EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0540*
HOUSE BILL 540
F1 5lr1223
By: Delegate Wolek
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Green Schools – Website, Outreach, and Designations 2
(Green Schools Stewardship Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor 4
Education to update, by a certain date, and maintain a certain website; requiring the 5
Association to conduct certain outreach efforts with a certain frequency; requiring 6
the Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the State Department of 7
Education and in consultation with other relevant parties, to establish criteria for 8
designating green schools in the State as green schools mentor schools; requiring 9
county boards of education to prominently display a link to a certain website on the 10
county board’s website and circulate certain information; and generally relating to 11
green schools. 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Education 14
Section 7–117.1 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Education 20
7–117.1. 21
(A) (1) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL 22
AN APPROPRIATION IN THE FOLLOWING AMO UNTS TO THE MARYLAND 23
ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION: 24
2 HOUSE BILL 540
(I) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, $70,000; AND 1
(II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028, $40,000. 2
(2) THE APPROPRIATIONS MA DE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3
SUBSECTION MAY BE US ED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL 4
AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION ONLY TO: 5
(I) UPDATE AND MAINTAIN ITS MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS 6
WEBSITE IN ACCORDANC E WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; 7
(II) CONDUCT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH 8
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION; AND 9
(III) UPDATE ITS AWARD APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 10
SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 11
(B) (1) THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND 12
OUTDOOR EDUCATION SHALL UPDAT E ITS MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS WEBSITE 13
BY MARCH 1, 2027, TO CONTAIN THE INFOR MATION LISTED UNDER THIS 14
SUBSECTION. 15
(2) THE WEBSITE SHALL INC LUDE A NOVICE SECTION DEDICATED TO 16
INTRODUCING SCHOOLS TO THE CONCEPT OF BE COMING A GREEN SCHOO L, 17
INCLUDING: 18
(I) EXAMPLES OF SIMPLE GR EEN ACTIVITIES THAT : 19
1. ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MARYLAND 20
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY STANDARDS; AND 21
2. AWARDED GREEN SCHOOLS HAVE COMPLETED OR 22
ARE COMPLETING IN TH E STATE, INCLUDING CORRESPOND ING PHOTOGRAPHS AND 23
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERA CY STANDARDS FOR THE ACTIVITIES; AND 24
(II) ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMMING , PEDAGOGY, AND OTHER 25
INITIAL ACTIONS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE SCHOO LS TO BEGIN GREEN AC TIVITIES AT 26
THEIR SCHOOL . 27
(3) THE WEBSITE SHALL INC LUDE AN ON–RAMP SECTION DEDICAT ED 28
TO HELPING SCHOOLS T RANSITION FROM STAND –ALONE GREEN ACTIVITI ES TO 29
MORE COMPLICATED GRE EN ACTIVITIES AND PR OJECTS AND THE DEVEL OPMENT OF 30
OUTLINED PLANS FOR B ECOMING AN AWARDED GREEN SCHOOL , INCLUDING: 31 HOUSE BILL 540 3
(I) EXAMPLES OF MORE COMP LICATED GREEN ACTIVI TIES AND 1
PROJECTS, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT HA VE SUSTAINABILITY 2
