EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LA W.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0600*
HOUSE BILL 600
F5, P1 5lr2404
CF SB 276
By: Delegates Patterson, Acevero, Allen, Attar, Buckel, Cardin, Guyton, Harris,
McComas, Pasteur, Phillips, Pruski, Rose, Taveras, Williams, and Wims
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means and Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Educational Equality for Service Members Act 2
FOR the purpose of establishing rules of interpretation related to the uniformed services; 3
altering the rule of interpretation for “veteran”; altering the application of certain 4
provisions of law governing education to apply to all uniformed services, rather than 5
only the armed forces; and generally relating to veterans and uniformed services. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Education 8
Section 1–101(a), 4–122.1(a)(1), and 7–101(c)(1)(i) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Education 13
Section 1–101(a–1), (a–2), (b–1), (k–1), (n), and (o) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Education 18
Section 4–122.1(a)(9)(vi), 4–128, 6–101.1, 7–101(b)(2)(i) and (c)(1)(iv)6. and (4), 19
7–115(a), 7–115.1, 7–129(a), (b), and (d)(1), 13–516(b–1), 15–106.4(a) and (b), 20
15–124(a), 16–109, 18–205, 18–405(d)(3), 18–406(g), 18–501(b)(2)(iii), 21
18–601(c)(1) and (d)(2), 18–604(a), (c), and (d), 18–708(l)(7), 18–1910(c)(2), 22
18–3005(1)(iv), and 21–309(a)(5)(ii)1. 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
BY adding to 26 2 HOUSE BILL 600
Article – General Provisions 1
Section 1–101.1, 1–101.2, 1–103.1, 1–114.1, 1–114.2, and 1–116 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – General Provisions 6
Section 1–117 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – State Government 11
Section 9–901 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Education 17
1–101. 18
(a) In this article, unless the context requires otherwise, the following words have 19
the meanings indicated. 20
(A–1) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 21
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 22
(A–2) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF 23
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 24
(B–1) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 25
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 26
(K–1) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 27
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 28
(N) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 29
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 30
(O) “VETERAN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 31
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 32
4–122.1. 33 HOUSE BILL 600 3
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
(9) “Serious family hardship” means: 2
(vi) Assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to active 3
[military] UNIFORMED SERVICES duty. 4
4–128. 5
A county board of education is subject to the requirements relating to employees who 6
return from [military services] SERVICE IN THE UNIFO RMED SERVICES in § 1–203 of the 7
Local Government Article. 8
6–101.1. 9
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 10
(2) (i) [“Military] “ELIGIBLE spouse” means the spouse of [a] AN 11
ACTIVE service member or ELIGIBLE veteran. 12
(ii) [“Military] “ELIGIBLE spouse” includes a surviving spouse of: 13
1. [A] AN ELIGIBLE veteran; or 14
2. [A] AN ACTIVE service member who died within 1 year 15
before the date on which the application for an educator certificate is submitted. 16
[(3) “Service member” means an individual who is an active duty member 17
of: 18
(i) The armed forces of the United States; 19
(ii) A reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or 20
(iii) The National Guard of any state. 21
(4) (i) “Veteran” means a former service member who was discharged 22
from active duty under circumstances other than dishonorable within 1 year before the date 23
on which the application for an educator certificate is submitted. 24
(ii) “Veteran” does not include an individual who has completed 25
active duty and has been discharged for more than 1 year before the application for an 26
educator certificate is submitted.] 27
4 HOUSE BILL 600
(3) (I) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN ” MEANS A VETERAN WHO WAS 1
DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY WIT HIN 1 YEAR BEFORE THE DATE ON WHICH THE 2
APPLICATION FOR AN E DUCATOR CERTIFICATE IS SUBMITTED. 3
(II) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A V ETERAN WHO 4
HAS BEEN DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR BEFORE THE 5
APPLICATION FOR AN E DUCATOR CERTIFICATE IS SUBMITTED. 6
(b) The State Superintendent shall expedite educator certification for [a] AN 7
ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse. 8
(c) To qualify for expedited educator certification under this section, [a] AN 9
ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse shall: 10
(1) Submit an application for educator certification; 11
(2) Hold a valid educator license or certificate in good standing issued in 12
another state; 13
(3) Meet the applicable qualifications for certification in COMAR 14
13A.12.01.04 and.05; and 15
(4) Pay the applicable certification fee. 16
(d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the State Superintendent, 17
at the request of a local school system, may issue a temporary educator certificate to [a] AN 18
ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse who holds a 19
valid educator certificate or license in good standing issued in another state but who does 20
not meet the qualifications for educator certification in this State. 21
