“Is there a problem that needs to be fixed?” 

            That’s another way of saying, “Why do we need this bill?”

             Registered nurses, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers could provide health care to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians under my House Bill 68. 

            A physician, psychologist, or individual operating under the direction of one of those practitioners can already do so. 

            My legislation does not change the circumstances where such care is permitted.  You would not know that from the objections that certain interest groups are raising.  They want to use my bill to change the existing policy.

            I will emphasize that in my written and oral testimony at tomorrow’s bill hearing.

             Is a professor’s research on medical, scientific, technical, or scholarly issues already exempt from a request under the Public Information Act?  Is that also the case for documents dealing with public policy issues?

             I introduced House Bill 62 after learning of incidents where professors were intellectually harassed in Wisconsin and Virginia.  Are the laws there as protective of academic research as Maryland’s already is?

             I need to know the answer before Thursday – when the bill will be heard.