EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1468*
HOUSE BILL 1468
C8, K3 5lr3177
CF SB 867
By: Delegate Forbes
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Cyber Maryland Program – Revisions 2
FOR the purpose of transferring the Cyber Maryland Program from the Maryland 3
Technology Development Corporation to the Maryland Department of Labor; 4
altering the duties of the Program; requiring the Program to award certain 5
competitive grants and contracts; altering the purposes for which the Cyber 6
Maryland Fund may be used; altering certain funding requirements related to the 7
Program; requiring that unused balances from certain programs and funds be 8
transferred to the Program at the close of the fiscal year; altering the membership of 9
the Cyber Maryland Board; and generally relating to the Cyber Maryland Program. 10
BY transferring 11
Article – Economic Development 12
Section 10–491 and the part “Part XI. Miscellaneous” 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
to be 16
Article – Labor and Employment 17
Section 11–1701 and the subtitle “Subtitle 17. Miscellaneous” 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – Labor and Employment 22
Section 11–1701 to be under the amended subtitle “Subtitle 17. Cyber Maryland 23
Program” 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 27
2 HOUSE BILL 1468
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That Section(s) 10–491 and the part “Part XI. Miscellaneous” of Article – Economic 2
Development of the Annotated Code of Maryland be transferred to be Section(s) 11–1701 3
and the subtitle “Subtitle 17. Miscellaneous” of Article – Labor and Employment of the 4
Annotated Code of Maryland. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 6
as follows: 7
Article – Labor and Employment 8
Subtitle 17. [Miscellaneous] CYBER MARYLAND PROGRAM. 9
11–1701. 10
(a) [(1)] In this [section] SUBTITLE the following words have the meanings 11
indicated. 12
[(2)] (B) “Board” means the Cyber Maryland Board. 13
[(3)] (C) “Fund” means the Cyber Maryland Fund. 14
[(4)] (D) “Program” means the Cyber Maryland Program. 15
11–1702. 16
[(b)] (A) There is a Cyber Maryland Program in the [Corporation] 17
DEPARTMENT . 18
[(c)] (B) The purposes of the Program are to: 19
(1) create and execute a talent pipeline that materially reduces workforce 20
vacancies by July 1, 2026; 21
(2) serve as a one–stop shop for employers seeking to leverage cyber 22
workforce development programs offered by the State and its partners; 23
(3) inform cybersecurity training and education programs operated by 24
public or private entities with industry–driven needs; 25
(4) build the most advanced local and State information technology 26
workforce in the nation, which, to the maximum extent possible, reflects the racial, gender, 27
ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State; 28
(5) coordinate and accelerate cybersecurity research and innovation in the 29
State; and 30 HOUSE BILL 1468 3
(6) support the efforts of the Department of Information Technology to 1
improve the State government’s cybersecurity posture, including State agencies, local 2
government units, and critical infrastructure. 3
[(d)] (C) The Program shall: 4
(1) conduct ongoing research by collaborating with the Cybersecurity 5
Association [of Maryland], Inc., Cybersecurity Talent Advisory Board to collect and analyze 6
real–time industry data to identify cybersecurity workforce needs as described in the U.S. 7
Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Approach; 8
(2) use the results of the research described in item (1) of this subsection 9
to increase the effectiveness of existing State cybersecurity workforce programs for 10
employers in the State; 11
(3) facilitate partnerships for new training and education programs to 12
address the workforce needs identified under item (1) of this subsection; 13
(4) develop a statewide strategic plan for cybersecurity workforce 14
development, using the results of the research described in item (1) of this subsection and 15
with input from the Cybersecurity Association [of Maryland], Inc., Cybersecurity Talent 16
Advisory Board on or before December 1, 2023; [and] 17
(5) DEVELOP, PROMOTE, SUPPORT, AND INVEST IN TALENT 18
IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES, SUCH AS STRATEGIES T HAT LEVERAGE THE U.S. 19
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TALENT PIPELINE MANAGEMENT APPROACH; AND 20
[(5)] (6) ensure that outcomes of the Program are inclusive and, to the 21
maximum extent practicable, reflect the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic diversity of 22
the State. 23
(D) BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE PROGRAM, IN CONSULTATION WITH 24
THE BOARD, SHALL AWARD COMPETIT IVE GRANTS OR CONTRA CTS FOR 25
INFORMATION TECHNOLO GY OR OPERATIONAL TE CHNOLOGY. 26
11–1703. 27
[(e) (1)] (A) There is a Cyber Maryland Fund. 28
[(2)] (B) The purposes of the Fund are to: 29
[(i)] (1) achieve the purposes identified under [subsection (c) of 30
this section] § 11–1702(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE ; and 31
4 HOUSE BILL 1468
[(ii)] (2) support innovative approaches to meeting cybersecurity 1
workforce needs. 2
[(3)] (C) The [Corporation] DEPARTMENT shall administer the Fund. 3
[(4) (i)] (D) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not 4
subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 5
[(ii)] (2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and 6
the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 7
[(5)] (E) The Fund consists of: 8
