Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB524 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0524
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 524
8	8	F2 5lr1237
9	9
10	10	By: Senators Charles, Muse, Ellis, and Ready
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
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18	18	Higher Education – Religious Educational Institutions – Certificate of Approval 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of exempting certain religious educational institutions accredited by 3
21	21	certain accrediting bodies from the requirement to obtain a certificate of approval 4
22	22	from the Maryland Higher Education Commission to operate in the State; and 5
23	23	generally relating to religious educational institutions and a certificate of approval. 6
24	24
25	25	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
26	26	Article – Education 8
27	27	Section 10–101(a) and (c) 9
28	28	Annotated Code of Maryland 10
29	29	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
30	30
31	31	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
32	32	Article – Education 13
33	33	Section 11–202.1(b) 14
34	34	Annotated Code of Maryland 15
35	35	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
36	36
37	37	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
38	38	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
39	39
40	40	Article – Education 19
41	41
42	42	10–101. 20
43	43
44	44	(a) In this division the following words have the meanings indicated. 21
45	45
46	46	(c) “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission. 22
47	47
48	48	11–202.1. 23 2 SENATE BILL 524
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	(b) (1) Subject to the requirements imposed by this section, and except as 1
53	53	prohibited in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a religious educational institution may 2
54	54	operate without a certificate of approval from the Commission and may enroll Maryland 3
55	55	students in a fully online distance education program in the State without a registration 4
56	56	from the Commission if the institution: 5
57	57
58	58	(i) Is established for religious educational purposes; 6
59	59
60	60	(ii) Provides educational programs only for religious vocations or 7
61	61	purposes; 8
62	62
63	63	(iii) Offers only sectarian instruction designed for and aimed at 9
64	64	individuals who hold or seek to learn the particular religious faiths or beliefs taught by the 10
65	65	institution; and 11
66	66
67	67	(iv) States on the certificate or diploma the religious nature of the 12
68	68	award. 13
69	69
70	70	(2) (I) THIS PARAGRAPH DOES N OT APPLY TO A RELIGI OUS 14
71	71	EDUCATIONAL INSTITUT ION THAT WAS ESTABLI SHED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013. 15
72	72
73	73	(II) A religious educational institution that is accredited by an 16
74	74	accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education may not operate 17
75	75	without a certificate of approval from the Commission. 18
76	76
77	77	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTE D, That this Act shall take effect July 19
78	78	1, 2025. 20