EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0597*
HOUSE BILL 597
P1, E4 4lr4593
CF SB 470
By: The Speaker (By Request – Administration) and Delegates Allen, Alston,
Amprey, Anderton, Bagnall , Bartlett, Bhandari, Boafo, Bouchat, Boyce,
Conaway, Crutchfield, Davis, Edelson, Fennell, Foley, Forbes,
Fraser–Hidalgo, Griffith, Grossman, Guyton, Harris, Henson, Hill,
Hornberger, Jackson, A. Johnson, S. Johnson, D. Jones, Kaiser, Kaufman,
Lopez, Love, McCaskill, Miller, Mireku–North, Munoz, Pasteur, Patterson,
Phillips, Pruski, Qi, Roberson, Roberts, Ruff, Ruth, Simmons, Simpson,
Solomon, Spiegel, Taveras, Taylor, Toles, Tomlinson, Turner, Watson,
Williams, Wu, and Young
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2024
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 5, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act 2
FOR the purpose of altering the Law Enforcement Cadet Apprenticeship Program in the 3
Maryland Department of Labor to be the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program; 4
expanding the purpose and scope of the Program to promote careers with certain 5
public safety agencies; increasing the maximum amount of a grant altering the 6
eligibility criteria and the types of grants that may be awarded under the Program; 7
requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to develop 8
certain mental health wellness policies to be implemented in certain law 9
enforcement agencies and correctional facilities; establishing the Workgroup on 10
Growing Engagement in the Law Enforcement and Corrections Workforce to study 11
and make recommendations on increasing law enforcement employment in the State; 12
and generally relating to the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program, the duties of 13
the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, and the Workgroup on 14
Growing Engagement in the Law Enforcement and Corrections Workforce. 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16 2 HOUSE BILL 597
Article – Labor and Employment 1
Section 11–603 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 4
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 5
Article – Public Safety 6
Section 3–201(a), (b), and (d) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Public Safety 11
Section 3–207(m) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GE NERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Labor and Employment 17
11–603. 18
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
[(2) “Cadet Program” means the Law Enforcement Cadet Apprenticeship 20
Program.] 21
[(3)] (2) “Law enforcement agency” means the police department of a 22
county, municipal corporation, [or] university in the State, OR STATE AGENCY . 23
(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE PUBLIC SAFETY APPRENTICESHIP 24
PROGRAM. 25
(4) “PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY ” INCLUDES: 26
(I) A CORRECTIONAL UNIT , AS DEFINED IN § 2–401 OF THE 27
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ARTICLE; 28
(II) A LAW ENFORCEMENT AG ENCY; AND 29
(III) A PUBLIC SAFETY AGEN CY, AS DEFINED IN § 1–301 OF THE 30
PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 31
(b) There is a [Law Enforcement Cadet] PUBLIC SAFETY Apprenticeship 32 HOUSE BILL 597 3
Program in the Department. 1
(c) The purposes of the [Cadet] Program are to: 2
(1) provide young individuals opportunities to begin a career [in law 3
enforcement] WITH A PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY; 4
(2) foster positive relationships between the public, particularly young 5
individuals, and [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agencies; 6
(3) develop a cohort of individuals qualified to join a [law enforcement] 7
PUBLIC SAFETY agency; 8
(4) encourage [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agencies to hire 9
apprentices; and 10
(5) help [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agencies offset additional 11
costs, if any, associated with hiring apprentices. 12
(d) THE PROGRAM SHALL CONSIST OF START –UP GRANTS AND 13
STABILIZATION GRANTS . 14
(E) A PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY OR A GROUP OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES 15
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM SHALL : 16
(1) DEVELOP A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGR AM; AND 17
(2) ESTABLISH A REGISTER ED APPRENTICESHIP PR OGRAM THAT 18
DEVELOPS A CAREER PA TH THAT ENABLES AN INDIVIDUAL TO WORK I N A PUBLIC 19
SAFETY AGENCY . 20
(F) (1) The Department shall: 21
(i) administer the [Cadet] Program; and 22
(ii) award START–UP AND STABILIZATION grants under the 23
[Cadet] Program on a competitive basis to [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agencies 24
that meet the requirements under paragraph (2) of this subsection A PUBLIC SAFETY 25
AGENCY OR A GROUP OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCI ES THAT MEET THE REQ UIREMENTS 26
