1 | 1 | | |
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2 | 2 | | |
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3 | 3 | | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. |
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4 | 4 | | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. |
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5 | 5 | | *hb0540* |
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6 | 6 | | |
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7 | 7 | | HOUSE BILL 540 |
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8 | 8 | | F1 5lr1223 |
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9 | 9 | | |
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10 | 10 | | By: Delegate Wolek |
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11 | 11 | | Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2025 |
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12 | 12 | | Assigned to: Ways and Means |
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13 | 13 | | |
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14 | 14 | | A BILL ENTITLED |
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15 | 15 | | |
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16 | 16 | | AN ACT concerning 1 |
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17 | 17 | | |
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18 | 18 | | Maryland Green Schools – Website, Outreach, and Designations 2 |
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19 | 19 | | (Green Schools Stewardship Act) 3 |
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20 | 20 | | |
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21 | 21 | | FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor 4 |
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22 | 22 | | Education to update, by a certain date, and maintain a certain website; requiring the 5 |
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23 | 23 | | Association to conduct certain outreach efforts with a certain frequency; requiring 6 |
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24 | 24 | | the Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the State Department of 7 |
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25 | 25 | | Education and in consultation with other relevant parties, to establish criteria for 8 |
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26 | 26 | | designating green schools in the State as green schools mentor schools; requiring 9 |
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27 | 27 | | county boards of education to prominently display a link to a certain website on the 10 |
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28 | 28 | | county board’s website and circulate certain information; and generally relating to 11 |
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29 | 29 | | green schools. 12 |
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30 | 30 | | |
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31 | 31 | | BY adding to 13 |
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32 | 32 | | Article – Education 14 |
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33 | 33 | | Section 7–117.1 15 |
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34 | 34 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 16 |
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35 | 35 | | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17 |
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36 | 36 | | |
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37 | 37 | | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18 |
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38 | 38 | | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19 |
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39 | 39 | | |
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40 | 40 | | Article – Education 20 |
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41 | 41 | | |
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42 | 42 | | 7–117.1. 21 |
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43 | 43 | | |
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44 | 44 | | (A) (1) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL 22 |
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45 | 45 | | AN APPROPRIATION IN THE FOLLOWING AMO UNTS TO THE MARYLAND 23 |
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46 | 46 | | ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION: 24 |
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47 | 47 | | 2 HOUSE BILL 540 |
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48 | 48 | | |
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49 | 49 | | |
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50 | 50 | | (I) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, $70,000; AND 1 |
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51 | 51 | | |
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52 | 52 | | (II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028, $40,000. 2 |
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53 | 53 | | |
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54 | 54 | | (2) THE APPROPRIATIONS MA DE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3 |
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55 | 55 | | SUBSECTION MAY BE US ED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL 4 |
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56 | 56 | | AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION ONLY TO: 5 |
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57 | 57 | | |
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58 | 58 | | (I) UPDATE AND MAINTAIN ITS MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS 6 |
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59 | 59 | | WEBSITE IN ACCORDANC E WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; 7 |
