EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0358*
HOUSE BILL 358
F5 5lr1863
HB 450/24 – W&M CF 5lr1700
By: Delegates Martinez, Acevero, and Young
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Department of Education – Soccer Opportunities Program – 2
Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Soccer Opportunities Program in the State 4
Department of Education to increase opportunities for minority students to 5
participate in soccer in their communities; and generally relating to the Soccer 6
Opportunities Program. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Education 9
Section 2–305.1 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
2–305.1. 16
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17
INDICATED. 18
(2) “MINORITY STUDENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 19
REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT . 20
(3) “YOUTH SOCCER NONPROFI T ORGANIZATION ” MEANS A 21
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT: 22
2 HOUSE BILL 358
(I) PROVIDES SOCCER OPPOR TUNITIES FOR CHILDRE N UNDER 1
THE AGE OF 18 YEARS; AND 2
(II) IS RECOG NIZED BY THE UNITED STATES SOCCER 3
FEDERATION AS A MEMBE R OF THE MARYLAND STATE YOUTH SOCCER 4
ASSOCIATION. 5
(B) (1) THERE IS A SOCCER OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM IN THE 6
DEPARTMENT . 7
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE SOCCER OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM IS TO 8
INCREASE OPPORTUNITI ES FOR MINORITY STUDE NTS TO PARTICIPATE I N SOCCER 9
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES . 10
(C) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL DEVELOP AND ADMINIST ER THE 11
SOCCER OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM. 12
(D) (1) A YOUTH SOCCER NONPROF IT ORGANIZATION MAY SUBMIT AN 13
APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE A GRANT F OR A PROGRAM THAT IS : 14
(I) IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE SOCCER 15
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM; AND 16
(II) 1. COMPOSED OF AT LEAST 50% MINORITY PLAYERS ; OR 17
2. COMPOSED OF AT LEAST 50% PLAYERS WHO QUALIFY 18
TO RECEIVE FREE LUNC H UNDER THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. 19
(2) AN APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE: 20
(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE S COPE AND PURPOSE OF THE 21
PROGRAM; 22
(II) A BUSINESS PLAN THAT I NCLUDES THE ESTIMATE D TOTAL 23
COST OF THE PROGRAM ; AND 24
(III) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 25
DEPARTMENT . 26
(E) IN AWARDING A GRANT U NDER THE SOCCER OPPORTUNITIES 27
PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 28
HOUSE BILL 358 3
(1) REQUIRE THE GRANTEE T O PROVIDE MATCHING F UNDS FROM 1
ANY COMBINATION OF F EDERAL, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, OR PRIVATE SOURCES ; AND 2
(2) ENSURE THAT THE GRANT DO ES NOT EXCEED 50% OF THE TOTAL 3
ANNUAL COST OF THE G RANTEE’S PROGRAM. 4
(F) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ’S 5
DESIGNEE SHALL : 6
(1) REVIEW GRANT APPLICAT IONS SUBMITTED IN AC CORDANCE 7
WITH SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION; AND 8
(2) TO THE EXTENT FUNDS A RE AVAILABLE , PROVIDE GRANTS TO 9
YOUTH SOCCER NONPROF IT ORGANIZATIONS THA T MEET THE REQUIREME NTS FOR 10
A GRANT UNDER THIS S ECTION. 11
(G) FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027, 2028, AND 2029, THE GOVERNOR SHALL 12
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATIO N OF AT LEAST $100,000 13
FOR THE SOCCER OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM. 14
(H) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY 15
OUT THIS SECTION . 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2025. 18