New laws to take effect Tuesday

ANNAPOLIS (AP) — Health protections for children, including lead restrictions in toys that sparked trade complaints from the Chinese government, are among new laws taking effect in Maryland.

Another children's health law taking effect requires residents to indicate whether each dependent child claimed as an exemption on income tax returns has health care coverage. The "Kids First Act" requires the comptroller to send notice that the child may be eligible for Medicaid or the Maryland Children's Health Program.

Maryland also is raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists to create higher incentives for treating low-income children.

Here's a list of some of the highlights:

BRAC: Directs $3 million from the Higher Education Investment Fund to pay for higher education needs related to people coming to Maryland because of military base realignment.

DENTAL: Raises Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists to create higher incentives for treating low-income children.

DOMESTIC PARTNERS: Allows unmarried couples more rights to make about a dozen medical decisions for each other, if they meet certain criteria to show they are a committed couple. Another law exempts domestic partners from paying property transfer taxes when one person dies.

GOLD STAR: Enables family of a member of the armed services who was killed in combat to apply to the Motor Vehicle Administration for a Gold Star registration license plate.

HEALTH CARE EXPANSION: Expands health care coverage for up to 100,000 parents and employees of small businesses. It also covers adults without insurance who have incomes at 116 percent of the federal poverty line.

HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS: Requires new or renovated state buildings and new schools to be constructed to meet or exceed the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Creates a new Department of Information Technology and a new cabinet-level secretary to focus on coordinating the state's computer networks.

KIDS FIRST: Requires residents to indicate whether each dependent child claimed as an exemption on income tax returns has health care coverage. The comptroller must send notice that the child may be eligible for Medicaid or the Maryland Children's Health Program.

LEAD TOYS: Prohibits anyone from manufacturing, selling or importing children's products such as toys, eating utensils, clothes, lunch boxes or accessories like jewelry that contain unhealthy levels of lead.

VIDEO BINGO: Defines types of illegal gambling machines to crack down on proliferation games that resemble slot machines. Violations are punishable by up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000.