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60 | 60 | | |
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61 | 61 | | (II) CONDUCT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH 8 |
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62 | 62 | | SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION; AND 9 |
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63 | 63 | | |
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64 | 64 | | (III) UPDATE ITS AWARD APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10 |
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65 | 65 | | SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 11 |
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66 | 66 | | |
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67 | 67 | | (B) (1) THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND 12 |
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68 | 68 | | OUTDOOR EDUCATION SHALL UPDAT E ITS MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS WEBSITE 13 |
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69 | 69 | | BY MARCH 1, 2027, TO CONTAIN THE INFOR MATION LISTED UNDER THIS 14 |
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70 | 70 | | SUBSECTION. 15 |
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71 | 71 | | |
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72 | 72 | | (2) THE WEBSITE SHALL INC LUDE A NOVICE SECTION DEDICATED TO 16 |
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73 | 73 | | INTRODUCING SCHOOLS TO THE CONCEPT OF BE COMING A GREEN SCHOO L, 17 |
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74 | 74 | | INCLUDING: 18 |
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75 | 75 | | |
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76 | 76 | | (I) EXAMPLES OF SIMPLE GR EEN ACTIVITIES THAT : 19 |
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77 | 77 | | |
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78 | 78 | | 1. ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MARYLAND 20 |
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79 | 79 | | ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY STANDARDS; AND 21 |
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80 | 80 | | |
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81 | 81 | | 2. AWARDED GREEN SCHOOLS HAVE COMPLETED OR 22 |
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82 | 82 | | ARE COMPLETING IN TH E STATE, INCLUDING CORRESPOND ING PHOTOGRAPHS AND 23 |
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83 | 83 | | ENVIRONMENTAL LITERA CY STANDARDS FOR THE ACTIVITIES; AND 24 |
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84 | 84 | | |
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85 | 85 | | (II) ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMMING , PEDAGOGY, AND OTHER 25 |
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86 | 86 | | INITIAL ACTIONS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE SCHOO LS TO BEGIN GREEN AC TIVITIES AT 26 |
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87 | 87 | | THEIR SCHOOL . 27 |
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88 | 88 | | |
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89 | 89 | | (3) THE WEBSITE SHALL INC LUDE AN ON–RAMP SECTION DEDICAT ED 28 |
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90 | 90 | | TO HELPING SCHOOLS T RANSITION FROM STAND –ALONE GREEN ACTIVITI ES TO 29 |
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91 | 91 | | MORE COMPLICATED GRE EN ACTIVITIES AND PR OJECTS AND THE DEVEL OPMENT OF 30 |
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92 | 92 | | OUTLINED PLANS FOR B ECOMING AN AWARDED GREEN SCHOOL , INCLUDING: 31 HOUSE BILL 540 3 |
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93 | 93 | | |
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94 | 94 | | |
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95 | 95 | | |
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96 | 96 | | (I) EXAMPLES OF MORE COMP LICATED GREEN ACTIVI TIES AND 1 |
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97 | 97 | | PROJECTS, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT HA VE SUSTAINABILITY 2 |
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98 | 98 | | ASPECTS OR INVOLVE M ULTIYEAR IMPLEMENTAT ION, THAT SCHOOLS HAVE 3 |
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99 | 99 | | COMPLETED OR ARE COM PLETING IN THE STATE AND CORRESPONDI NG 4 |
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100 | 100 | | PHOTOGRAPHS AND ENVI RONMENTAL LITERACY S TANDARDS FOR THE ACT IVITIES 5 |
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101 | 101 | | AND PROJECTS ; AND 6 |
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102 | 102 | | |
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103 | 103 | | (II) STEP–BY–STEP GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CREATE A PLAN FOR 7 |
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104 | 104 | | BECOMING A N AWARDED GREEN SCHOOL . 8 |
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105 | 105 | | |
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106 | 106 | | (4) THE WEBSITE SHALL INC LUDE AN APPLICATION SECTION 9 |
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107 | 107 | | DEDICATED TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE READY TO AP PLY TO BECOME AN AWARDED 10 |
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108 | 108 | | GREEN SCHOOL , INCLUDING: 11 |
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109 | 109 | | |
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110 | 110 | | (I) TIMELINES WITH MILEST ONES AND DEADLINES ; 12 |
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111 | 111 | | |
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112 | 112 | | (II) BLANK SAMPLE APPLICAT IONS; 13 |
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113 | 113 | | |
