EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0511*
SENATE BILL 511
F2 5lr2612
HB 771/24 – APP CF 5lr2615
By: Senator Henson
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Senior Higher Education Institutions – Pregnant and Parenting 2
Students – Plan Requirements 3
(Pregnant and Parenting Student Support Act ) 4
FOR the purpose of requiring certain public senior higher education institutions to adopt a 5
plan regarding pregnant and parenting students using certain guidelines; requiring 6
each public senior higher education institution to post the plan on the institution’s 7
website; and generally relating to pregnant and parenting students and certain 8
public senior higher education institutions. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Education 11
Section 15–140 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Education 17
15–140. 18
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 19
INDICATED. 20
(2) “PREGNANT AND PARENTIN G STUDENT ” MEANS A STUDENT 21
ENROLLED AT A PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDU CATION INSTITUTION W HO: 22
(I) IS PREGNANT; OR 23 2 SENATE BILL 511
(II) EXERCISES CARE , CUSTODY, OR CONTROL OVER A CH ILD. 1
(3) (I) “PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N” 2
MEANS: 3
1. THE CONSTITUENT INSTI TUTIONS OF THE 4
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND; 5
2. MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; AND 6
3. ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND. 7
(II) “PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N” DOES 8
NOT INCLUDE: 9
1. THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR 10
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES; 11
2. THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS; 12
OR 13
3. THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE. 14
(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT A LL STUDENTS AT AN 15
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION IN THE STATE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR 16
GENDER, SHALL ENJOY FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING 17
PREGNANCY DISCRIMI NATION AS DESCRIBED IN TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION 18
AMENDMENTS OF 1972. 19
(C) (1) EACH PUBLIC SENIOR HI GHER EDUCATION INSTI TUTION SHALL 20
ADOPT A PLAN REGARDING PREGNANT A ND PARENTING STUDENT S THAT IS 21
CONSISTENT WITH TITLE IX OF THE FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT. 22
(2) THE PLAN REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS 23
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE: 24
(I) REFERRAL TO ON –CAMPUS OR OFF –CAMPUS SERVICES TO 25
ASSIST REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF OR E LIGIBILITY FOR GOVER NMENT 26
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS , INCLUDING: 27
1. THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 28
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN; 29
SENATE BILL 511 3
2. THE CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; 1
3. THE MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; 2
4. THE MARYLAND CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE 3
PROGRAM; AND 4
5. ANY OTHER PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIPS , OR 5
SUBSIDIES FOR PREGNA NT AND PARENTING STU DENTS; 6
(II) THE PROVISION OF INFO RMATION ABOUT OR REF ERRALS 7
TO RESOURCES REGARDI NG ADOPTION SERVICES ; 8
(III) THE AVAILABILITY OF I NSTITUTIONAL ACCOMMO DATIONS 9
FOR PREGNANT AND PAR ENTING STUDENTS , INCLUDING PRIORITY C LASS 10
REGISTRATION AND FLE XIBLE SCHEDULING OPT IONS; AND 11
(IV) A REFERRAL NETWORK OF ON–CAMPUS AND OFF –CAMPUS 12
HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS. 13
(D) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2026, EACH PUBLIC SENIOR H IGHER 14
EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N SHALL POST THE PLA N ADOPTED UNDER SUBSEC TION (C) 15
OF THIS SECTION ON T HE INSTITUTION’S WEBSITE. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2025. 18