| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. | |
| 4 | 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 | 5 | *sb0309* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | SENATE BILL 309 | |
| 11 | 8 | P1 5lr1409 | |
| 12 | 9 | ||
| 13 | - | By: Senator Simonaire | |
| 10 | + | By: Senator Simonaire | |
| 14 | 11 | Introduced and read first time: January 13, 2025 | |
| 15 | 12 | Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment | |
| 16 | - | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 17 | - | Senate action: Adopted | |
| 18 | - | Read second time: February 25, 2025 | |
| 19 | 13 | ||
| 20 | - | ||
| 14 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 21 | 15 | ||
| 22 | 16 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 23 | 17 | ||
| 24 | 18 | Department of Veterans and Military Families – Online Registry 2 | |
| 25 | - | Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program – Alterations 3 | |
| 26 | 19 | ||
| 27 | - | FOR the purpose of requiring the Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program in 4 | |
| 28 | - | the Department of Veterans and Military Families to establish and maintain an 5 | |
| 29 | - | online registry to provide veterans, military families, and interested individuals with 6 | |
| 30 | - | certain information expand certain services to include service members and their 7 | |
| 31 | - | families; requiring the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to include certain 8 | |
| 32 | - | information about the online registry in a certain annual report; and generally 9 | |
| 33 | - | relating to veterans and military families. 10 | |
| 20 | + | FOR the purpose of requiring the Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program in 3 | |
| 21 | + | the Department of Veterans and Military Families to establish and maintain an 4 | |
| 22 | + | online registry to provide veterans, military families, and interested individuals with 5 | |
| 23 | + | certain information; requiring the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to 6 | |
| 24 | + | include certain information about the online registry in a certain annual report; and 7 | |
| 25 | + | generally relating to veterans and military families. 8 | |
| 34 | 26 | ||
| 35 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, | |
| 36 | - | Article – State Government | |
| 37 | - | Section 9–901 | |
| 38 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland | |
| 39 | - | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) | |
| 27 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9 | |
| 28 | + | Article – State Government 10 | |
| 29 | + | Section 9–901 and 9–946(7) and (8) 11 | |
| 30 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 12 | |
| 31 | + | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13 | |
| 40 | 32 | ||
| 41 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, | |
| 42 | - | Article – State Government | |
| 43 | - | Section 9–940(a) | |
| 44 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland | |
| 45 | - | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) | |
| 33 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14 | |
| 34 | + | Article – State Government 15 | |
| 35 | + | Section 9–940(a) 16 | |
| 36 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 17 | |
| 37 | + | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18 | |
| 46 | 38 | ||
| 47 | - | BY adding to 21 | |
| 48 | - | Article – State Government 22 2 SENATE BILL 309 | |
| 39 | + | BY adding to 19 | |
| 40 | + | Article – State Government 20 | |
| 41 | + | Section 9–945 and 9–946(8) 21 | |
| 42 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 22 | |