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114 | 114 | | (III) APPLICATION GUIDELINE S FOR EACH SECTION O F THE 14 |
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115 | 115 | | APPLICATION; 15 |
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116 | 116 | | |
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117 | 117 | | (IV) EXAMPLES OF APPROVED GREEN SCHOOL APPLICA TIONS 16 |
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118 | 118 | | FROM: 17 |
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119 | 119 | | |
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120 | 120 | | 1. URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL AREAS OF T HE 18 |
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121 | 121 | | STATE; AND 19 |
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122 | 122 | | |
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123 | 123 | | 2. EACH COUNTY; 20 |
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124 | 124 | | |
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125 | 125 | | (V) RECORDED WEBINARS ON HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY 21 |
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126 | 126 | | COMPLETE THE APPLICA TION; 22 |
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127 | 127 | | |
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128 | 128 | | (VI) NAMES AND E–MAIL ADDRESSES OF TE ACHERS AND STAFF 23 |
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129 | 129 | | AT AWARDED GREEN SCHOOLS WHO CA N BE CONTACTED FOR G UIDANCE OR 24 |
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130 | 130 | | INFORMATION ABOUT TH EIR GREEN SCHOOL PRA CTICES; 25 |
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131 | 131 | | |
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132 | 132 | | (VII) AN UP–TO–DATE LIST OF FUNDING SOURCES SCHOOLS CAN 26 |
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133 | 133 | | APPLY TO FOR ASSISTA NCE WITH GREEN SCHOO L–RELATED EFFORTS , INCLUDING 27 |
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134 | 134 | | FUNDS AVAILABLE THROUG H: 28 |
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135 | 135 | | |
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136 | 136 | | 1. INDIVIDUALS; 29 |
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137 | 137 | | 4 HOUSE BILL 540 |
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138 | 138 | | |
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139 | 139 | | |
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140 | 140 | | 2. FOUNDATIONS ; 1 |
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141 | 141 | | |
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142 | 142 | | 3. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO NS; AND 2 |
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143 | 143 | | |
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144 | 144 | | 4. GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATI ONS; 3 |
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145 | 145 | | |
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146 | 146 | | (VIII) FOR EACH FUNDING SOUR CE LISTED UNDER ITEM (VII) OF 4 |
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147 | 147 | | THIS PARAGRAPH : 5 |
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148 | 148 | | |
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149 | 149 | | 1. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE FUN DING SOURCE 6 |
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150 | 150 | | MAY BE USED; 7 |
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151 | 151 | | |
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152 | 152 | | 2. THE AMOUNT OF THE FUN DING SOURCE; AND 8 |
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153 | 153 | | |
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154 | 154 | | 3. DEADLINES FOR EACH FU NDING SOURCE ; 9 |
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155 | 155 | | |
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156 | 156 | | (IX) NAMES AND CONTACT INF ORMATION OF INDIVIDU ALS WHO 10 |
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157 | 157 | | CAN ASSIST WITH QUES TIONS REGARDING APPL YING FOR GRANTS FOR GREEN 11 |
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158 | 158 | | SCHOOL–RELATED EFFORTS; AND 12 |
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159 | 159 | | |
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160 | 160 | | (X) PLANNED OR SCHEDULED GREEN SCHOOL PROFESS IONAL 13 |
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161 | 161 | | DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUN ITIES. 14 |
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162 | 162 | | |
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163 | 163 | | (5) (I) EACH SECTION OF THE W EBSITE REQUIRED UNDE R 15 |
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164 | 164 | | PARAGRAPHS (2), (3), AND (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL INCLUDE CONTACT 16 |
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165 | 165 | | INFORMATION OF INDIV IDUALS, INCLUDING COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY 17 |
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166 | 166 | | SPECIALISTS, EXPERTS FROM FACILIT IES AWARDED THE MARYLAND GREEN 18 |
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167 | 167 | | CENTER AWARD, AND GREEN LEADERS , WHO CAN: 19 |
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168 | 168 | | |
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169 | 169 | | 1. FOR THE NOVICE SECTIO N, ADVISE SCHOOLS ON 20 |
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170 | 170 | | START–UP GREEN ACTIVITIES AND FUNDING AND GRAN T OPPORTUNITIES 21 |
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171 | 171 | | AVAILABLE FOR GREENING THE SCHOOL; 22 |
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172 | 172 | | |
