MD
Maryland House Bill HB502

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB502 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 1
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 1
5-(House Bill 502)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9+ *hb0502*
810
9-Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a
10-Model Employer Initiative – Established
11+HOUSE BILL 502
12+O3 (5lr0434)
13+ENROLLED BILL
14+— Appropriations/Finance —
15+Introduced by The Speaker (By Request – Administration) and Delegates Allen,
16+Bhandari, Buckel, Cardin, Fennell, Foley, Hornberger, Jackson, Kerr,
17+Phillips, Ruff, Simpson, Stein, Taveras, Toles, Turner, Vogel, Wilkins,
18+Woods, Woorman, and Wu
1119
12-FOR the purpose of establishing the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and
13-Policy within the Department of Disabilities; establishing the Maryland as a Model
14-Employer Initiative within the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and
15-Policy to facilitate efforts that improve outcomes in the hiring, recruitment,
16-retention, and advancement of people with disabilities in the State government
17-workforce; and generally relating to the establishment of the Office of Disability
18-Employment Advancement and Policy and the Maryland as a Model Employer
19-Initiative.
20+Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
2021
21-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
22- Article – Human Services
23- Section 7–114(b)
24- Annotated Code of Maryland
25- (2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
22+_______________________________________________
23+Proofreader.
24+_______________________________________________
25+Proofreader.
2626
27-BY adding to
28- Article – Human Services
29-Section 7–1201 through 7–1205 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 12. Office of
30-Disability Employment Advancement and Policy”
31- Annotated Code of Maryland
32- (2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
27+Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
3328
34- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GEN ERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
35-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
29+_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
3630
37-Article – Human Services
31+______________________________________________
32+Speaker.
3833
39-7–114.
34+CHAPTER ______
4035
41- (b) The Department shall oversee and administer the following programs and
42-units:
36+AN ACT concerning 1
4337
44- (1) constituent services and ombudsmen programs;
38+Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a 2
39+Model Employer Initiative – Established 3
4540
46- (2) the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program under Subtitle 6
47-of this title;
48- Ch. 1 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
41+FOR the purpose of establishing the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and 4
42+Policy within the Department of Disabilities; establishing the Maryland as a Model 5
43+Employer Initiative within the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and 6
44+Policy to facilitate efforts that improve outcomes in the hiring, recruitment, 7
45+retention, and advancement of people with disabilities in the State government 8
46+workforce; and generally relating to the establishment of the Office of Disability 9
47+Employment Advancement and Policy and the Maryland as a Model Employer 10
48+Initiative. 11
49+ 2 HOUSE BILL 502
4950
50-– 2 –
51- (3) the Office of Personal Assistance Services, including the Attendant
52-Care Program under Subtitle 4 of this title;
5351
54- (4) Telecommunications Access of Maryland under Subtitle 8 of this title;
55-[and]
52+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
53+ Article – Human Services 2
54+ Section 7–114(b) 3
55+ Annotated Code of Maryland 4
56+ (2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
5657
57- (5) Telecommunications Devices and Distribution of Accessible
58-Information for Disabled Individuals under Subtitle 9 of this title; AND
58+BY adding to 6
59+ Article – Human Services 7
60+Section 7–1201 through 7–1205 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 12. Office of 8
61+Disability Employment Advancement and Policy” 9
62+ Annotated Code of Maryland 10
63+ (2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
5964
60- (6) THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT AND
61-POLICY.
65+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
66+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
6267
63-SUBTITLE 12. OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT AND POLICY.
68+Article – Human Services 14
6469
65-7–1201.
70+7–114. 15
6671
67- (A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
68-INDICATED.
72+ (b) The Department shall oversee and administer the following programs and 16
73+units: 17
6974
70- (B) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES.
75+ (1) constituent services and ombudsmen programs; 18
7176
72- (C) “INITIATIVE” MEANS THE MARYLAND AS A MODEL EMPLOYER
73-INITIATIVE.
77+ (2) the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program under Subtitle 6 19
78+of this title; 20
7479
75- (D) “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
76-ADVANCEMENT AND POLICY.
80+ (3) the Office of Personal Assistance Services, including the Attendant 21
81+Care Program under Subtitle 4 of this title; 22
7782
78- (E) “SECRETARY” MEANS THE SECRETARY OF DISABILITIES.
83+ (4) Telecommunications Access of Maryland under Subtitle 8 of this title; 23
84+[and] 24
7985
80-7–1202.
86+ (5) Telecommunications Devices and Distribution of Accessible 25
87+Information for Disabled Individuals under Subtitle 9 of this title; AND 26
8188
82- (A) THERE IS AN OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
83-AND POLICY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT .
89+ (6) THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT AND 27
90+POLICY. 28
8491
85- (B) THE PURPOSE OF THE OFFICE INCLUDES :
92+SUBTITLE 12. OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT AND POLICY. 29
8693
87- (1) THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ST RATEGIES IN
88-THE STATE DISABILITIES PLAN, ESTABLISHED UNDER § 7–132 OF THIS TITLE,
89-RELATING TO THE EMPL OYMENT, TRAINING, AND CAREER –READINESS OF
90-INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS ABILITIES;
94+7–1201. 30
9195
92- (2) PERFORMING DUTIES UN DER § 7–114 OF THIS TITLE NECESS ARY
93-TO SUPPORT STATEWIDE POLICIES AND STANDAR DS RELATING TO THE WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 1
96+ (A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 31
97+INDICATED. 32 HOUSE BILL 502 3
9498
95-– 3 –
96-EMPLOYMENT , TRAINING, AND CAREER –READINESS OF INDIVID UALS WITH
97-DISABILITIES;
9899
99- (3) COLLECTING INFORMATI ON AND DATA FROM UNI TS OF STATE
100-GOVERNMENT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT , TRAINING, AND
101-CAREER–READINESS OF INDIVID UALS WITH DISABILITI ES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH §
102-7–115 OF THIS TITLE; AND
103100
104- (4) IMPLEMENTING THE MARYLAND AS A MODEL EMPLOYER
105-INITIATIVE, ESTABLISHED UNDER § 7–1205 OF THIS SUBTITLE.
101+ (B) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES. 1
106102
107- (C) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2027, THE GOVERNOR MAY INCLUDE IN THE
108-ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 FOR THE OFFICE.
103+ (C) “INITIATIVE” MEANS THE MARYLAND AS A MODEL EMPLOYER 2
104+INITIATIVE. 3
109105
110-7–1203.
106+ (D) “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT 4
107+ADVANCEMENT AND POLICY. 5
111108
112- THE SECRETARY MAY ADOPT R EGULATIONS AS NECESS ARY TO CARRY OUT
113-THE PROVISIONS OF TH IS SUBTITLE.
109+ (E) “SECRETARY” MEANS THE SECRETARY OF DISABILITIES. 6
114110
115-7–1204.
111+7–1202. 7
116112
117- THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ESTA BLISH AN ENTITLEMENT
118-PROGRAM.
113+ (A) THERE IS AN OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT 8
114+AND POLICY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT . 9
119115
120-7–1205.
116+ (B) THE PURPOSE OF THE OFFICE INCLUDES : 10
121117
122- (A) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026, THE OFFICE SHALL BE RESPO NSIBLE FOR
123-IMPLEMENTATION AND O VERSIGHT OF THE MARYLAND AS A MODEL EMPLOYER
124-INITIATIVE.
118+ (1) THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ST RATEGIES IN 11
119+THE STATE DISABILITIES PLAN, ESTABLISHED UNDER § 7–132 OF THIS TITLE, 12
120+RELATING TO THE EMPL OYMENT, TRAINING, AND CAREER –READINESS OF 13
121+INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS ABILITIES; 14
125122
126- (B) THE PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE SHALL INCL UDE:
123+ (2) PERFORMING DUTIES UND ER § 7–114 OF THIS TITLE NECESS ARY 15
124+TO SUPPORT STATEWIDE POLICIES AND STANDAR DS RELATING TO THE 16
125+EMPLOYMENT , TRAINING, AND CAREER –READINESS OF INDIVID UALS WITH 17
126+DISABILITIES; 18
127127
128- (1) PROMOTING THE RECRUI TMENT, HIRING, RETENTION, AND
129-CAREER ADVANCEMENT O F PEOPLE WITH DISABI LITIES ACROSS STATE
130-GOVERNMENT ;
128+ (3) COLLECTING INFORMATI ON AND DATA FROM UNI TS OF STATE 19
129+GOVERNMENT RELATING TO T HE EMPLOYMENT , TRAINING, AND 20
130+CAREER–READINESS OF INDIVID UALS WITH DISABILITI ES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 21
131+7–115 OF THIS TITLE; AND 22
131132
132- (2) CONDUCTING AND COORD INATING OUTREACH TO JOB SEEKERS
133-WITH DISABILITIES AN D STATE GOVERNM ENT TO ENCOURAGE PAR TICIPATION IN
134-THE INITIATIVE;
133+ (4) IMPLEMENTING THE MARYLAND AS A MODEL EMPLOYER 23
134+INITIATIVE, ESTABLISHED UNDER § 7–1205 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
135135
136- (3) DEVELOPING AND DELIV ERING TRAININGS TO STATE AGENCIES
137-AND UNITS ADDRESSING BEST PRACTICES , RESOURCES, AND RELEVANT FEDERAL
138-AND STATE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH
139-DISABILITIES; Ch. 1 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
136+ (C) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2027, THE GOVERNOR MAY INCLUDE IN THE 25
137+ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 FOR THE OFFICE. 26
140138
141-– 4 –
139+7–1203. 27
142140
143- (4) ASSISTING STATE GOVERNMENT AGEN CIES AND UNITS TO
144-ATTRACT QUALIFIED JO B SEEKERS WITH DISAB ILITIES TO AVAILABLE POSITIONS;
141+ THE SECRETARY MAY ADOPT R EGULATIONS AS NECESS ARY TO CARRY OUT 28
142+THE PROVISIONS OF TH IS SUBTITLE. 29
143+ 4 HOUSE BILL 502
145144
146- (5) PROMOTING ACCESS TO AND ACQUISITION OF A SSISTIVE
147-TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW STATE EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES;
148145
149- (6) EVALUATING STATE EMPLOYMENT PRAC TICES AND POLICIES A ND
150-MAKING RECOMMENDATIO NS REGARDING WAYS TO REDUCE BARRIERS FOR JOB
151-SEEKERS AND EMPLOYEE S WITH DISABILITIES;
146+7–1204. 1
152147
153- (7) COLLECTING FROM EACH UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT , AS PART
154-OF THE PLANS REQUIRE D UNDER § 7–116 OF THIS TITLE, PERFORMANCE GOALS
155-RELATED TO HIRING AN D RETENTION EFFORTS FOR EMPLOYEES WITH D ISABILITIES
156-AND ANY DATA DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE SECRETARY TO DEMONSTR ATE
157-PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ; AND
148+ THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ESTA BLISH AN ENTITLEMENT 2
149+PROGRAM. 3
158150
159- (8) REPORTING ON THE INITIATIVE’S OUTCOMES IN COMPLI ANCE
160-WITH SUBSEC TION (C) OF THIS SECTION.