OF THIS SECTION. 27
(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 28
PARAGRAPH , THE DEPARTMENT MAY AWARD : 29
4 HOUSE BILL 597
1. A START–UP GRANT NOT EXCEEDI NG $200,000 TO A 1
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY OR A GROUP OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES FOR 2
DEVELOPMENT AND LAUN CH OF A PUBLIC SAFET Y AGENCY’S REGISTERED 3
APPRENTICESHIP PROGR AM UNDER THIS SECTIO N; AND 4
2. A STABILIZATION GRANT NO T EXCEEDING $5,000 TO A 5
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY OR A GROUP OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES ON T HE INITIAL 6
ENROLLMENT OF EACH A PPRENTICE IN THE PUB LIC SAFETY AGENCY ’S REGISTERED 7
APPRENTICESHIP PROGR AM. 8
(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT AW ARD A STAR T–UP OR 9
STABILIZATION GRANT UNDER THIS SECTION T O A PUBLIC SAFETY AG ENCY OR A 10
GROUP OF PUBLIC SAFE TY AGENCIES THAT FAI L TO BARGAIN WITH TH E 11
APPROPRIATE EXCLUSIV E REPRESENTATIVE REG ARDING ANY ADJUSTMEN TS TO 12
WAGES, HOURS, OR OTHER TERMS AND C ONDITIONS OF EMP LOYMENT THAT ARE 13
REQUIRED FOR INDIVID UALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY’S 14
REGISTERED APPRENTIC ESHIP PROGRAM . 15
(2) A [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agency is eligible to receive a 16
grant if the [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agency employs at least one apprentice 17
who: 18
(i) has been employed by the agency for at least 7 months; AND 19
(ii) is enrolled in the first year of an apprenticeship program 20
registered with the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council under § 11–405(b) of 21
this title[; and 22
(iii) lives in a zip code in which at least 10% of the population is below 23
the poverty level as established by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the 24
Census, in the most recently released data]. 25
(e) [(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the] THE 26
amount of a grant awarded under the [Cadet] Program: 27
[(i)] (1) shall be based on the number of apprentices who meet the 28
description in subsection [(d)(2)(i) through (iii)] (D)(2) of this section who are employed by 29
the eligible [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agency; and 30
[(ii)] (2) may not exceed [$2,000] $5,000 for each apprentice who 31
meets the description in subsection [(d)(2)(i) through (iii)] (D)(2) of this section who is 32
employed by the eligible law enforcement agency. 33
[(2) The amount of a grant awarded to an eligible university law 34 HOUSE BILL 597 5
enforcement agency may not exceed $1,000 for each apprentice who meets the description 1
in subsection (d)(2)(i) through (iii) of this section who is employed by the eligible university 2
law enforcement agency.] 3
(f) (G) For fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include 4
in the State budget an appropriation of at least $750,000 for the [Cadet] Program to: 5
(1) provide grants to eligible [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agencies; 6
and 7
(2) cover the administrative costs of operating the [Cadet] Program. 8
(g) (H) The Department shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out this 9
section, including regulations to: 10
(1) develop requirements for grant applications; 11
(2) develop a process for reviewing grant applications and awarding grants 12
to eligible [law enforcement] PUBLIC SAFETY agencies; and 13
(3) determine the maximum amount that an eligible [law enforcement] 14
PUBLIC SAFETY agency OR A GROUP OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES may be awarded 15
under the [Cadet] Program each fiscal year. 16
Article – Public Safety 17
3–201. 18
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
(b) “Commission” means the Maryland Police Training and Standards 20
Commission. 21
(d) (1) “Law enforcement agency” means a governmental police force, sheriff’s 22
office, or security force or law enforcement organization of the State, a county, or a 23
municipal corporation that by statute, ordinance, or common law is authorized to enforce 24
the general criminal laws of the State. 25
(2) “Law enforcement agency” does not include members of the Maryland 26
National Guard who: 27
(i) are under the control and jurisdiction of the Military 28
Department; 29
(ii) are assigned to the military property designated as the Martin 30
State Airport; and 31 6 HOUSE BILL 597
(iii) are charged with exercising police powers in and for the Martin 1
State Airport. 2
3–207. 3
(M) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION , “CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y” MEANS A 4
STATE CORRECTIONAL FACI LITY AND A LOCAL COR RECTIONAL FACILITY , AS 5
DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ARTICLE. 6
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVE LOP MENTAL HEALTH WE LLNESS 7