| 43 | + | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23 | |
| 49 | 44 | ||
| 45 | + | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24 | |
| 46 | + | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25 | |
| 50 | 47 | ||
| 51 | - | Section 9–945 and 9–946(8) 1 | |
| 52 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 2 | |
| 53 | - | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3 | |
| 54 | - | ||
| 55 | - | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4 | |
| 56 | - | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5 | |
| 57 | - | ||
| 58 | - | Article – State Government 6 | |
| 59 | - | ||
| 60 | - | 9–901. 7 | |
| 61 | - | ||
| 62 | - | (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 8 | |
| 63 | - | ||
| 64 | - | (B) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 9 | |
| 65 | - | ||
| 66 | - | (C) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS: 10 | |
| 67 | - | ||
| 68 | - | (1) AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBE R OF THE UNIFORMED S ERVICES; OR 11 | |
| 69 | - | ||
| 70 | - | (2) SERVING IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED 12 | |
| 71 | - | SERVICES ON ACTIVE D UTY ORDERS. 13 | |
| 72 | - | ||
| 73 | - | (D) “ARMED FORCES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 10 U.S.C. § 101. 14 | |
| 74 | - | ||
| 75 | - | [(b)] (E) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 15 | |
| 76 | - | ||
| 77 | - | [(c)] (F) “Department” means the Department of Veterans and Military 16 | |
| 78 | - | Families. 17 | |
| 79 | - | ||
| 80 | - | (G) “MILITARY FAMILY ” INCLUDES THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT 18 | |
| 81 | - | CHILDREN OF A SERVIC E MEMBER OR VETERAN RELATED BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 19 | |
| 82 | - | ADOPTION. 20 | |
| 83 | - | ||
| 84 | - | (H) (D) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. 21 | |
| 85 | - | § 101. 22 | |
| 86 | - | ||
| 87 | - | [(d)] (I) (E) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. 23 | |
| 88 | - | ||
| 89 | - | (J) (F) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF : 24 | |
| 90 | - | ||
| 91 | - | (1) THE UNIFORMED SERVIC ES; OR 25 | |
| 92 | - | ||
| 93 | - | (2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SER VICES. 26 | |
| 94 | - | ||
| 95 | - | [(e)] (K) (G) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 27 SENATE BILL 309 3 | |
| 48 | + | Article – State Government 26 2 SENATE BILL 309 | |
| 96 | 49 | ||
| 97 | 50 | ||
| 98 | 51 | ||
| 99 | - | (L) (H) “UNIFORMED SERVICES ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. 1 | |
| 100 | - | § 101. 2 | |
| 52 | + | 9–901. 1 | |
| 101 | 53 | ||
| 102 | - | [(f)] (M) (I) Except as otherwise provided [in this subtitle], “veteran” [means an 3 | |
| 103 | - | individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than 4 | |
| 104 | - | for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable] HAS 5 | |
| 105 | - | THE MEANING STATED I N 38 U.S.C. § 101. 6 | |
| 54 | + | (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 2 | |
| 106 | 55 | ||
| 107 | - | ||
| 56 | + | (B) “ACTIVE DUTY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 3 | |
| 108 | 57 | ||
| 109 | - | (a) In this part, “Program” means the Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy 8 | |
| 110 | - | Program. 9 | |
| 58 | + | (C) “ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS: 4 | |
| 111 | 59 | ||
| 112 | - | (b) There is a Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program in the 10 | |
| 113 | - | Department. 11 | |
| 60 | + | (1) AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBE R OF THE UNIFORMED S ERVICES; OR 5 | |
| 114 | 61 | ||
