EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 358
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By: Senator King
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library – Funding and Budget Submission 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an 3
appropriation to the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library; requiring the Deaf 4
Culture Digital Library to submit its annual operating budget to the State Library 5
Agency on or before a certain date each year; and generally relating to the Maryland 6
Deaf Culture Digital Library. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Education 9
Section 23–109 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
23–109. 16
(a) The State Library Agency shall establish the Deaf Culture Digital Library as 17
the primary information center on deaf resources for library customers and staff in the 18
State. 19
(b) The Deaf Culture Digital Library shall: 20
(1) Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in library services for deaf 21
patrons and to implement strategies to fill the gaps and better coordinate library services 22
for the deaf; 23
2 SENATE BILL 358
(2) In coordination with the Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of 1
Hearing, develop and provide sensitivity training for State and county library staff to help 2
them better understand deaf patrons and their needs; 3
(3) Develop a website that will allow for information sharing and 4
coordination between the Deaf Culture Digital Library and county library systems; 5
(4) In coordination with the State Library Agency, develop deaf–related 6
programs and materials and share them with county library systems and other libraries in 7
the State; 8
(5) Develop partnerships and strategic alliances with other entities, 9
including: 10
(i) The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; 11
(ii) County library systems; 12
(iii) The State Library Agency; 13
(iv) Veterans’ groups; 14
(v) State and local arts councils; 15
(vi) Senior citizens organizations; and 16
(vii) Deaf and hard of hearing organizations, including: 17
1. The National Association of the Deaf; 18
2. The Hearing Loss Association of America; and 19
3. The Maryland Association of the Deaf; 20
(6) Encourage partnerships and collaborations with information service 21
providers to help provide virtual access to information and research; 22
(7) Form a Deaf Culture Digital Library Advisory Board to provide advice 23
on initiatives that further advance the mission and goals of the Deaf Culture Digital 24
Library and the majority of whose members are deaf or hard of hearing and selected from 25
the following entities: 26
(i) County library systems; 27
(ii) The State Library Agency; 28
(iii) The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; 29 SENATE BILL 358 3
(iv) Statewide deaf and hard of hearing organizations; and 1
(v) Other organizations as agreed on by the Governor’s Office of the 2
Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the State Library Agency; and 3
(8) Establish a Deaf Culture Digital Library “Friends of the Library” group 4
composed of individuals who are strongly committed, well–positioned, and able to promote 5
community involvement, advocacy, and funding for the Deaf Culture Digital Library. 6
(c) The lead employee or coordinator who manages the Deaf Culture Digital 7
Library shall be: 8
(1) A deaf or hard of hearing individual; and 9
(2) Knowledgeable and experienced concerning issues affecting deaf and 10
hard of hearing individuals. 11
(D) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , THE 12
GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION OF 13
$450,000 TO THE DEAF CULTURE DIGITAL LIBRARY. 14
(E) THE DEAF CULTURE DIGITAL LIBRARY SHALL SUBMIT ITS ANNUAL 15
OPERATING BUDGET TO THE STATE LIBRARY AGENCY ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1 EACH 16
YEAR. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2025. 19