ASPECTS OR INVOLVE M ULTIYEAR IMPLEMENTAT ION, THAT SCHOOLS HAVE 3
COMPLETED OR ARE COM PLETING IN THE STATE AND CORRESPONDI NG 4
PHOTOGRAPHS AND ENVI RONMENTAL LITERACY S TANDARDS FOR THE ACT IVITIES 5
AND PROJECTS ; AND 6
(II) STEP–BY–STEP GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CREATE A PLAN FOR 7
BECOMING A N AWARDED GREEN SCHOOL . 8
(4) THE WEBSITE SHALL INC LUDE AN APPLICATION SECTION 9
DEDICATED TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE READY TO AP PLY TO BECOME AN AWARDED 10
GREEN SCHOOL , INCLUDING: 11
(I) TIMELINES WITH MILEST ONES AND DEADLINES ; 12
(II) BLANK SAMPLE APPLICAT IONS; 13
(III) APPLICATION GUIDELINE S FOR EACH SECTION O F THE 14
APPLICATION; 15
(IV) EXAMPLES OF APPROVED GREEN SCHOOL APPLICA TIONS 16
FROM: 17
1. URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL AREAS OF T HE 18
STATE; AND 19
2. EACH COUNTY; 20
(V) RECORDED WEBINARS ON HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY 21
COMPLETE THE APPLICA TION; 22
(VI) NAMES AND E–MAIL ADDRESSES OF TE ACHERS AND STAFF 23
AT AWARDED GREEN SCHOOLS WHO CA N BE CONTACTED FOR G UIDANCE OR 24
INFORMATION ABOUT TH EIR GREEN SCHOOL PRA CTICES; 25
(VII) AN UP–TO–DATE LIST OF FUNDING SOURCES SCHOOLS CAN 26
APPLY TO FOR ASSISTA NCE WITH GREEN SCHOO L–RELATED EFFORTS , INCLUDING 27
FUNDS AVAILABLE THROUG H: 28
1. INDIVIDUALS; 29
4 HOUSE BILL 540
2. FOUNDATIONS ; 1
3. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO NS; AND 2
4. GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATI ONS; 3
(VIII) FOR EACH FUNDING SOUR CE LISTED UNDER ITEM (VII) OF 4
THIS PARAGRAPH : 5
1. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE FUN DING SOURCE 6
MAY BE USED; 7
2. THE AMOUNT OF THE FUN DING SOURCE; AND 8
3. DEADLINES FOR EACH FU NDING SOURCE ; 9
(IX) NAMES AND CONTACT INF ORMATION OF INDIVIDU ALS WHO 10
CAN ASSIST WITH QUES TIONS REGARDING APPL YING FOR GRANTS FOR GREEN 11
SCHOOL–RELATED EFFORTS; AND 12
(X) PLANNED OR SCHEDULED GREEN SCHOOL PROFESS IONAL 13
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUN ITIES. 14
(5) (I) EACH SECTION OF THE W EBSITE REQUIRED UNDE R 15
PARAGRAPHS (2), (3), AND (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL INCLUDE CONTACT 16
INFORMATION OF INDIV IDUALS, INCLUDING COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY 17
SPECIALISTS, EXPERTS FROM FACILIT IES AWARDED THE MARYLAND GREEN 18
CENTER AWARD, AND GREEN LEADERS , WHO CAN: 19
1. FOR THE NOVICE SECTIO N, ADVISE SCHOOLS ON 20
START–UP GREEN ACTIVITIES AND FUNDING AND GRAN T OPPORTUNITIES 21
AVAILABLE FOR GREENING THE SCHOOL; 22
2. FOR THE ON–RAMP SECTION , ADVISE SCHOOLS ON 23
HOW TO CREATE MORE C OMPLICATED GREEN ACT IVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT WILL 24
SUPPORT AND CONTRIBU TE TO A FUTURE APPLI CATION FOR BECOMING AN 25
AWARDED GREEN SCHOOL ; AND 26
3. FOR THE APPLICATION SECTION , PROVIDE 27
ASSISTANCE WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS . 28
(II) THE CONTACT INFORMATI ON UNDER SUBPARAGRAP H (I) OF 29
THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL INCLUDE: 30 HOUSE BILL 540 5
1. THE NAME , TELEPHONE NUMBER , AND DIRECT 1
E–MAIL ADDRESS FOR EAC H INDIVIDUAL LISTED ; 2
2. FOR THE NOVICE SECTIO N, THE TYPES OF ACTIVIT IES 3
AND FUNDING AND GRAN T OPPORTUNITIES EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED CA N ASSIST 4
WITH; 5
3. FOR THE ON –RAMP SECTION , THE TYPES OF 6
ACTIVITIES AND PROJE CTS EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED CAN ASSIST WI TH; AND 7
4. FOR THE APPLICATION SECTION , THE PORTION OF 8
THE APPLICATION PROC ESS EACH INDIVIDUAL LISTED CAN ASSIST WI TH. 9
