Organization Policy on Maryland State Law Requirements: Maryland House Bill No. 917 (Hubbard Act) (Policy No. SL1)
May 2005

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) acknowledges its obligation to comply with Maryland House Bill No. 917, concerning human participants research and institutional review board (IRB) approval of such research.  Therefore, the requester will be able to access minutes for meetings held on and after October 1, 2002.

Individuals who wish to inspect minutes from JHU and Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS) IRB convened meetings after 10/1/2002 may submit a written request outlining the specific minutes to be inspected.  The JHM and JHU interpretation by General Counsels is that the Act is prospective in application and does not apply retrospectively to IRB minutes that existed prior to October 1, 2002.  The written request should be submitted as follows:

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (JHUSOM) and Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS) IRB Minutes:
JHUSOM and JHHS IRB requests should be submitted to the Assistant Dean for Human Participants Research, Medical Administration 127, with a copy to the Vice Dean for Clinical Investigation. 8^th floor, 1830 Building.

Bloomberg School of Public Health IRB Minutes:
JHSPH IRB system requests should be submitted to the Director of the Office for Research Participants, E2100 Wolfe Street Building, with a copy to the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research, E1152 Wolfe Street Building. 

Johns Hopkins University – Homewood Campus IRB Minutes:
Homewood campus IRB system requests should be submitted to the Vice Provost for Research, 276 Garland.

Access for inspection of minutes will be provided within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written request.  The Act (under 13-1603 (B)) allows the IRB to redact confidential or privileged information from the minutes; therefore, the individual who requests inspection of minutes will be provided access to only a redacted set. The Act in section 13-1605 states that the minutes maintained by an IRB shall be open to public inspection in the Institution during business hours.  Therefore, individuals who inspect the minutes will be allowed to do so in one of the IRB offices during normal business hours.  The individual will not be provided with a copy of the minutes, although notes may be produced during inspection.  Once the inspection is complete, the individual must return the minutes to the IRB staff.  The IRB staff will track requests for inspection of minutes.