POLICIES TO BE IMPLE MENTED IN LAW ENFORC EMENT AGENCIES AND 8
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN THE STATE BY: 9
(I) DETERMINING WAYS TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND W ELLNESS 10
AT EVERY LEVEL OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY AND A CORRECTIONAL F ACILITY; 11
(II) INCORPORATING INTO T RAININGS STRESS MANA GEMENT 12
TECHNIQUES DESIGNED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CORRECTIONAL 13
OFFICERS; 14
(III) ESTABLISHING CONFIDENTIAL PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM S; 15
(IV) OFFERING PSYCHOLOGIC AL PROGRAMMING TO HE LP 16
OFFICERS MANAGE STRE SS; AND 17
(V) UTILIZING MEASURING TOOLS TO TRACK EFFEC TIVENESS. 18
(2) (3) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, AND EACH JANUARY 1 19
THEREAFTER , THE COMMISSION SHALL REPO RT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN 20
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL 21
ASSEMBLY ON THE STATU S OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION O F THE 22
POLICIES DESCRIBE D UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND THE 23
EFFECTS OF THE POLIC IES. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 25
(a) There is a Workgroup on Growing Engagement in the Law Enforcement and 26
Corrections Workforce. 27
(b) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 28
(1) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 29
the Senate; 30 HOUSE BILL 597 7
(2) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the 1
House; 2
(3) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the 3
Secretary’s designee; 4
(2) (4) the Secretary of Higher Education, or the Secretary’s designee; 5
(3) (5) the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Counties, 6
or the Executive Director’s designee; 7
(4) (6) the Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Municipal League, 8
or the Chief Executive Officer’s designee; 9
(5) (7) the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of 10
Community Colleges, or the Executive Director’s designee; 11
(6) (8) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the Superintendent’s 12
designee; 13
(7) (9) the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; 14
(8) (10) the Secretary of State Police, or the Secretary’s designee; 15
(9) (11) the President of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, or the 16
President’s designee; 17
(10) (12) the President of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, or the 18
President’s designee; and 19
(11) (13) the President of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, or the 20
President’s designee; and 21
(14) the following members designated by the President of the Maryland 22
Correctional Administrators Association (MCAA): 23
(i) one State member of MCAA; and 24
(ii) one county member of MCAA. 25
(c) The Governor shall designate the Chair of the Workgroup. 26
(d) The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission shall staff the 27
Workgroup. 28
(e) A member of the Workgroup or any subgroup established under subsection (g) 29 8 HOUSE BILL 597
of this section: 1
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Workgroup or 2
subgroup; but 3
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 4
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 5
(f) The Workgroup shall: 6
(1) identify and study the shortage of employees in the law enforcement 7
and corrections fields; 8
(2) determine ways to advertise and promote law enforcement and 9
corrections employment opportunities across the State; and 10
(3) explore recruitment and retention strategies used in the law 11
enforcement and corrections fields that have been successful in other states and countries; 12
and 13
(4) make recommendations on incentives or other methods to increase the 14
number of employees in the law enforcement and corrections workforce. 15
(g) (1) The Workgroup may establish a subgroup within the Workgroup to 16
assist the Workgroup in carrying out its duties, including by conducting research and 17
producing reports. 18
(2) A subgroup established under paragraph (1) of this subsection may 19
include an individual who is not a member of the Workgroup. 20
(h) On or before January 1, 2025, the Workgroup shall report its findings and 21
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 22
Government Article, the General Assembly. 23
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act may not be construed 24
as reducing or lowering the minimum qualifications for employment in a public safety 25
agency, as defined in § 11–603(a)(4) of the Labor and Employment Article, as enacted by 26
this Act. 27
SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
June 1, 2024. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 1 month 29
and, at the end of June 30, 2025, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by 30
the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 31