(2) A temporary educator certificate issued under this subsection 22
authorizes the ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or [military] ELIGIBLE spouse, 23
for a limited period of time, as determined by the State Superintendent, to be employed as 24
an educator in the State while the ACTIVE service member, ELIGIBLE veteran, or 25
[military] ELIGIBLE spouse completes additional requirements for certification in this 26
State. 27
(e) The Department shall publish prominently on its website the process for 28
obtaining expedited educator certification under this section. 29
(f) The State Board may adopt regulations to carry out this section. 30
7–101. 31
(b) (2) (i) [Upon] ON request and in accordance with a county board’s 32
policies concerning residency, a county superintendent: 33 HOUSE BILL 600 5
1. May allow a child to attend school in the county even if the 1
child is not domiciled in that county with the child’s parent or guardian; and 2
2. Shall allow a dependent child of [a] AN ACTIVE service 3
member who is relocating to the State on [military] OFFICIAL orders to enroll in school in 4
the county in accordance with § 7–115.1 of this subtitle. 5
(c) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings 6
indicated. 7
(iv) “Serious family hardship” means: 8
6. Assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to 9
active [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES duty. 10
(4) The affidavit shall be in the following form: 11
(i) I, the undersigned, am over eighteen (18) years of age and 12
competent to testify to the facts and matters set forth herein. 13
(ii) ____________________ (name of child), whose date of birth is 14
_____________, is living with me because of the following serious family hardship: (check 15
each that is applicable) 16
_____ death of father/mother/legal guardian 17
_____ serious illness of father/mother/legal guardian 18
_____ drug addiction of father/mother/legal guardian 19
_____ incarceration of father/mother/legal guardian 20
_____ abandonment by father/mother/legal guardian 21
_____ assignment of a parent or legal guardian of a child to active [military] 22
UNIFORMED SERVICES duty 23
(iii) The name and last known address of the child’s parent(s) or legal 24
guardian is: 25
___________________________________________________________________________________ 26
___________________________________________________________________________________ 27
___________________________________________________________________________________ 28
(iv) My kinship relation to the child is ___________________________ 29
(v) My address is: 30
___________________________________________________________________________________ 31
Street Apt. No. 32 6 HOUSE BILL 600
___________________________________________________________________________________ 1
City State Zip Code 2
(vi) I assumed informal kinship care of this child for 24 hours a day 3
and 7 days a week on __________________(day/month/year). 4
(vii) The name and address of the last school that the child attended 5
is: 6
___________________________________________________________________________________ 7
___________________________________________________________________________________ 8
(viii) The county superintendent may verify the facts contained in the 9
foregoing affidavit and conduct an audit on a case–by–case basis after the child has been 10
enrolled in the county public school system. If the county superintendent discovers fraud 11
or misrepresentation, the child shall be removed from the public school or county public 12
school system roll. 13
(ix) I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents 14
of the foregoing are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. 15
___________________________________ 16
Signature of affiant 17
___________________________________ 18
(Day/month/year) 19
(x) Any person who willfully makes a material misrepresentation in 20
this affidavit shall be subject to a penalty payable to the county for three times the pro rata 21
share of tuition for the time the child fraudulently attends a public school in the county. 22
7–115. 23
(a) To facilitate the transfer of school–aged student dependents of [military 24
personnel] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE RS to and from the public schools of this State, the 25
State Board shall pursue reciprocity agreements with other states regarding the terms of 26
those student transfers. 27
7–115.1. 28
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 29
(2) “Dependent child” means an individual of school age who is a natural 30
child, a stepchild, an adopted child, or a financially dependent child of [a] AN ACTIVE 31
service member. 32
HOUSE BILL 600 7
(3) “Enrollment” includes course registration and charter school lotteries. 1
[(4) (i) “Service member” means an active duty member of the United 2
States armed forces. 3
(ii) “Service member” includes a member of the National Guard on 4
active duty orders.] 5
(b) A county superintendent shall allow a dependent child of [a] AN ACTIVE 6
service member who is relocating to the State on [military] OFFICIAL orders and is not 7
domiciled in that county during the enrollment period to apply for enrollment in a public 8
school in the county, in the same manner and at the same time as individuals domiciled in 9
the county. 10
(c) (1) Within 10 days of the published arrival date on the ACTIVE service 11
member’s [military] OFFICIAL orders, the ACTIVE service member shall provide the school 12
with: 13
(i) Satisfactory evidence of the dependent child’s status as a 14
dependent child of the ACTIVE service member; 15
(ii) A copy of the ACTIVE service member’s [military] OFFICIAL 16
orders to relocate; and 17
(iii) Proof of residence in the county. 18