| 115 | - | (c) The purpose of the Program is to ensure that: 12 | |
| 62 | + | (2) SERVING IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNI FORMED 6 | |
| 63 | + | SERVICES ON ACTIVE D UTY ORDERS. 7 | |
| 116 | 64 | ||
| 117 | - | (1) veterans, SERVICE MEMBERS , AND THEIR FAMILIES are informed of 13 | |
| 118 | - | the services, benefits, and assistance available to them from the State and federal 14 | |
| 119 | - | government and community organizations; and 15 | |
| 65 | + | (D) “ARMED FORCES” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 10 U.S.C. § 101. 8 | |
| 120 | 66 | ||
| 121 | - | (2) general issues relating to veterans’, SERVICE MEMBERS ’, AND THEIR 16 | |
| 122 | - | FAMILIES’ needs are brought to the attention of the Governor and the General Assembly 17 | |
| 123 | - | in order for them to be addressed. 18 | |
| 67 | + | [(b)] (E) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 9 | |
| 124 | 68 | ||
| 125 | - | 9–942. 19 | |
| 69 | + | [(c)] (F) “Department” means the Department of Veterans and Military 10 | |
| 70 | + | Families. 11 | |
| 126 | 71 | ||
| 127 | - | ( | |
| 128 | - | ||
| 129 | - | ||
| 72 | + | (G) “MILITARY FAMILY ” INCLUDES THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT 12 | |
| 73 | + | CHILDREN OF A SERVIC E MEMBER OR VETERAN RELATED BY BLOOD , MARRIAGE, OR 13 | |
| 74 | + | ADOPTION. 14 | |
| 130 | 75 | ||
| 131 | - | ( | |
| 76 | + | (H) “RESERVE COMPONENT ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 15 | |
| 132 | 77 | ||
| 133 | - | ( | |
| 78 | + | [(d)] (I) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families. 16 | |
| 134 | 79 | ||
| 135 | - | ( | |
| 80 | + | (J) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF: 17 | |
| 136 | 81 | ||
| 137 | - | ( | |
| 82 | + | (1) THE UNIFORMED SERVIC ES; OR 18 | |
| 138 | 83 | ||
| 139 | - | (b) The Program, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education 27 | |
| 140 | - | Commission, shall actively help veterans, SERVICE MEMBERS , and their dependents 28 | |
| 141 | - | become aware of and access education and training benefits to which they are entitled. 29 | |
| 84 | + | (2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SER VICES. 19 | |
| 142 | 85 | ||
| 143 | - | (c) The director of the Program shall: 30 4 SENATE BILL 309 | |
| 86 | + | [(e)] (K) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 20 | |
| 87 | + | ||
| 88 | + | (L) “UNIFORMED SERVICES” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN 37 U.S.C. § 101. 21 | |
| 89 | + | ||
| 90 | + | [(f)] (M) Except as otherwise provided [in this subtitle], “veteran” [means an 22 | |
| 91 | + | individual who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than 23 | |
| 92 | + | for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable] HAS 24 | |
| 93 | + | THE MEANING STATED I N 38 U.S.C. § 101. 25 | |
| 94 | + | ||
| 95 | + | 9–940. 26 SENATE BILL 309 3 | |
| 144 | 96 | ||
| 145 | 97 | ||
| 146 | 98 | ||
| 147 | - | ( | |
| 148 | - | ||
| 99 | + | (a) In this part, “Program” means the Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy 1 | |
| 100 | + | Program. 2 | |
| 149 | 101 | ||
| 150 | - | (2) refer veterans, [veterans’] SERVICE MEMBERS , THEIR dependents, 3 | |
| 151 | - | and [veterans’] THEIR survivors to the appropriate governmental unit for claim assistance. 4 | |
| 102 | + | 9–945. 3 | |
| 152 | 103 | ||
| 153 | - | 9–943. 5 | |
| 104 | + | (A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE PROGRAM SHALL ESTABLISH 4 | |
| 105 | + | AND MAINTAIN AN ONLI NE REGISTRY TO PROVIDE INFORMATI ON TO REGISTERED 5 | |
| 106 | + | INDIVIDUALS. 6 | |
| 154 | 107 | ||
| 155 | - | (a) (1) For the purposes of reaching any veteran, [veteran’s] SERVICE 6 | |
