EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0248*
SENATE BILL 248
P1 5lr0073
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 33
By: Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Service and Civic Innovation)
Requested: October 7, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: January 29, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Service and Civic Innovation – Maryland Corps Program Service 2
Year Option Pathways – Revisions 3
FOR the purpose of altering the duties of the Department of Service and Civic Innovation; 4
renaming the Governor’s Volunteer Council to be the Governor’s Commission on 5
Service and Volunteerism; altering certain requirements relating to qualifications 6
for applicants and compensation for participants in the Young Adult Service Year 7
Option Pathway and the Maryland Service Year Option Pathway; altering certain 8
reporting requirements; repealing the Executive Fellows Program; and generally 9
relating to the Maryland Corps Program Service Year Option Pathways. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – State Government 12
Section 21–106(b)(5) and (8), 21–204(d)(6) and (7), 21–205, 21–206, 21–209, 21–301, 13
and 21–302 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – State Government 18
Section 21–201(a) and (h) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21 2 SENATE BILL 248
BY repealing 1
Article – State Government 2
Section 21–306 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – State Government 8
21–106. 9
(b) The Department shall: 10
(5) administer: 11
(i) the Maryland Corps Program under Subtitle 2 of this title; AND 12
[(ii) the Executive Fellows Program under § 21–306 of this title; and] 13
[(iii)] (II) any other volunteer program recommended or designated 14
by the governor or otherwise established by law; 15
(8) provide staff support for the [Governor’s Volunteer Council] 16
GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION ON SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM . 17
21–201. 18
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
(h) “Program” means the Maryland Corps Program. 20
21–204. 21
(d) The Department shall adopt regulations regarding: 22
(6) stipends for corps participants, including: 23
(i) monetary payment of at least [$15 per hour or] the APPLICABLE 24
COUNTY OR State minimum wage, whichever is greater; 25
(ii) health insurance benefits and the potential for wraparound 26
services; and 27
SENATE BILL 248 3
(iii) requirements for large–scale employers to provide matching 1
funds; 2
(7) a Program completion award of $6,000 for participants that complete at 3
least 9 months of service that [may] SHALL be awarded as [follows: 4
(i) by deposit into a tax–exempt Maryland 529 account established 5
under Title 18, Subtitle 19 of the Education Article and may only be used for qualified 6
higher education expenses, as defined in § 18–1901 of the Education Article; or 7
(ii) payment of] a cash stipend; 8
21–205. 9
(a) (1) There is a Young Adult Service Year Option Pathway in the Program. 10
(2) The purpose of the Young Adult Service Year Option Pathway is to: 11
(i) provide service placements to eligible young adults as an 12
additional option to immediately pursuing postsecondary education or career and technical 13
training; 14
(ii) equip corps participants with professional development, 15
mentoring, job training, financial literacy skills, and other supports while working in 16
high–impact service placements; 17
(iii) assist in addressing the State’s greatest challenges by 18
channeling the next generation of Maryland citizens into impactful public service; and 19
(iv) strengthen a pipeline of talent into State and local governments 20
to fill present and future staffing needs. 21
(b) An individual may apply to the Department for a service placement in the YA 22
Pathway under this section if the individual [is]: 23
(1) IS a Maryland resident on the submission of application; [and] 24
(2) [within 3 years of graduation] HAS GRADUATED from high school or 25
[having] HAS obtained a similar level of education completion, including an individual who 26
has obtained a: 27
(i) [Maryland] high school diploma; 28
(ii) [Maryland] high school diploma by examination; or 29
4 SENATE BILL 248
(iii) [Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion] 1
HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFIC ATE OF COMPLETION ; AND 2
(3) IS AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND UNDER THE AGE OF 25 YEARS AT 3
THE START DATE OF TH E YA PATHWAY. 4
(c) (1) The Department shall set targets for participation in the YA Pathway 5
under this section, including: 6
(i) 200 corps participants in the first year of implementation; and 7
(ii) 2,000 corps participants in the fourth year of implementation. 8
(2) The Department shall prioritize for participation in the YA Pathway 9
under this section: 10
(i) individuals historically underrepresented in: 11
1. higher education enrollment or completion; or 12
2. employment: 13
A. by large–scale and community employers; 14