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173 | 173 | | 2. FOR THE ON–RAMP SECTION , ADVISE SCHOOLS ON 23 |
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174 | 174 | | HOW TO CREATE MORE C OMPLICATED GREEN ACT IVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT WILL 24 |
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175 | 175 | | SUPPORT AND CONTRIBU TE TO A FUTURE APPLI CATION FOR BECOMING AN 25 |
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176 | 176 | | AWARDED GREEN SCHOOL ; AND 26 |
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177 | 177 | | |
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178 | 178 | | 3. FOR THE APPLICATION SECTION , PROVIDE 27 |
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179 | 179 | | ASSISTANCE WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS . 28 |
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180 | 180 | | |
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181 | 181 | | (II) THE CONTACT INFORMATI ON UNDER SUBPARAGRAP H (I) OF 29 |
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182 | 182 | | THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL INCLUDE: 30 HOUSE BILL 540 5 |
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183 | 183 | | |
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184 | 184 | | |
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185 | 185 | | |
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186 | 186 | | 1. THE NAME , TELEPHONE NUMBER , AND DIRECT 1 |
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187 | 187 | | E–MAIL ADDRESS FOR EAC H INDIVIDUAL LISTED ; 2 |
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188 | 188 | | |
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189 | 189 | | 2. FOR THE NOVICE SECTIO N, THE TYPES OF ACTIVIT IES 3 |
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190 | 190 | | AND FUNDING AND GRAN T OPPORTUNITIES EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED CA N ASSIST 4 |
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191 | 191 | | WITH; 5 |
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192 | 192 | | |
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193 | 193 | | 3. FOR THE ON –RAMP SECTION , THE TYPES OF 6 |
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194 | 194 | | ACTIVITIES AND PROJE CTS EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED CAN ASSIST WI TH; AND 7 |
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195 | 195 | | |
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196 | 196 | | 4. FOR THE APPLICATION SECTION , THE PORTION OF 8 |
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197 | 197 | | THE APPLICATION PROC ESS EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED CAN ASSIST WI TH. 9 |
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198 | 198 | | |
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199 | 199 | | (C) THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR 10 |
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200 | 200 | | EDUCATION SHALL REGULARLY : 11 |
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201 | 201 | | |
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202 | 202 | | (1) CONDUCT IN–PERSON INFORMATION S ESSIONS AT SCHOOLS TO 12 |
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203 | 203 | | INFORM COUNTY SUPERI NTENDENTS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR S, TEACHERS, AND 13 |
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204 | 204 | | PARENTS ABOUT THE GREEN SCHOOL PRO GRAM AND THE MARYLAND GREEN 14 |
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205 | 205 | | SCHOOLS WEBSITE UPDATED UNDE R SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15 |
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206 | 206 | | |
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207 | 207 | | (2) CONTACT SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO GAUGE A SCHOOL’S 16 |
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208 | 208 | | INTEREST IN AND CAPACITY FOR STA RTING GREEN ACTIVITI ES. 17 |
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209 | 209 | | |
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210 | 210 | | (D) (1) (I) THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, IN 18 |
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211 | 211 | | COLLABORATION WITH T HE DEPARTMENT AND IN CON SULTATION WITH THE 19 |
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212 | 212 | | MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND 20 |
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213 | 213 | | OTHER REL EVANT PARTIES , SHALL ESTABLISH CRIT ERIA FOR DESIGNATING GREEN 21 |
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214 | 214 | | SCHOOLS IN THE STATE AS GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOLS. 22 |
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215 | 215 | | |
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216 | 216 | | (II) THE CRITERIA FOR DESI GNATING A GREEN SCHO OL AS A 23 |
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217 | 217 | | GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOL MAY INCLUDE CONSIDER ATION OF: 24 |
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218 | 218 | | |
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219 | 219 | | 1. A SCHOOL’S EXPERIENCE PROVIDING GUID ANCE TO 25 |
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220 | 220 | | EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL S ON HOW TO TRANSITI ON THEIR SCHOOL TO A GREEN 26 |
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221 | 221 | | SCHOOL; 27 |
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222 | 222 | | |
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223 | 223 | | 2. A SCHOOL’S EXPERIENCE WITH PR OVIDING A BROAD 28 |
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224 | 224 | | SET OF LEARNING OPPO RTUNITIES FOR STUDEN TS; 29 |