| 156 | - | MEMBER, dependent OF A VETERAN OR SERVICE MEMBER, or [veteran’s] survivor OF A 7 | |
| 157 | - | VETERAN OR SERVICE MEMBER in need of assistance in obtaining services or benefits 8 | |
| 158 | - | granted by the law, the director shall develop and implement a communications and 9 | |
| 159 | - | outreach plan. 10 | |
| 108 | + | (B) THE REGISTRY SHALL : 7 | |
| 160 | 109 | ||
| 161 | - | (2) In order to carry out the director’s responsibilities under paragraph (1) 11 | |
| 162 | - | of this subsection, the director may: 12 | |
| 110 | + | (1) ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO REGISTER; 8 | |
| 163 | 111 | ||
| 164 | - | (i) enter into contracts; and 13 | |
| 112 | + | (2) PROVIDE REGISTERED INDIVIDUAL S INFORMATION , INCLUDING 9 | |
| 113 | + | AVAILABLE SERVICES , BENEFITS, AND NEWS THAT IMPACTS VETERANS, SERVICE 10 | |
| 114 | + | MEMBERS, MILITARY FAMILIES , AND OTHER INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS; 11 | |
| 165 | 115 | ||
| 166 | - | (ii) work with governmental units and community –based 14 | |
| 167 | - | organizations, including the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Aging, 15 | |
| 168 | - | faith–based groups, veterans groups, senior centers, adult day care centers, institutions of 16 | |
| 169 | - | higher education, and other entities the director considers appropriate. 17 | |
| 116 | + | (3) ALLOW A REGISTERED INDIVID UAL TO UPDATE THEIR ONLINE 12 | |
| 117 | + | REGISTRY INFORMATION INCLUDING THE INDIVI DUAL’S NAME, E–MAIL ADDRESS , 13 | |
| 118 | + | AND OPTIONAL STATUSES; AND 14 | |
| 170 | 119 | ||
| 171 | - | (b) (1) The director shall develop mechanisms for outreach to be disseminated 18 | |
| 172 | - | by direct mail and through community–based veterans organizations, the Department, the 19 | |
| 173 | - | Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of Health, and any other State 20 | |
| 174 | - | agency or unit the director considers appropriate. 21 | |
| 120 | + | (4) HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO IM PORT SHAREABLE REGIS TRATION 15 | |
| 121 | + | DATA PROVIDED BY OTH ER AUTHORIZED UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT . 16 | |
| 175 | 122 | ||
| 176 | - | ( | |
| 123 | + | (C) THE PROGRAM: 17 | |
| 177 | 124 | ||
| 178 | - | ( | |
| 179 | - | ||
| 125 | + | (1) SHALL REQUIRE AN INDIVIDUA L REGISTERING WITH T HE ONLINE 18 | |
| 126 | + | REGISTRY TO PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL ’S NAME AND EMAIL ADDRE SS; AND 19 | |
| 180 | 127 | ||
| 181 | - | (ii) a regular electronic newsletter; 25 | |
| 128 | + | (2) SHALL REQUEST THAT AN INDI VIDUAL REGISTERING W ITH THE 20 | |
| 129 | + | ONLINE REGISTRY PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONAL STATUS INFORMATION : 21 | |
| 182 | 130 | ||
| 183 | - | (iii) brochures describing various benefits or any other issue or 26 | |
| 184 | - | benefit of interest to veterans, SERVICE MEMBERS , or their dependents; and 27 | |
| 131 | + | (I) WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS A VETERAN; 22 | |
| 185 | 132 | ||
| 186 | - | (iv) other measures the director considers appropriate. 28 | |
| 133 | + | (II) WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS CURRENTLY ON ACTIVE 23 | |
| 134 | + | DUTY; 24 | |
| 187 | 135 | ||
| 188 | - | (c) The Department shall communicate welcome home information to veterans 29 | |
| 189 | - | AND SERVICE MEMBERS returning to the State. 30 | |
| 190 | - | SENATE BILL 309 5 | |
| 136 | + | (III) WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS A MEMBER OF: 25 | |
| 137 | + | ||
| 138 | + | 1. THE UNIFORMED SERVICES ; 26 | |
| 139 | + | ||
| 140 | + | 2. A RESERVE COMPONENT ; OR 27 | |