(2) The ACTIVE service member may use the address of any of the following 19
as proof of residence: 20
(i) A temporary on–base lodging facility; 21
(ii) A purchased or leased home or apartment; or 22
(iii) Any federal government housing unit or off–base military 23
housing unit. 24
7–129. 25
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 26
(2) “Military–connected student” means a student who is a dependent of: 27
(i) [A current] AN ACTIVE DUTY UNIFOR MED SERVICES member 28
[of: 29
8 HOUSE BILL 600
1. The United States military serving in the Army, Navy, Air 1
Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard on active duty; 2
2. The Maryland National Guard or the National Guard of 3
any other state; or 4
3. A reserve force of the United States military]; 5
(II) A MEMBER OF A RESERVE COMPONENT ; or 6
[(ii)] (III) A member [of a military or reserve force] described in item 7
(i) OR (II) of this paragraph who was killed in the line of duty. 8
(3) “Program” means the Purple Star Schools Program. 9
(b) (1) There is a Purple Star Schools Program. 10
(2) The purpose of the Program is to recognize public schools that provide 11
strong services and support for military–connected students and their families when, as a 12
result of [military service] OFFICIAL ORDERS , a military–connected student transfers 13
schools. 14
(d) At a minimum, the Department’s criteria for a Purple Star School shall 15
require a public school to: 16
(1) Designate a staff member as a [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES 17
liaison, whose duties shall include: 18
(i) Identifying military–connected students who are newly enrolled 19
or soon to be enrolled at the school; 20
(ii) Serving as the point of contact between the school and newly 21
enrolled or soon to be enrolled military–connected students and their families; 22
(iii) Determining appropriate school services available to newly 23
enrolled or soon to be enrolled military–connected students; 24
(iv) Assisting in coordinating school programs for newly enrolled or 25
soon to be enrolled military–connected students; and 26
(v) Generally aiding with a military–connected student’s transition 27
to a new school; 28
13–516. 29
HOUSE BILL 600 9
(b–1) (1) [In this subsection, “service member” means an individual who is an 1
active duty member of: 2
(i) The armed forces of the United States; 3
(ii) A reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or 4
(iii) The National Guard of any state. 5
(2) (i)] In calculating an individual’s years of experience in an 6
occupation or profession, the EMS Board shall give credit to the individual for all relevant 7
experience as [a] AN ACTIVE service member. 8
[(ii)] (2) The EMS Board shall credit any training and education 9
provided by the [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES and completed by [a] AN ACTIVE 10
service member toward any training or education requirements for licensure or certification 11
if the training or education is determined by the EMS Board to be: 12
[1.] (I) Substantially equivalent to the training or 13
education required by the EMS Board; and 14
[2.] (II) Not otherwise contrary to any other licensing 15
requirement. 16
15–106.4. 17
(a) This section applies to the following individuals: 18
(1) [An active duty member of the United States armed forces] AN ACTIVE 19
SERVICE MEMBER ; 20
(2) The spouse of [an active duty member of the United States armed 21
forces] AN ACTIVE SERVICE ME MBER; 22
(3) A financially dependent child of [an active duty member of the United 23
States armed forces] AN ACTIVE SERVICE ME MBER; 24
(4) [An honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces] A 25
VETERAN; or 26
(5) A member of the National Guard as defined in § 13–405(a)(3) of the 27
Public Safety Article. 28
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, an individual described in 29
subsection (a) of this section who attends a public institution of higher education in the 30 10 HOUSE BILL 600
State is exempt from paying nonresident tuition at a public institution of higher education 1
in this State if: 2
(1) The active [duty] SERVICE member [described in subsection (a) of this 3
section]: 4
(i) Is stationed in this State; 5
(ii) Resides in this State; or 6
(iii) Is domiciled in this State; 7
(2) The spouse or financially dependent child [described in subsection (a) 8
of this section] OF AN ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER presents documentation that, during 9
the time period in which the active [duty] SERVICE member met the requirements of 10
paragraph (1) of this subsection, the individual: 11
(i) Enrolled as an entering student in a public institution of higher 12
education in the State; or 13
(ii) Was accepted to attend a public institution of higher education 14
in the State; 15
(3) The [honorably discharged] veteran [described in subsection (a) of this 16
section] presents documentation that the individual: 17
(i) Was honorably discharged from the [United States armed forces] 18
UNIFORMED SERVICES ; and 19
(ii) 1. Resides in this State; or 20
2. Is domiciled in this State; or 21
(4) The National Guard member described in subsection (a) of this section 22
is a member of the Maryland National Guard and joined or subsequently serves in the 23
Maryland National Guard to: 24
(i) Provide a Critical Military Occupational Skill; or 25
(ii) Be a member of the Air Force Critical Specialty Code as 26
determined by the National Guard. 27
15–124. 28
(a) In this section, “eligible service member” means: 29
HOUSE BILL 600 11
(1) [A currently serving member of any branch of the armed forces of the 1
United States, including the National Guard and the military reserves] AN ACTIVE 2
SERVICE MEMBER ; and 3
(2) A veteran [of any branch of the armed forces of the United States, 4
