Kids First Express Lane Eligibility Act

House Bill 1375 (Chapter 734, Acts of 2010)

This Act extends the Kids First Act of 2008 (Ch. 692, Acts of 2008) by three years through 2012.

This Act adds a new provision to require the Comptroller and the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to enter into an interagency agreement that allows the sharing of information from the income tax return of a taxpayer for the sole purpose of identifying children who may be eligible for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Maryland Children's Health Program, and enrolling eligible children in these programs. However, the Act prohibits the Comptroller from sharing information if a taxpayer fails to opt-in to the information sharing. This limited exception to the Comptroller's requirement to keep tax information confidential is further subject to the federal Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.

This Act takes effect July 1, 2010.