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.
*sb0358*
SENATE BILL 358
F5 5lr1702
CF HB 678
By: Senator King
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Reassigned: Budget and Taxation, January 20, 2025
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 7, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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 2 SENATE BILL 358
(b) The Deaf Culture Digital Library shall: 1
(1) Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in library services for deaf 2
patrons and to implement strategies to fill the gaps and better coordinate library services 3
for the deaf; 4
(2) In coordination with the Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of 5
Hearing, develop and provide sensitivity training for State and county library staff to help 6
them better understand deaf patrons and their needs; 7
(3) Develop a website that will allow for information sharing and 8
coordination between the Deaf Culture Digital Library and county library systems; 9
(4) In coordination with the State Library Agency, develop deaf–related 10
programs and materials and share them with county library systems and other libraries in 11
the State; 12
(5) Develop partnerships and strategic alliances with other entities, 13
including: 14
(i) The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; 15
(ii) County library systems; 16
(iii) The State Library Agency; 17
(iv) Veterans’ groups; 18
(v) State and local arts councils; 19
(vi) Senior citizens organizations; and 20
(vii) Deaf and hard of hearing organizations, including: 21
1. The National Association of the Deaf; 22
2. The Hearing Loss Association of America; and 23
3. The Maryland Association of the Deaf; 24
(6) Encourage partnerships and collaborations with information service 25
providers to help provide virtual access to information and research; 26
(7) Form a Deaf Culture Digital Library Advisory Board to provide advice 27
on initiatives that further advance the mission and goals of the Deaf Culture Digital 28 SENATE BILL 358 3
Library and the majority of whose members are deaf or hard of hearing and selected from 1
the following entities: 2
(i) County library systems; 3
(ii) The State Library Agency; 4
(iii) The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; 5
(iv) Statewide deaf and hard of hearing organizations; and 6
(v) Other organizations as agreed on by the Governor’s Office of the 7
Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the State Library Agency; and 8
(8) Establish a Deaf Culture Digital Library “Friends of the Library” group 9
composed of individuals who are strongly committed, well–positioned, and able to promote 10
community involvement, advocacy, and funding for the Deaf Culture Digital Library. 11
(c) The lead employee or coordinator who manages the Deaf Culture Digital 12
Library shall be: 13
(1) A deaf or hard of hearing individual; and 14
(2) Knowledgeable and experienced concerning issues affecting deaf and 15
hard of hearing individuals. 16
(D) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , THE 17
GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION OF 18
$450,000 TO THE DEAF CULTURE DIGITAL LIBRARY. 19
(E) THE DEAF CULTURE DIGITAL LIBRARY SHALL SUBMIT ITS ANNUAL 20
OPERATING BUDGET TO THE STATE LIBRARY AGENCY ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1 EACH 21
YEAR. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
1, 2025. 24