EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0543*
SENATE BILL 543
F2 4lr1571
CF HB 4
By: Senator Brooks
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Institutions of Higher Education – Admissions Standards – Prohibition on 2
Consideration of Legacy Preference 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain institutions of higher education from considering a 4
legacy preference as an eligible criterion for admissions standards at the institution; 5
and generally relating to admissions standards and institutions of higher education. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Education 8
Section 10–101(a) and (h) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Education 13
Section 26–901 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 9. Consideration of Legacy 14
Preference in the Admissions Process” 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Education 20
10–101. 21
(a) In this division the following words have the meanings indicated. 22
2 SENATE BILL 543
(h) (1) “Institution of higher education” means an institution of postsecondary 1
education that generally limits enrollment to graduates of secondary schools, and awards 2
degrees at either the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level. 3
(2) “Institution of higher education” includes public, private nonprofit, and 4
for–profit institutions of higher education. 5
SUBTITLE 9. CONSIDERATION OF LEGACY PREFERENCE IN THE ADMISSIONS 6
PROCESS. 7
26–901. 8
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “LEGACY PREFERENCE ” MEANS A PREFERENCE 9
GIVEN TO AN APPLICAN T TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY THE 10
INSTITUTION BASED ON THE APPLICANT ’S FAMILIAL RELATIONS HIP TO AN ALUM OF 11
THE INSTITUTION . 12
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN 13
THE STATE THAT RECEI VES STATE FUNDS. 14
(C) (1) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION MAY NO T CONSIDER A 15
LEGACY PREFERENCE AS AN ELIGIBLE CRITERIO N FOR ADMISSION STAN DARDS TO 16
THE INSTITUTION . 17
(2) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION MAY AS K APPLICANTS 18
TO PROVIDE INFORMATI ON ABOUT FAMILIAL RELATION SHIPS TO ALUMS OF TH E 19
INSTITUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTIN G DATA. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 21
1, 2024. 22