B. by participating organizations; or 15
C. in professions and occupations that require licensure or 16
certification; and 17
(ii) organizations that provide wraparound services to corps 18
participants. 19
(d) The Department shall develop focus areas for the YA Pathway under this 20
section for the purpose of addressing priority State and community issues, including: 21
(1) climate; 22
(2) education; and 23
(3) health. 24
(e) A corps participant who receives a service placement in the YA Pathway under 25
this section shall: 26
(1) participate in all training related to the service placement; 27
(2) work at least 30 hours per week; 28 SENATE BILL 248 5
(3) be partnered with an on–site mentor; 1
(4) perform the duties of the service placement to the satisfaction of the 2
participating organization and the Department; 3
(5) participate in Program–wide events; 4
(6) be paid [$15 per hour or] AT LEAST the APPLICABLE COUNTY OR 5
State minimum wage, whichever is greater, for mandatory work hours or mandatory 6
Program activities; and 7
(7) on completion of the Program, be notified of all available post–Program 8
opportunities, including registered apprenticeships. 9
(f) The Department shall promote and publicize the availability of opportunities 10
in the YA Pathway to: 11
(1) high schools and adult high schools in the State; 12
(2) community and nonprofit organizations; 13
(3) faith–based institutions; and 14
(4) employers that are potential service placement providers. 15
(g) (1) There is a Young Adult Service Year Option Pathway Fund. 16
(2) The purpose of the YA Pathway Fund is to: 17
(i) provide stipends to corps participants with a service placement 18
in the [YA Pathway] PROGRAM under this section; 19
(ii) pay the costs to administer and promote [the YA Pathway under] 20
the Program; and 21
(iii) assist in the creation of additional corps programs under § 22
21–207 of this subtitle. 23
(3) The Department shall administer the YA Pathway Fund. 24
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (9) of this subsection, the YA Pathway 25
Fund is a continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance 26
and Procurement Article. 27
6 SENATE BILL 248
(5) (i) The State Treasurer shall hold the YA Pathway Fund separately 1
and shall invest the money in the YA Pathway Fund in the same manner as other State 2
money may be invested. 3
(ii) Any investment earnings of the YA Pathway Fund shall be 4
credited to the Fund. 5
(6) The Comptroller shall separately account for each source for the YA 6
Pathway Fund. 7
(7) The Department: 8
(i) may accept any gift or grant from any person for the YA Pathway 9
Fund; 10
(ii) shall use any gift or grant that it receives for the purposes listed 11
under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and 12
(iii) shall deposit with the State Treasurer any gift or grant that it 13
receives for the YA Pathway Fund. 14
(8) The YA Pathway Fund consists of: 15
(i) money appropriated to the YA Pathway Fund under the Program 16
in the State budget; 17
(ii) gifts or grants received by the Department for the YA Pathway 18
Fund; 19
(iii) investment earnings of the YA Pathway Fund; and 20
(iv) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit 21
of the YA Pathway Fund. 22
(9) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, any 23
unspent State appropriation of the YA Pathway Fund shall revert to the General Fund of 24
the State at the end of the fiscal year. 25
(ii) For fiscal years 2024 through 2026, any unspent portion of the 26
YA Pathway Fund may not be transferred or revert to the General Fund of the State but 27
shall remain in the YA Pathway Fund to be used for the purposes specified in this subtitle. 28
(10) Beginning with fiscal year 2024, at the end of each fiscal year, the 29
Department shall prepare an annual report of the YA Pathway Fund that includes: 30
(i) an accounting of all financial receipts and expenditures to and 31
from the YA Pathway Fund; and 32 SENATE BILL 248 7
(ii) the following information: 1
1. the total number of corps participants disaggregated by 2
demographic categories; 3
2. the total annual cost of the YA Pathway disaggregated by 4
the source of the funds; 5
3. corps participant transition after Program completion into 6
higher education, postsecondary education, full –time employment, registered 7
apprenticeships, and any other post–Program opportunity; 8
4. the number of corps participants employed by State or 9
local government agencies after completion of the Program; and 10
5. to the extent practicable, what former corps participants 11
are doing 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after completing the Program. 12
(11) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT A COPY OF THE REP ORT 13
PREPARED UNDER PARAG RAPH (10) OF THIS SUBSECTION TO THE GENERAL 14
ASSEMBLY IN ACCORDANC E WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE. 15
[(11)] (12) The YA Pathway Fund is subject to audit by the Office of 16
Legislative Audits in accordance with § 2–1220 of this article. 17