[(i)] (1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; [and 9
(ii)] (2) MONEY TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE 10
WITH SUBSECTION (M) OF THIS SECTION; AND 11
(3) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 12
Fund. 13
[(6)] (F) The Fund may be used only for: 14
[(i)] (1) administrative expenses of the Program, including hiring 15
staff in accordance with the State budget and hiring consultants and other professionals as 16
necessary to implement, maintain, and administer the Program and the Fund; and 17
[(ii)] (2) providing grants to elementary and secondary schools, 18
institutions of higher education, including community colleges, EMPLOYERS , INCLUDING 19
for–profit corporations, [and] nonprofit organizations, REGISTERED APPRENTIC ESHIP 20
SPONSORS, LOCAL WORKFORCE BOAR DS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION S, LABOR UNIONS , 21
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS , LOCAL OR REGIONAL EC ONOMIC DEVELOPMENT E NTITIES, 22
AND OTHER RELEVANT P ARTNER ENTITIES AT T HE DEPARTMENT ’S DISCRETION to 23
operate cybersecurity programs based on the strategic plan of the Program. 24
[(7)] (G) The [Corporation] DEPARTMENT shall adopt standards to 25
award grants under this section. 26
[(8) (i)] (H) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the 27
Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. 28
[(ii)] (2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the 29
General Fund of the State. 30
HOUSE BILL 1468 5
[(9)] (I) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance 1
with the State budget. 2
[(10)] (J) (1) For fiscal year [2025 and each year thereafter] 2026, the 3
Governor[: 4
(i) shall] MAY include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of 5
[$99,000] $3,100,000 for the Fund to be used for [talent pipeline management; and 6
(ii) may include in the annual budget bill an additional 7
appropriation of $250,000 for the Fund] THE AWARDING OF GRAN TS AND CONTRACTS 8
UNDER § 11–1702(D) OF THIS SUBTITLE ALI GNED WITH THE STRATE GY OF AND 9
APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 10
(2) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , 11
THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION 12
SUFFICIENT TO RUN TH E PROGRAM. 13
(3) THE PROGRAM SHALL SEEK CO ST–SHARING OR COST –MATCHING 14
AGREEMENTS FROM PART NERS, INCLUDING THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , THE 15
PRIVATE SECTOR, AND PHILANTHROPY , TO DOUBLE THE MONEY APPROPRIATED TO 16
THE FUND UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 17
[(11)] (K) Subject to the availability of funding, for fiscal year 2025 and 18
each year thereafter, $250,000 of the Fund shall be used for implementing the U.S. 19
Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Approach. 20
[(12)] (L) The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an 21
appropriation in an amount sufficient for the Program, INCLUDING TO HIRE SU FFICIENT 22
STAFF TO CARRY OUT I TS DUTIES. 23
(M) NOTWITHSTANDING § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 24
PROCUREMENT ARTICLE AND ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW , THE UNSPENT 25
BALANCE OF THE FOLLO WING PROGRAMS AND FU NDS THAT WAS MADE FO R THE 26
FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND AT THE CLOSE OF THAT FISCAL 27
YEAR: 28
(1) EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT RIGHT NOW PROGRAM; 29
(2) CYBERSECURITY INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT; 30
(3) BUY MARYLAND CYBERSECURITY TAX CREDIT; 31
(4) CYBERSECURITY INVESTMENT FUND; 32 6 HOUSE BILL 1468
(5) PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 1
PROGRAM; 2
(6) CYBER PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP ; 3
(7) MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; 4
(8) MARYLAND INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATIVE COMPUTING; 5
(9) ACCELERATING CYBER CAREERS PROGRAM; 6
(10) UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY’S CENTER FOR 7
CYBERSECURITY ; 8
(11) BUILD OUR FUTURE GRANT PILOT PROGRAM; AND 9
(12) REGISTERED APPRENTIC ESHIPS IN CYBERSECUR ITY. 10
11–1704. 11
[(f) (1)] (A) There is a Cyber Maryland Board. 12
[(2)] (B) The Board consists of the following members: 13
[(i)] (1) the Senate and House of Delegates cochairs of the Joint 14
Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology; 15
[(ii)] (2) the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; 16
[(iii)] (3) the Secretary of [Labor] COMMERCE , or the Secretary’s 17
designee; 18
[(iv)] (4) the Maryland Secretary of Veterans and Military 19
Families, or the Secretary’s designee; 20
[(v)] (5) the Secretary of Information Technology, or the 21
Secretary’s designee; 22
(6) THE SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, OR THE SECRETARY’S 23
DESIGNEE; 24
(7) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OR THE 25
SUPERINTENDENT ’S DESIGNEE; 26 HOUSE BILL 1468 7
[(vi)] (8) the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cybersecurity 1
Association [of Maryland], Inc., or the Chair’s designee; 2
[(vii)] (9) the Chair of the Maryland Workforce Association, or the 3
Chair’s designee; 4
(10) THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MARYLAND 5
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TEDCO), OR THE CHIEF 6
EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S DESIGNEE; AND 7
[(viii)] (11) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 8
[1.] (I) five members from the private sector with 9
cybersecurity needs; 10