| 141 | + | 4 SENATE BILL 309 | |
| 191 | 142 | ||
| 192 | 143 | ||
| 193 | - | (d) The Department, in conjunction with the types of community–based 1 | |
| 194 | - | organizations listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section, shall develop communication tools 2 | |
| 195 | - | to assist in identifying veterans, SERVICE MEMBERS , and dependents who may be eligible 3 | |
| 196 | - | for benefits and programs offered by the Department. 4 | |
| 144 | + | 3. THE MARYLAND DEFENSE FORCE; AND 1 | |
| 197 | 145 | ||
| 198 | - | (e) The Program shall: 5 | |
| 146 | + | (IV) IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A VETERAN OR MEM BER AS 2 | |
| 147 | + | DESCRIBED IN ITEM (III) OF THIS ITEM, WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS: 3 | |
| 199 | 148 | ||
| 200 | - | (1) manage the Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program and Fund 6 | |
| 201 | - | established under Part VIII of this subtitle; 7 | |
| 149 | + | 1. A SPOUSE OF A MEMBER OR VETER AN; 4 | |
| 202 | 150 | ||
| 203 | - | (2) coordinate the responsibilities of veterans’ services specialists 8 | |
| 204 | - | designated under § 9–944 of this subtitle; and 9 | |
| 151 | + | 2. A DEPENDENT CHILD OF A MEMBER OR VETER AN; OR 5 | |
| 205 | 152 | ||
| 206 | - | (3) manage Department media relations, web content, social media, 10 | |
| 207 | - | internal and external communications, customer service training, and intergovernmental 11 | |
| 208 | - | relations. 12 | |
| 153 | + | 3. ANY OTHER INTERESTED IND IVIDUAL. 6 | |
| 209 | 154 | ||
| 210 | - | (f) The director shall serve, as necessary, as the Secretary’s designee to 13 | |
| 211 | - | appropriate commissions, workgroups, and councils. 14 | |
| 155 | + | 9–946. 7 | |
| 212 | 156 | ||
| 213 | - | 9–945. 15 | |
| 157 | + | The Secretary shall submit a report by December 31 of each year to the Governor 8 | |
| 158 | + | and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the General Assembly, that includes: 9 | |
| 214 | 159 | ||
| 215 | - | (A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE PROGRAM SHALL ESTABLI SH 16 | |
| 216 | - | AND MAINTAIN AN ONLI NE REGISTRY TO PROVI DE INFORMATION TO RE GISTERED 17 | |
| 217 | - | INDIVIDUALS. 18 | |
| 160 | + | (7) the status of federal veterans programs as they relate to Maryland 10 | |
| 161 | + | veterans; [and] 11 | |
| 218 | 162 | ||
| 219 | - | ( | |
| 163 | + | (8) A REPORT ON THE ONLI NE REGISTRY INCLUDIN G: 12 | |
| 220 | 164 | ||
| 221 | - | ( | |
| 165 | + | (I) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE R EGISTRY; 13 | |
| 222 | 166 | ||
| 223 | - | (2) PROVIDE REGISTERED I NDIVIDUALS INFORMATI ON, INCLUDING 21 | |
| 224 | - | AVAILABLE SERVICES , BENEFITS, AND NEWS THAT IMPACT S VETERANS, SERVICE 22 | |
| 225 | - | MEMBERS, MILITARY FAMILIES , AND OTHER INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS; 23 | |
| 167 | + | (II) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS ON THE REGISTR Y LISTED BY 14 | |
| 168 | + | STATUSES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH AN UNDECLARED STATUS ; 15 | |
| 226 | 169 | ||
| 227 | - | (3) ALLOW A REGISTERED I NDIVIDUAL TO UPDATE THEIR ONLI NE 24 | |
| 228 | - | REGISTRY INFORMATION INCLUDING THE INDIVI DUAL’S NAME, E–MAIL ADDRESS , 25 | |
| 229 | - | AND OPTIONAL STATUSE S; AND 26 | |
| 170 | + | (III) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS ADDED TO THE R EGISTRY IN 16 | |
| 171 | + | THE PREVIOUS YEAR; AND 17 | |
| 230 | 172 | ||
| 231 | - | ( | |
| 232 | - | ||
| 173 | + | (IV) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT UNS UBSCRIBED OR 18 | |
| 174 | + | WERE REMOVED FROM TH E REGISTRY IN THE P REVIOUS YEAR; AND 19 | |
