EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0934*
SENATE BILL 934
F1 2lr3226
By: Senator Ready
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2022
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
County Boards of Education – Face Coverings – Authority to Require Use 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the State Department of Education from requiring any 3
student or school staff to wear a face covering in certain school facilities in the State; 4
authorizing a county board of education to determine whether to require students 5
and school staff to wear face coverings in school facilities in the county; and generally 6
relating to face coverings in public schools. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Education 9
Section 7–450 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
7–450. 16
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17
INDICATED. 18
(2) “FACE COVERING” MEANS MATERIAL THAT COVERS THE NOSE 19
AND MOUTH TO PREVENT RESPIRATORY DROPLETS FROM BEING EXPELLED INTO 20
THE AIR AND THAT : 21
(I) IS SECURED TO THE HEA D, INCLUDING WITH TIES OR EAR 22
LOOPS; 23 2 SENATE BILL 934
(II) FITS SNUGLY BUT COMFO RTABLY AGAINST THE S IDE OF 1
THE FACE; 2
(III) IS EITHER MANUFACTURE D OR HOMEMADE ; AND 3
(IV) IS A SOLID PIECE OF M ATERIAL WITHOUT SLIT S, 4
EXHALATION VALVES , OR PUNCTURES . 5
(3) “SCHOOL FACILITY ” MEANS A BUILDING OR AN ENCLOSED 6
STRUCTURE THAT IS OW NED, LEASED, OR OPERATED BY A COUNTY BOARD OR 7
PUBLIC SCHOOL . 8
(4) “SCHOOL STAFF” MEANS ALL SCHOOL EMP LOYEES, VOLUNTEERS , 9
AND CONTRACTORS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES WIT HIN A SCHOOL FACILIT Y. 10
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LAW, THE DEPARTMENT 11
MAY NOT REQUIRE ANY STUDENT OR SCHOOL STAFF TO WEAR A FACE COVERING IN 12
A SCHOOL FACILITY IN THE STATE. 13
(C) A COUNTY BOARD MAY DET ERMINE WHETHER TO RE QUIRE STUDENTS 14
AND SCHOOL STAFF TO WEAR FACE COVERIN GS IN SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE 15
COUNTY. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2022. 18