EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0771*
HOUSE BILL 771
F2 4lr2278
CF SB 741
By: Delegate Henson
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2024
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Senior Higher Education Institutions – Pregnant and Parenting 2
Students – Policy Requirements 3
(Pregnant and Parenting Support Act) 4
FOR the purpose of requiring each public senior higher education institution to adopt a 5
policy regarding pregnant and parenting students using certain guidelines; 6
requiring each public senior higher education institution to post the policy on the 7
institution’s website; and generally relating to pregnant and parenting students and 8
public senior higher education institutions. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Education 11
Section 15–138 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Education 17
15–138. 18
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANI NGS 19
INDICATED. 20
(2) “PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENT ” MEANS A STUDENT 21
ENROLLED AT A PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCAT ION INSTITUTION WHO : 22
(I) IS PREGNANT; OR 23 2 HOUSE BILL 771
(II) EXERCISES CARE , CUSTODY, OR CONTROL OVER A CH ILD. 1
(3) “PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N” HAS THE 2
MEANING STATED IN § 15–136 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 3
(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT A LL STUDENTS AT AN 4
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION I N THE STATE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR 5
GENDER, SHALL ENJOY FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING 6
PREGNANCY DISCRIMINA TION AS DESCRIBED IN TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION 7
AMENDMENTS OF 1972. 8
(C) (1) EACH PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N SHALL 9
ADOPT A POLICY REGARDING PREGNANT AND PARENTI NG STUDENTS THAT IS 10
CONSISTENT WITH TITLE IX OF THE FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT. 11
(2) THE POLICY REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS 12
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE: 13
(I) REFERRAL TO ON–CAMPUS OR OFF–CAMPUS SERVICES TO 14
ASSIST REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF OR ELIGIBILITY FOR GOVERNMENT 15
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS , INCLUDING: 16
1. THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 17
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN; 18
2. THE CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; 19
3. THE MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; 20
4. THE MARYLAND CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE 21
PROGRAM; AND 22
5. ANY OTHER PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIPS , OR 23
SUBSIDIES FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTI NG STUDENTS ; 24
(II) THE PROVISION OF INFO RMATION ABOUT OR REF ERRALS 25
TO RESOURCES REGARDING ADOPTION SERVICES; 26
(III) THE AVAILABILITY OF I NSTITUTIONAL ACCOMMO DATIONS 27
FOR PREGNANT AND PAR ENTING STUDENTS , INCLUDING PRIORITY C LASS 28
REGISTRATION AND FLE XIBLE SCHEDULING OPT IONS; AND 29
HOUSE BILL 771 3
(IV) A REFERRAL NETWORK OF ON–CAMPUS AND OFF–CAMPUS 1
HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS. 2
(D) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2025, EACH PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER 3
EDUCATION INSTITUTION SHALL POST THE POLIC Y ADOPTED UNDER SUBS ECTION 4
(C) OF THIS SECTION ON THE INSTITUTION ’S WEBSITE. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 6
1, 2024. 7