(C) THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR 10
EDUCATION SHALL REGULARLY : 11
(1) CONDUCT IN–PERSON INFORMATION S ESSIONS AT SCHOOLS TO 12
INFORM COUNTY SUPERI NTENDENTS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR S, TEACHERS, AND 13
PARENTS ABOUT THE GREEN SCHOOL PRO GRAM AND THE MARYLAND GREEN 14
SCHOOLS WEBSITE UPDATED UNDE R SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
(2) CONTACT SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO GAUGE A SCHOOL’S 16
INTEREST IN AND CAPACITY FOR STA RTING GREEN ACTIVITI ES. 17
(D) (1) (I) THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, IN 18
COLLABORATION WITH T HE DEPARTMENT AND IN CON SULTATION WITH THE 19
MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND 20
OTHER REL EVANT PARTIES , SHALL ESTABLISH CRIT ERIA FOR DESIGNATING GREEN 21
SCHOOLS IN THE STATE AS GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOLS. 22
(II) THE CRITERIA FOR DESI GNATING A GREEN SCHO OL AS A 23
GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOL MAY INCLUDE CONSIDER ATION OF: 24
1. A SCHOOL’S EXPERIENCE PROVIDING GUID ANCE TO 25
EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL S ON HOW TO TRANSITI ON THEIR SCHOOL TO A GREEN 26
SCHOOL; 27
2. A SCHOOL’S EXPERIENCE WITH PR OVIDING A BROAD 28
SET OF LEARNING OPPO RTUNITIES FOR STUDEN TS; 29
3. THE TYPE OF ACTIVITIE S OR PROJECTS IN WHI CH A 30
SCHOOL IS ENGAGED ; 31 6 HOUSE BILL 540
4. THE NUMBER OF STUDENT S A SCHOOL ENGAGES 1
WITH WHEN CONDUCTING GREEN ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS; 2
5. HOW GREEN ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS CONDUCT ED 3
BY A SCHOOL ALIGN WI TH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS SET BY THE STATE; 4
AND 5
6. THE PERCENTAGE OF A SCHO OL’S STAFF THAT IS 6
ENGAGED IN NATURE –BASED LEARNING ACTIV ITIES AND THEIR RELE VANT 7
EXPERTISE. 8
(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESI GNATE THE MARYLAND 9
ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION TO DETERMIN E 10
WHETHER A SCHOOL MEE TS THE CRITERIA ESTABLIS HED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF 11
THIS SUBSECTION TO OBTAIN A GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOL DESIGNATION. 12
(II) A GREEN SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOOL DESIGNATION IS 13
VALID FOR 1 YEAR. 14
(3) THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND 15
OUTDOOR EDUCATION SHALL UPDATE ITS AWARD APPLICATION BY SEPTEMBER 1, 16
2026, TO ALLOW APPLICANTS TO INDICATE THEIR IN TEREST IN OBTAINING A GREEN 17
SCHOOLS MENTOR SCHOO L DESIGNATION. 18
(E) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL: 19
(1) PROMINENTLY DISPLAY A LINK ON THE COUNTY B OARD’S 20
WEBSITE TO THE MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS WEBSITE UPDAT ED UNDER 21
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 22
(2) WITHIN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF THE FIRST A ND THIRD QUARTER 23
OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR , CIRCULATE INFORMATIO N TO TEACHERS AND ST AFF 24
ABOUT: 25
(I) THE GREEN SCHOOL PROGRAM; 26
(II) THE MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS WEBSITE UPDAT ED 27
UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 28
(III) THE TIME AND LOCATION OF ANY IN–PERSON INFORMATION 29
SESSIONS PROVIDED UN DER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION. 30
HOUSE BILL 540 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACT ED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
1, 2025. 2