21–206. 18
(a) (1) There is a Maryland Service Year Option Pathway in the Program. 19
(2) The purpose of the Maryland Service Year Option Pathway is to: 20
(i) equip corps participants with professional development, 21
mentoring, job training, financial literacy skills, and other supports while working in 22
high–impact service placements; 23
(ii) assist in addressing the State’s greatest challenges by 24
channeling the talents of individuals into impactful public service; and 25
(iii) strengthen a pipeline of talent into State and local governments 26
to fill present and future staffing needs. 27
(b) (1) An individual may apply to the Department for a SERVICE placement 28
in the MSY Pathway under this section if the individual is [interested in performing public 29
and community service in the State]: 30
8 SENATE BILL 248
(I) A MARYLAND RESIDENT; AND 1
(II) AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AT THE STA RT DATE OF THE MSY 2
PATHWAY. 3
(2) The Department shall prioritize for participation in the MSY Pathway 4
under this section individuals who are HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN : 5
(i) [Maryland residents; and 6
(ii) historically underrepresented in: 7
1.] higher education enrollment or completion; or 8
[2.] (II) employment by: 9
[A.] 1. large–scale and community employers; or 10
[B.] 2. participating organizations. 11
(3) The Department shall prioritize for participation in the MSY Pathway 12
under this section organizations that provide wraparound services to corps participants. 13
(c) A corps participant who receives a service placement in the MSY Pathway 14
under this section shall: 15
(1) participate in all training related to the service placement; 16
(2) perform the duties of the service placement to the satisfaction of the 17
participating organization and the Department; 18
(3) participate in Program–wide events as determined by the Department; 19
(4) be paid [$15 per hour or] AT LEAST the APPLICABLE COUNTY OR 20
State minimum wage, whichever is greater, for mandatory work hours or mandatory 21
Program activities; and 22
(5) on completion of the Program, be notified of all available post–Program 23
opportunities, including registered apprenticeships. 24
(d) The Department shall promote and publicize the availability of the MSY 25
Pathway opportunities to: 26
(1) historically black colleges and universities, as defined in § 3–207 of the 27
State Finance and Procurement Article; 28
SENATE BILL 248 9
(2) community colleges; 1
(3) trade schools; 2
(4) faith–based institutions; 3
(5) youth who are disconnected from school or work; and 4
(6) employers and nonprofit organizations with potential service 5
placements for the MSY Pathway under this section. 6
(e) (1) There is a Maryland Service Year Option Pathway Fund. 7
(2) The purpose of the MSY Pathway Fund is to: 8
(i) provide stipends to corps participants with a service placement 9
in the [MSY Pathway] PROGRAM under this section; 10
(ii) provide Program completion awards to corps participants who 11
have completed the Program; 12
(iii) cover expenses incurred by the Department, including expenses 13
incurred to study the potential use of the Program as a workforce development tool in the 14
State; 15
(iv) cover expenses incurred to study how alumni of the Program 16
could be better positioned to meet the current and future needs of employers in the State; 17
(v) provide funding for the MSY Pathway under this section to 18
match gifts or grants received by the Department for the MSY Pathway Fund; and 19
(vi) assist in the creation of additional corps programs under § 20
21–207 of this subtitle. 21
(3) The Department shall administer the MSY Pathway Fund. 22
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (10) of this subsection, the MSY 23
Pathway Fund is a continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State 24
Finance and Procurement Article. 25
(5) (i) The State Treasurer shall hold the MSY Pathway Fund 26
separately and shall invest the money in the MSY Pathway Fund in the same manner as 27
other State money may be invested. 28
(ii) Any investment earnings of the MSY Pathway Fund shall be 29
credited to the Fund. 30
10 SENATE BILL 248
(6) The Comptroller shall separately account for each source for the MSY 1
Pathway Fund. 2
(7) The Department: 3
(i) may accept any gift or grant from any person for the MSY 4
Pathway Fund; 5
(ii) shall use any gift or grant that it receives for the reasons stated 6
under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and 7
(iii) shall deposit any gift or grant that it receives for the MSY 8
Pathway Fund with the State Treasurer. 9
(8) The MSY Pathway Fund consists of: 10
(i) money appropriated under subsection (f) of this section; 11
(ii) gifts or grants received by the Department for the MSY Pathway 12
Fund; 13
(iii) investment earnings of the MSY Pathway Fund; and 14
(iv) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit 15
of the MSY Pathway Fund. 16
(9) The MSY Pathway Fund may be used only for the purposes described 17