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225 | 225 | | |
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226 | 226 | | 3. THE TYPE OF ACTIVITIE S OR PROJECTS IN WHI CH A 30 |
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227 | 227 | | SCHOOL IS ENGAGED ; 31 6 HOUSE BILL 540 |
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228 | 228 | | |
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229 | 229 | | |
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230 | 230 | | |
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231 | 231 | | 4. THE NUMBER OF STUDENT S A SCHOOL ENGAGES 1 |
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232 | 232 | | WITH WHEN CONDUCTING GREEN ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS; 2 |
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233 | 233 | | |
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234 | 234 | | 5. HOW GREEN ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS CONDUCT ED 3 |
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235 | 235 | | BY A SCHOOL ALIGN WI TH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS SET BY THE STATE; 4 |
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236 | 236 | | AND 5 |
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237 | 237 | | |
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238 | 238 | | 6. THE PERCENTAGE OF A SCHO OL’S STAFF THAT IS 6 |
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239 | 239 | | ENGAGED IN NATURE –BASED LEARNING ACTIV ITIES AND THEIR RELE VANT 7 |
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240 | 240 | | EXPERTISE. 8 |
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241 | 241 | | |
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242 | 242 | | (2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESI GNATE THE MARYLAND 9 |
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243 | 243 | | ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION TO DETERMIN E 10 |
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244 | 244 | | WHETHER A SCHOOL MEE TS THE CRITERIA ESTABLIS HED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF 11 |
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245 | 245 | | THIS SUBSECTION TO OBTAIN A GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOL DESIGNATION. 12 |
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246 | 246 | | |
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247 | 247 | | (II) A GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOL DESIGNATION IS 13 |
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248 | 248 | | VALID FOR 1 YEAR. 14 |
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249 | 249 | | |
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250 | 250 | | (3) THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND 15 |
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251 | 251 | | OUTDOOR EDUCATION SHALL UPDATE ITS AWARD APPLICATION BY SEPTEMBER 1, 16 |
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252 | 252 | | 2026, TO ALLOW APPLICANTS TO INDICATE THEIR IN TEREST IN OBTAINING A GREEN 17 |
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253 | 253 | | SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOO L DESIGNATION. 18 |
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254 | 254 | | |
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255 | 255 | | (E) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL: 19 |
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256 | 256 | | |
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257 | 257 | | (1) PROMINENTLY DISPLAY A LINK ON THE COUNTY B OARD’S 20 |
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258 | 258 | | WEBSITE TO THE MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS WEBSITE UPDAT ED UNDER 21 |
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259 | 259 | | SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 22 |
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260 | 260 | | |
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261 | 261 | | (2) WITHIN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF THE FIRST A ND THIRD QUARTER 23 |
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262 | 262 | | OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR , CIRCULATE INFORMATIO N TO TEACHERS AND ST AFF 24 |
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263 | 263 | | ABOUT: 25 |
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264 | 264 | | |
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265 | 265 | | (I) THE GREEN SCHOOL PROGRAM; 26 |
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266 | 266 | | |
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267 | 267 | | (II) THE MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS WEBSITE UPDAT ED 27 |
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268 | 268 | | UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 28 |
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269 | 269 | | |
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270 | 270 | | (III) THE TIME AND LOCATION OF ANY IN–PERSON INFORMATION 29 |
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271 | 271 | | SESSIONS PROVIDED UN DER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION. 30 |
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272 | 272 | | HOUSE BILL 540 7 |
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273 | 273 | | |
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274 | 274 | | |
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275 | 275 | | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACT ED, That this Act shall take effect July 1 |
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276 | 276 | | 1, 2025. 2 |
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277 | 277 | | |
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