151+7–1205. 4
161152
162- (C) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2026, AND EACH DECEMBER 1
163-THEREAFTER , THE OFFICE SHALL REPORT T O THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL
164-ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE,
165-ON:
153+ (A) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026, THE OFFICE SHALL BE RESPO NSIBLE FOR 5
154+IMPLEMENTATION AND O VERSIGHT OF THE MARYLAND AS A MODEL EMPLOYER 6
155+INITIATIVE. 7
166156
167- (1) PROGRESS AND OUTCOME S OF THE INITIATIVE; AND
157+ (B) THE PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE SHALL INCLUDE : 8
168158
169- (2) RECOMMENDATIONS DEVE LOPED BY THE INITIATIVE FOR
170-CONTINUED IMPROVEMEN T OF STATE GOVERNMENT EMPL OYMENT PRACTICES FOR
171-PEOPLE WITH DISABILI TIES.
159+ (1) PROMOTING THE RECRUI TMENT, HIRING, RETENTION, AND 9
160+CAREER ADVANCEMENT O F PEOPLE WITH DISABI LITIES ACROSS STATE 10
161+GOVERNMENT ; 11
172162
173- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
174-1, 2025.
163+ (2) CONDUCTING AND COORD INATING OUTREACH TO JOB SEEKERS 12
164+WITH DISABILITIES AN D STATE GOVERNMENT TO E NCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN 13
165+THE INITIATIVE; 14
175166
176-Approved by the Governor, April 8, 2025.
167+ (3) DEVELOPING AND DELIV ERING TRAININGS TO STATE AGENCIES 15
168+AND UNITS ADDRESSING BEST PRACTICES , RESOURCES, AND RELEVANT FEDERAL 16
169+AND STATE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH 17
170+DISABILITIES; 18
171+
172+ (4) ASSISTING STATE GOVERNMENT AGEN CIES AND UNITS TO 19
173+ATTRACT QUALIFIED JO B SEEKERS WITH DISAB ILITIES TO AVAILABLE POSITIONS; 20
174+
175+ (5) PROMOTING ACCESS TO AND ACQUISITION OF A SSISTIVE 21
176+TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW STATE EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES; 22
177+
178+ (6) EVALUATING STATE EMPLO YMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES AND 23
179+MAKING RECOMMENDATIO NS REGARDING WAYS TO REDUCE BARRIERS FOR JOB 24
180+SEEKERS AND EMPLOYEE S WITH DISABILITIES; 25
181+
182+ (7) COLLECTING FROM EACH UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT , AS PART 26
183+OF THE PLANS REQUIRE D UNDER § 7–116 OF THIS TITLE, PERFORMANCE GOALS 27
184+RELATED TO HIRING AN D RETENTION EFFORTS FOR EMPLOYEES WITH D ISABILITIES 28
185+AND ANY DATA DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE SECRETARY TO DEMONSTR ATE 29
186+PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ; AND 30
187+
188+ (8) REPORTING ON THE INITIATIVE’S OUTCOMES IN COMPLI ANCE 31
189+WITH SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION. 32 HOUSE BILL 502 5
190+
191+
192+
193+ (C) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2026, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 1
194+THEREAFTER , THE OFFICE SHALL REPORT T O THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL 2
195+ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, 3
196+ON: 4
197+
198+ (1) PROGRESS AND OUTCOME S OF THE INITIATIVE; AND 5
199+
200+ (2) RECOMMENDATIONS DEVE LOPED BY THE INITIATIVE FOR 6
201+CONTINUED IMPROVEMEN T OF STATE GOVERNMENT EMPL OYMENT PRACTICES FOR 7
202+PEOPLE WITH DISABILI TIES. 8
203+
204+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
205+1, 2025. 10
206+
207+
208+
209+
210+Approved:
211+________________________________________________________________________________
212+ Governor.
213+________________________________________________________________________________
214+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.
215+________________________________________________________________________________
216+ President of the Senate.