WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 295
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Chapter 295
(Senate Bill 354)
AN ACT concerning
Montgomery County and Prince George’s County – Rent Court Workforce
Solutions Pilot Program
FOR the purpose of establishing the Rent Court Workforce Solutions Pilot Program in
Montgomery County and Prince George’s County to provide certain individuals with
certain resources and information on workforce development and employment
opportunities; and generally relating to the Rent Court Workforce Solutions Pilot
Program.
BY adding to
Article – Real Property
Section 8–1001 through 8–1006 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 10. Rent Court
Workforce Solutions Pilot Program”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2023 Replacement Volume)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Real Property
SUBTITLE 10. RENT COURT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PILOT PROGRAM.
8–1001.
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(B) “COVERED INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS A DEFENDANT TE NANT OF A
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL P ROPERTY IN A FAILURE TO PAY RENT CASE FIL ED UNDER §
8–401 OF THIS TITLE.
(C) “DESIGNATED ORGANIZATI ON” MEANS THE FISCAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OF A COUNTY ’S LOCAL WORKFORCE DE VELOPMENT
BOARD.
(D) “PILOT PROGRAM” MEANS THE RENT COURT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
PILOT PROGRAM.
8–1002. Ch. 295 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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THIS SUBTITLE APPLIES ONLY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND PRINCE
GEORGE’S COUNTY.
8–1003.
(A) THERE IS A RENT COURT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PILOT PROGRAM.
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COVERED
INDIVIDUALS WITH :
(1) WORKFORCE RESOURCES ; AND
(2) INFORMATION ON :
(I) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ; AND
(II) EMPLOYMENT REGISTERED APPRENTICE SHIPS AND OTHER
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES .
(C) A DESIGNATED ORGANIZAT ION SHALL ADMINISTER THE PILOT
PROGRAM.
8–1004.
(A) THE DISTRICT COURT SHALL MAY ALLOW AT LEAST ONE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM A DESIGNATED ORGANIZ ATION TO OPERATE IN A DISTRICT
COURT COURTHOUSE ON D AYS ON WHICH CASES FILED FO R A FAILURE TO PAY R ENT
UNDER § 8–401 OF THIS TITLE ARE HE ARD.
(B) THE OPERATION OF A DE SIGNATED ORGANIZATIO N IN A DISTRICT
COURT COURTHOUSE SHAL L BE GOVERNED BY A M EMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING SIGNED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DESIGNAT ED
ORGANIZATION AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE APPLICABLE DISTRICT
COURT.
(B) (C) NOTHING IN THIS SUBTI TLE MAY BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE THE
DISTRICT COURT TO ALLOW A REPR ESENTATIVE FROM A DE SIGNATED
ORGANIZATION TO OPER ATE WITHIN A COURTRO OM.
(C) IF BOTH PARTIES AGREE , THE COURT MAY GRANT A CONTINUANCE OR A
STAY OF AN EVICTION PROCEEDING FOR A FAI LURE TO PAY RENT SO THAT A
COVERED INDIVIDUAL M AY PARTICIPATE IN TH E PILOT PROGRAM.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 295
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8–1005.
ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EACH JANUARY 1 THEREAFTER , A
DESIGNATED ORGANIZAT ION SHALL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY ON THE NUMBE R OF INDIVIDUALS THA T WERE CONNECTED TO
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMEN T PROGRAMS OR EMPLOY MENT OPPOR TUNITIES
THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM.
8–1006.
FOR EACH OF FISCAL YE ARS 2026 THROUGH 2028, THE GOVERNOR SHALL
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APP ROPRIATION OF :
(1) $100,000 TO THE DESIGNATED ORGANIZAT ION FOR
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO BE USED FOR THE
PILOT PROGRAM; AND
(2) $100,000 TO THE DESIGNATED ORGANIZAT ION FOR PRINCE
GEORGE’S COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO BE USED FOR THE
PILOT PROGRAM.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.