[2.] (II) one representative from a nonprofit organization 11
with expertise in cybersecurity talent development; 12
[3.] (III) one representative from a community college; 13
[4.] (IV) one representative from a 4–year, public HBCU 14
college; and 15
[5.] (V) one representative from a 4–year, public college[; 16
and 17
(ix) the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chief Executive Officer’s 18
designee]. 19
[(3) (i)] (C) (1) Subject to [subparagraph (ii)] PARAGRAPH (2) of 20
this [paragraph] SUBSECTION , the members of the Board shall elect a chair from among 21
the members of the Board. 22
[(ii)] (2) The chair may not be: 23
[1.] (I) a State employee; or 24
[2.] (II) the Chief Executive Officer OF THE MARYLAND 25
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TEDCO). 26
[(4)] (D) The Board shall: 27
8 HOUSE BILL 1468
[(i)] (1) provide input regarding the development of the statewide 1
cybersecurity workforce development strategic plan required under [subsection (d)(4) of 2
this section] § 11–1702(C)(4) OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 3
[(ii)] (2) assist the Program with stakeholder outreach an d 4
engagement; 5
[(iii)] (3) help the Program explore synergies where appropriate 6
with cybersecurity workforce development efforts by regional and county workforce 7
development entities; 8
[(iv)] (4) coordinate as necessary with the [Maryland] Department 9
of [Labor] COMMERCE and the Department; and 10
[(v)] (5) provide other advice and support for the Program. 11
[(5)] (E) A member of the Board: 12
[(i)] (1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; 13
but 14
[(ii)] (2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the 15
Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 16
[(6) The Governor may remove an appointed member of the Board for 17
incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.] 18
(F) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF TH E BOARD 19
SHALL REFLECT THE RA CE, GENDER, AGE, AND GEOGRAPHIC DIVER SITY OF THE 20
STATE. 21
(G) (1) THE TERM OF AN APPOIN TED MEMBER OF THE BOARD IS 4 YEARS. 22
(2) THE TERMS OF THE APPO INTED MEMBERS ARE STAGGERE D AS 23
REQUIRED BY THE TERM S PROVIDED FOR APPOI NTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ON 24
OCTOBER 1, 2025. 25
(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , AN APPOINTED MEMBER CONTINUES TO 26
SERVE UNTIL A SUCCES SOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES. 27
(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS B EGUN SERVES 28
ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINT ED AND 29
QUALIFIES. 30
HOUSE BILL 1468 9
11–1705. 1
[(g)] (A) On or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2026, the Program, in 2
conjunction with the [Corporation] DEPARTMENT , shall submit a report on the operation 3
and performance of the Program to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the 4
State Government Article, the General Assembly. 5
(B) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 6
SHALL INCLUDE KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT 7
THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE STATE STRATEGY AND GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM 8
AND THE PROGRESS OF THE PROGRAM AGAINST THOSE METRICS. 9
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 10
(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the amounts awarded in grants 11
and contracts under § 11–702(d) of the Labor and Employment Article, as enacted by 12
Section 2 of this Act, not exceed the following: 13
(1) $1,000,000 for the establishment of cybersecurity clinics; 14
(2) $500,000 to support the development of a service–based learning 15
program for cybersecurity; 16
(3) $500,000 to support transitioning veterans within the State who have 17
cyber skills, adjacent skills, or relevant clearances acquired during their service; 18
(4) $99,000 for talent pipeline management aligned with the 19
framework from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation; 20
(5) $250,000 to support existing or develop new programs and 21
incentives for existing worker training 22
(6) $250,000 to support cybersecurity education at the kindergarten, 23
elementary school, and secondary school levels, including at summer camps; 24
(7) $250,000 for a marketing campaign, in consultation with the 25
Department of Commerce, to attract cyber talent and industry to the State; and 26
(8) $250,000 for the Maryland Statewide Computing Alignment to 27
Locate your Education (SCALE) portal. 28
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the cybersecurity clinics under 29
subsection (a)(1) of this subsection: 30
(1) include five pilot programs, with each pilot program focused on one of 31
the following customer groups: 32 10 HOUSE BILL 1468
(i) emergency services; 1
(ii) water; 2
(iii) elementary and secondary schools; 3
(iv) health; and 4
(v) small businesses and nonprofits; and 5
(2) will: 6
(i) provide cyber awareness and training to customers; 7
(ii) perform cybersecurity assessments for customers; 8
(iii) provide recommendations for necessary remediations; and 9
(iv) install free or reduced–cost cybersecurity tools as part of the 10
grant or at a reduced rate to the end customer. 11
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the terms of the initial 12
appointed members of the Cyber Maryland Board shall expire as follows: 13
(1) three members in 2026; 14
(2) two members in 2027; 15
(3) two members in 2028; and 16
(4) two members in 2029. 17
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2025. 19