including the National Guard and the military reserves, who has received an honorable 5
discharge or a certificate of satisfactory completion of military service]. 6
16–109. 7
Each community college shall: 8
(1) Ensure all student advisors are trained on the unique needs and 9
resources available for students who are veterans; 10
(2) Employ at least one employee who, as a component of the employee’s 11
job duties and responsibilities, provides comprehensive and intensive enrollment and 12
advising services to current and prospective students who are veterans; and 13
(3) Establish a veterans resource center on campus to: 14
(i) Provide access to federal and State veterans resources; 15
(ii) Serve as a quiet place for veterans to study; 16
(iii) Enable veterans to connect to other veterans, helping them 17
renew the bonds of [military] service; and 18
(iv) Be the central hub for all activities on campus related to 19
veterans. 20
18–205. 21
Subject to rules and regulations adopted by the Commission, the Office shall grant 22
a deferment from the service obligation component of student financial assistance awarded 23
under this title to: 24
(1) An [individual] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R who has been assigned 25
[military] duty outside of the State; or 26
(2) The spouse of an [individual] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R who has been 27
assigned [military] duty outside of the State. 28
18–405. 29
12 HOUSE BILL 600
(d) Each Senator may award not more than 10% of the funds available under this 1
subtitle to applicants planning to attend accredited undergraduate, graduate, or 2
professional institutions outside the State, provided the applicant: 3
(3) Is an [individual who is on active duty with the United States military] 4
ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R who is domiciled in this State. 5
18–406. 6
(g) A recipient of a senatorial scholarship who is an [individual who is on active 7
duty with the United States military] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R and otherwise meets the 8
conditions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be domiciled in this State rather than 9
eligible for in–State tuition under this article. 10
18–501. 11
(b) A scholarship awarded under this subtitle may be used at: 12
(2) An accredited undergraduate, graduate, or professional institution 13
outside the State, if the applicant: 14
(iii) Is an [individual who is on active duty with the United States 15
military] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R who is domiciled in this State; and 16
18–601. 17
(c) (1) The program for [military] UNIFORMED SERVICES and public safety 18
personnel and their eligible dependents is the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial 19
Scholarship Program. 20
(d) (2) To apply for a scholarship under this section, the following persons are 21
required to be a resident of Maryland at the time of application or at the time of the 22
disabling or fatal event: 23
(i) A son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or the surviving spouse 24
of a member of the [armed forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES who: 25
1. Died as a result of [military] service after December 7, 26
1941; 27
2. Suffered a service connected 100% permanent disability 28
after December 7, 1941; or 29
3. Was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action, 30
if that occurred on or after January 1, 1960, as a result of the Vietnam conflict, and if the 31
child was born prior to or while the parent was a prisoner of war or missing in action; 32 HOUSE BILL 600 13
(ii) A prisoner of war or missing in action, if that occurred on or after 1
January 1, 1960, as a result of the Vietnam conflict and was a resident of this State at the 2
time the person was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; 3
(iii) A veteran[, as defined under § 9–901 of the State Government 4
Article,] who: 5
1. Suffers a service connected disability of 25% or greater; 6
and 7
2. Has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veterans’ 8
educational benefits; 9
(iv) A son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of or the surviving 10
spouse of a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; 11
(v) A son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of a school employee 12
who, as a result of an act of violence: 13
1. Died in the line of duty; or 14
2. Sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the 15
school employee 100% disabled; or 16
(vi) The surviving spouse of a school employee who, as a result of an 17
act of violence: 18
1. Died in the line of duty; or 19
2. Sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the 20
school employee 100% disabled. 21
18–604. 22
(a) For purposes of this section, an individual served in the Afghanistan or Iraq 23
conflict if the individual was [a] AN ACTIVE SERVICE member [of the uniformed services 24
of the United States] who served in: 25
(1) Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined in federal regulations, 26
on or after October 24, 2001; or 27
(2) Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined in federal regulations, 28
on or after March 19, 2003. 29
(c) An individual may apply to the Office for a scholarship under this section if 30
the individual: 31 14 HOUSE BILL 600
(1) Is a resident of Maryland; 1
(2) (i) Is accepted for admission or enrolled in the regular 2
undergraduate program at an eligible institution; or 3
(ii) Is accepted for admission or enrolled in a 2–year terminal 4
certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an 5
accredited baccalaureate program in an eligible institution; and 6
(3) (i) 1. Is a veteran[, as defined under § 9–901 of the State 7
