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.
*sb0511*
SENATE BILL 511
F2 5lr2612
HB 771/24 – APP CF HB 840
By: Senator Henson
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 16, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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 SENATE BILL 511
(2) “PREGNANT AND PARENTIN G STUDENT ” MEANS A STUDENT 1
ENROLLED AT A PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCAT ION INSTITUTION WHO : 2
(I) IS PREGNANT; OR 3
(II) EXERCISES CARE , CUSTODY, OR CONTROL OVER A CH ILD. 4
(3) (I) “PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION ” 5
MEANS: 6
1. THE CONSTITUENT INSTI TUTIONS OF THE 7
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND; 8
2. MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; AND 9
3. ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND. 10
(II) “PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N” DOES 11
NOT INCLUDE: 12
1. THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR 13
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES; 14
2. THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS; 15
OR 16
3. THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE. 17
(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT A LL STUDENTS AT AN 18
INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION IN THE STATE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR 19
GENDER, SHALL ENJOY FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING 20
PREGNANCY DISCRIMINA TION AS DESCRIBED IN TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION 21
AMENDMENTS OF 1972. 22
(C) (1) EACH PUBLIC SENIOR HI GHER EDUCATION INSTI TUTION SHALL 23
ADOPT A PLAN REGARDING PREGNANT A ND PARENTING STUDENT S THAT IS 24
CONSISTENT WITH TITLE IX OF THE FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT. 25
(2) THE PLAN REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS 26
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE: 27
SENATE BILL 511 3
(I) REFERRAL TO ON –CAMPUS OR OFF –CAMPUS SERVICES TO 1
ASSIST REGARDING THE AV AILABILITY OF OR ELI GIBILITY FOR GOVERNM ENT 2
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS , INCLUDING: 3
1. THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 4
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN; 5
2. THE CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; 6
3. THE MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; 7
4. THE MARYLAND CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE 8
PROGRAM; AND 9
5. ANY OTHER PROGRAMS , SCHOLARSHIPS , OR 10
SUBSIDIES FOR PREGNA NT AND PARENTING STU DENTS; 11
(II) THE PROVISION OF INFO RMATION ABOUT OR REF ERRALS 12
TO RESOURCES REG ARDING ADOPTION SERV ICES; 13
(III) THE AVAILABILITY OF I NSTITUTIONAL ACCOMMO DATIONS 14
FOR PREGNANT AND PAR ENTING STUDENTS , INCLUDING PRIORITY C LASS 15
REGISTRATION AND FLE XIBLE SCHEDULING OPT IONS; AND 16
(IV) A REFERRAL NETWORK OF ON–CAMPUS AND OFF –CAMPUS 17
HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS. 18
(D) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2026, EACH PUBLIC SENIOR H IGHER 19
EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N SHALL POST THE PLA N ADOPTED UNDER SUBSEC TION (C) 20
OF THIS SECTION ON T HE INSTITUTION’S WEBSITE. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2025. 23
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.