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.
*hb0298*
HOUSE BILL 298
F2 5lr1016
HB 463/24 – APP
By: Delegate Kerr
Introduced and read first time: January 9, 2025
Assigned to: Appropriations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 22, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Higher Education Commission – Demographic Data Collection 2
– Parental Status 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Higher Education Commission to collect 4
certain data regarding the parental status of students from each public institution 5
of higher education in the State; requiring public institutions of higher education to 6
collect and report certain demographic data from students; and generally relating to 7
public institutions of higher education and demographic data collection. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Education 10
Section 11–409 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACT ED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Education 16
11–409. 17
(A) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL COLL ECT DATA FROM EACH P UBLIC 18
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION IN THE STATE ON THE PARENTAL STATUS OF 19
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH INS TITUTION. 20 2 HOUSE BILL 298
(2) THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC 1
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH ER EDUCATION , SHALL DEVELOP QUESTI ONS THAT ALLOW 2
EACH STUDENT TO IDEN TIFY: 3
(I) WHETHER THE STUDENT I S A PARENT , ACTING AS A 4
PARENT, OR A LEGAL GUARDIAN; 5
(II) THE AGE OF THE CHILDR EN FOR WHICH THE STU DENT HAS 6
RESPONSIBILITY ; AND 7
(III) THE TYPE OF CAREGIVIN G RESPONSIBILITIES THE 8
STUDENT PROVIDES , INCLUDING WHETHER TH E STUDENT: 9
1. IS A SINGLE PARENT ; OR 10
2. SHARES PARENTAL RESPO NSIBILITIES WITH 11
SOMEONE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD OR A DIFFE RENT HOUSEHOLD . 12
(B) (1) EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTI ON OF HIGHER EDUCATI ON SHALL PLACE 13
THE QUESTIONS DEVELO PED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ON O NE OR 14
MORE FORMS THAT ARE USED BY THE INSTITUT ION TO COLLECT DEMOGRAPHIC 15
DATA FROM STUDENTS . 16
(2) EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTI ON OF HIGHER EDUCATI ON SHALL MAKE 17
THE DATA COLLECTED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION A VAILABLE TO 18
THE COMMISSION IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THE FORMAT DETERMINED BY THE 19
COMMISSION UNDER SUBS ECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION. 20
(C) THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THIS 21
SECTION, INCLUDING: 22
(1) ESTABLISHING A COMMON FORMAT AND TIME FRAM E FOR THE 23
COLLECTION AND REPOR TING OF THE DATA REQ UIRED UNDER THIS SEC TION; AND 24
(2) A REQUIREME NT THAT THE COLLECTI ON OF PARENTAL STATU S 25
DATA BE INCLUDED WIT H THE COLLECTION OF OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC DA TA. 26
(D) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, AND EACH SEPTEMBER 1 27
THEREAFTER , THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBM IT A REPORT TO THE SENATE BUDGET 28
AND TAXATION COMMITTEE, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, ENERGY, 29
AND THE ENVIRONMENT , AND THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, IN 30 HOUSE BILL 298 3
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THAT 1
SUMMARIZES THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE COMMISSION UNDER THIS SECTION. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 3
1, 2025. 4
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.