Government Article,] who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict; 8
2. Is an active [duty member of the armed forces] SERVICE 9
MEMBER who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict; or 10
3. Is a member of a reserve component [of the armed forces 11
of the United States or the Maryland National Guard] who was activated as a result of the 12
Afghanistan or Iraq conflict described in subsection (a) of this section; or 13
(ii) Is a son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse of: 14
1. A veteran or AN active [duty] SERVICE member [of the 15
armed forces] who is serving or has served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict; or 16
2. A member of the reserve [or Maryland National Guard] 17
COMPONENT who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict described in 18
subsection (a) of this section. 19
(d) A scholarship awarded under this section may supplement, but is not 20
contingent on, any federal education benefits for which a recipient qualifies as a result of 21
an individual’s [military] service or status as a dependent of [a] AN ACTIVE SERVICE 22
member [of the armed forces] or of a veteran [of the armed forces]. 23
18–708. 24
(l) (7) The Office shall grant a deferment from the service obligation required 25
under this section to: 26
(i) An [individual] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R who has been 27
assigned [military] duty outside the State; or 28
(ii) The spouse of an [individual] ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBE R who 29
has been assigned [military] duty outside the State. 30
18–1910. 31 HOUSE BILL 600 15
(c) (2) The time that a qualified beneficiary spends in active duty as a member 1
of the [United States armed forces] UNIFORMED SERVICES shall be added to the time 2
period allowed to exercise the benefits under a prepaid contract before a termination under 3
paragraph (1) of this subsection. 4
18–3005. 5
To qualify for participation in the Program, an individual shall: 6
(1) (iv) 1. Have been honorably discharged from the [United States 7
armed forces, the National Guard,] UNIFORMED SERVICES or a reserve component [of the 8
United States armed forces] within 18 months of the date of application; 9
2. Be a resident of Maryland; and 10
3. Have graduated from a public or private nonprofit 11
institution of higher education; 12
21–309. 13
(a) (5) (ii) “Qualified employee with a disability” includes: 14
1. An individual who has been determined by the Maryland 15
Department of Labor, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as 16
having been discharged or released from active duty in the [armed forces of the United 17
States] UNIFORMED SERVIC ES for a service–connected disability; and 18
Article – General Provisions 19
1–101.1. 20
“ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 21
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 22
1–101.2. 23
“ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE 24
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 25
1–103.1. 26
“ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 27
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 28
16 HOUSE BILL 600
1–114.1. 1
“RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 2
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 3
1–114.2. 4
“SERVICE MEMBER ” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 5
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
1–116. 7
“UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–901 OF THE STATE 8
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 9
1–117. 10
With respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges applicable to a 11
veteran under this Code, “veteran” includes[, if the individual is eligible under 38 U.S.C. § 12
101, a member of the commissioned corps of: 13
(1) the Public Health Service; or 14
(2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its 15
predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey] AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ME ETS THE 16
DEFINITION OF “VETERAN” UNDER § 9–901 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 17
Article – State Government 18
9–901. 19
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
(B) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 21
(C) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS: 22
(1) AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBE R OF THE UNIFORMED S ERVICES; OR 23
(2) SERVING IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED 24
SERVICES ON ACTIVE D UTY ORDERS. 25
[(b)] (D) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 10 U.S.C. § 101. 26
(E) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 27 HOUSE BILL 600 17
[(c)] (F) “Department” means the Department of Veterans and Military 1
Families. 2
(G) “MILITARY FAMILY ” INCLUDES THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT 3
CHILDREN OF A SERVIC E MEMBER OR VETERAN RELATED BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 4
ADOPTION. 5
(H) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 6
[(d)] (I) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. 7
(J) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF : 8
(1) THE UNIFORMED SERVIC ES; OR 9
(2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SER VICES. 10
[(e)] (K) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 11
(L) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 12
[(f)] (M) Except as otherwise provided [in this subtitle], “veteran” [means an 13
individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than 14
for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable] HAS 15
THE MEANING STATED I N 38 U.S.C. § 101. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2025. 18