EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0451*
SENATE BILL 451
F1 5lr1909
CF HB 325
By: Senator King
Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Adult Education – High School Diploma by Examination – Requirements and 2
Study 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to allow an individual to 4
take all components of the General Educational Development Test in the language 5
of their choice; requiring the Department to submit a certain report to certain 6
committees of the General Assembly on or before a certain date; and generally 7
relating to examination requirements for a high school diploma by examination. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Labor and Employment 10
Section 11–808(a), (b), and (d) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Labor and Employment 15
Section 11–808(c) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Labor and Employment 21
11–808. 22
(a) An individual may obtain a high school diploma by examination as provided 23
in this section if the individual: 24
2 SENATE BILL 451
(1) has not obtained a high school diploma; 1
(2) resides in this State; and 2
(3) except as provided in subsection (b) of this section: 3
(i) is not subject to compulsory school attendance under § 7–301 of 4
the Education Article; and 5
(ii) has withdrawn from a regular full–time public or private school 6
program. 7
(b) An individual is not subject to the requirements of subsection (a)(3) of this 8
section if the individual participates in a GED Option Program administered by the State 9
Department of Education that creates a pathway to a high school diploma by examination 10
for currently enrolled high school English language learner students under the age of 21 11
years who have experienced interrupted education and have a lower level of English 12
proficiency than their peers. 13
(c) The Department shall: 14
(1) offer examinations to individuals who are pursuing a high school 15
diploma under this subtitle at least twice each year at places throughout the State that are 16
reasonably convenient for the applicants; AND 17
(2) ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO TAKE ALL COMPONEN TS OF THE 18
EXAMINATION IN THE L ANGUAGE OF THEIR CHO ICE. 19
(d) The examination shall: 20
(1) be offered in appropriate high school subject areas; and 21
(2) be of a comprehensive nature as determined by the State Board of 22
Education. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 24
(a) The Maryland Department of Labor shall: 25
(1) identify other appropriate languages in which to offer the General 26
Educational Development Test for adult learners in the State; and 27
(2) study the feasibility and cost of offering the examination in additional 28
languages. 29
(b) On or before December 1, 2026, the Department shall submit, in accordance 30
with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, a report of its findings and 31 SENATE BILL 451 3
recommendations from the study required under this section to the Senate Finance 1
Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. 2
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 3
October 1, 2025. 4