| 233 | 175 | ||
| 234 | - | (C) THE PROGRAM: 29 | |
| 176 | + | [(8)] (9) any other issues concerning veterans that the Secretary 20 | |
| 177 | + | considers appropriate. 21 | |
| 235 | 178 | ||
| 236 | - | (1) SHALL REQUIRE AN IND IVIDUAL REGISTERING WITH THE ONLINE 30 | |
| 237 | - | REGISTRY TO PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL ’S NAME AND EMAIL ADD RESS; AND 31 6 SENATE BILL 309 | |
| 238 | - | ||
| 239 | - | ||
| 240 | - | ||
| 241 | - | (2) SHALL REQUEST THAT A N INDIVIDUAL REGISTE RING WITH THE 1 | |
| 242 | - | ONLINE REGISTRY PROV IDE THE FOLLOWING OP TIONAL STATUS INFORMATION : 2 | |
| 243 | - | ||
| 244 | - | (I) WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS A VETERAN; 3 | |
| 245 | - | ||
| 246 | - | (II) WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS CURRENTLY ON A CTIVE 4 | |
| 247 | - | DUTY; 5 | |
| 248 | - | ||
| 249 | - | (III) WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS A MEMBER OF : 6 | |
| 250 | - | ||
| 251 | - | 1. THE UNIFORMED SERVIC ES; 7 | |
| 252 | - | ||
| 253 | - | 2. A RESERVE COMPONENT ; OR 8 | |
| 254 | - | ||
| 255 | - | 3. THE MARYLAND DEFENSE FORCE; AND 9 | |
| 256 | - | ||
| 257 | - | (IV) IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A VETERAN OR MEM BER AS 10 | |
| 258 | - | DESCRIBED IN ITEM (III) OF THIS ITEM, WHETHER THE INDIVIDU AL IS: 11 | |
| 259 | - | ||
| 260 | - | 1. A SPOUSE OF A MEMBER OR VETERAN; 12 | |
| 261 | - | ||
| 262 | - | 2. A DEPENDENT CHILD OF A MEMBER OR VETERAN ; OR 13 | |
| 263 | - | ||
| 264 | - | 3. ANY OTHER INTERESTED INDIVIDUA L. 14 | |
| 265 | - | ||
| 266 | - | 9–946. 15 | |
| 267 | - | ||
| 268 | - | The Secretary shall submit a report by December 31 of each year to the Governor 16 | |
| 269 | - | and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the General Assembly, that includes: 17 | |
| 270 | - | ||
| 271 | - | (7) the status of federal veterans programs as they relate to Maryland 18 | |
| 272 | - | veterans; [and] 19 | |
| 273 | - | ||
| 274 | - | (8) A REPORT ON THE ONLI NE REGISTRY INCLUDIN G: 20 | |
| 275 | - | ||
| 276 | - | (I) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE R EGISTRY; 21 | |
| 277 | - | ||
| 278 | - | (II) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS ON THE REGISTR Y LISTED BY 22 | |
| 279 | - | STATUSES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH AN UNDECLARED STATUS ; 23 | |
| 280 | - | ||
| 281 | - | (III) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS ADDED TO THE R EGISTRY IN 24 | |
| 282 | - | THE PREVIOUS YEAR ; AND 25 | |
| 283 | - | SENATE BILL 309 7 | |
| 284 | - | ||
| 285 | - | ||
| 286 | - | (IV) THE NUMBER OF INDIVI DUALS THAT UNSUBSCRI BED OR 1 | |
| 287 | - | WERE REMOVED FROM TH E REGISTRY IN THE PR EVIOUS YEAR; AND 2 | |
| 288 | - | ||
| 289 | - | (8) A GENERAL ASSESSMENT O F COMMUNICATION METH ODS 3 | |
| 290 | - | UTILIZED IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY 4 | |
| 291 | - | PROGRAM; AND 5 | |
| 292 | - | ||
| 293 | - | [(8)] (9) any other issues concerning veterans that the Secretary 6 | |
| 294 | - | considers appropriate. 7 | |
| 295 | - | ||
| 296 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8 | |
| 297 | - | October 1, 2025. 9 | |
| 298 | - | ||
| 299 | - | ||
| 300 | - | ||
| 301 | - | ||
| 302 | - | Approved: | |
| 303 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 304 | - | Governor. | |
| 305 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 306 | - | President of the Senate. | |
| 307 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 308 | - | Speaker of the House of Delegates. | |
| 179 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 22 | |
| 180 | + | October 1, 2025. 23 |