidavits, and medical records that:

(i) Relate to the material facts of the case; and
(ii) Support or rebut a finding of probable cause to issue a court
order.
(5) The written request of the correctional employee or the
correctional employee's representative shall be:
(i) Filed by the State's Attorney with the court; and
(ii) Sealed by the court.
(6) Except for good cause, the court shall:
(i) Hold the hearing within 15 days after the State's
Attorney's presentment to the court of the written request of the correctional
employee or the correctional employee's representative; and
(ii) Issue an order granting or denying the request within 3
days after the conclusion of the hearing.
(e) The correctional employee shall be notified of the results of the test for
the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) conducted under the provisions
of this section.
(f) The notification required under subsection (e) of this section shall:
(1) Be made within 48 hours of confirmation of the incarcerated
individual's diagnosis;
(2) Include subsequent written confirmation of the possible exposure
to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and
(3) To the extent possible, be made in a manner that will protect the
confidentiality of the correctional employee and the incarcerated individual.
(g) If the results of the blood sample test are positive for the presence of
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), then the correctional employee and the
incarcerated individual shall be provided appropriate counseling.
(h) All correctional institutions shall develop written procedures to carry
out the provisions of this section.

(i) A health care provider acting in good faith to provide notification in
accordance with this section may not be held liable in any cause of action related to a
breach of patient confidentiality.
(j) A health care provider acting in good faith to provide notification in
accordance with this section may not be held liable in any cause of action for:
(1) The failure to give the required notice, if the correctional
employee fails to properly initiate the notification procedures developed by the
correctional institution under subsection (h) of this section; or
(2) The failure of the managing official of the correctional institution
within which the correctional employee is employed to subsequently notify the
correctional employee of the possible exposure to human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV).
(k) A health care provider may not be held liable in any cause of action
related to obtaining a blood sample or performing and interpreting an approved HIV
test without the incarcerated individual's informed consent.

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