in paragraph (2) of this subsection. 18
(10) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, any 19
unspent State appropriation of the MSY Pathway Fund shall revert to the General Fund 20
of the State at the end of the fiscal year. 21
(ii) For fiscal years 2024 through 2026, any unspent portion of the 22
MSY Pathway Fund may not be transferred or revert to the General Fund of the State but 23
shall remain in the MSY Pathway Fund to be used for the purposes specified in this 24
subtitle. 25
(11) [(i)] Beginning with fiscal year [2024] 2026, at the end of each fiscal 26
year, the Department shall [prepare an annual report of] INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L 27
REPORT SUBMITTED UND ER § 21–205(G) OF THIS SUBTITLE INFORMATION ON the 28
MSY Pathway Fund that includes: 29
[1.] (I) an accounting of all financial receipts and 30
expenditures to and from the MSY Pathway Fund; and 31
[2.] (II) the following information: 32 SENATE BILL 248 11
[A.] 1. the total number of corps participants 1
disaggregated by demographic categories; 2
[B.] 2. the total annual cost of the MSY Pathway 3
disaggregated by the source of the funds; 4
[C.] 3. corps participant transition after Program 5
completion into higher education, postsecondary education, full–time employment, 6
registered apprenticeships, and any other post–Program opportunity; 7
[D.] 4. the number of corps participants employed by State 8
or local government agencies after completion of the Program; and 9
[E.] 5. to the extent practicable, what former corps 10
participants are doing 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after completing the Program. 11
[(ii) The Department shall submit a copy of the report to the General 12
Assembly in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article.] 13
(12) The MSY Pathway Fund may be subject to an audit by the Legislative 14
Auditor. 15
(f) (1) The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation 16
to the MSY Pathway Fund of: 17
(i) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 18
(ii) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 19
(iii) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and 20
(iv) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter. 21
(2) It is the intent of the General Assembly that appropriations made under 22
paragraph (1) of this subsection are in addition to any federal funding received for State 23
service or volunteer programming. 24
(3) Appropriations made under paragraph (1) of this subsection and other 25
funding received by the Department for the MSY Pathway under this section shall be used 26
to: 27
(i) provide stipends to corps participants with a service placement 28
in the [MSY Pathway] PROGRAM under this section; 29
12 SENATE BILL 248
(ii) provide Program completion awards to corps participants who 1
have completed the Program; 2
(iii) cover expenses incurred by the Department, including expenses 3
incurred in marketing and recruitment; and 4
(iv) cover programmatic expenses to expand service opportunities 5
throughout the State, including expanding the Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program, 6
as provided under §§ 8–1913 through 8–1924 of the Natural Resources Article. 7
21–209. 8
On or before December 1 each year, the Department shall report to the Governor 9
and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the General Assembly regarding: 10
(1) the number and amount of stipends awarded under the Program; 11
(2) the businesses, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies with 12
which corps participants are placed; 13
(3) the institutions, if any, that award academic credit for a corps 14
participant’s service; AND 15
(4) the number and amount of Program completion awards awarded under 16
the Program[; and 17
(5) the postsecondary educational institutions at which corps participants 18
use their Program completion awards]. 19
21–301. 20
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 21
(b) “Corps” means the Maryland Service Corps. 22
(c) [“Council” means the Governor’s Volunteer Council. 23
(d)] “Office” means the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism. 24
21–302. 25
There is a Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism within the [Governor’s 26
Office of Community Initiatives] DEPARTMENT . 27
[21–306. 28
SENATE BILL 248 13
(a) The Executive Fellows Program is established to provide an opportunity for 1
individuals from the private sector with demonstrated leadership and managerial potential 2
to participate in State government. 3
(b) Criteria or guidelines for the recruitment, selection, and assignment of 4
executive fellows shall be developed in consultation with representatives of the business 5
community and appropriate State units. 6
(c) A committee shall be appointed by the Governor to select qualified applicants 7
to participate in the Executive Fellows Program.] 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
1, 2025. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.