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*hb0809*
HOUSE BILL 809
F2 (6lr1640)
ENROLLED BILL
— Appropriations/Budget and Taxation —
Introduced by Delegate Rosenberg
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program – Funding 2
FOR the purpose of specifying the intern fellowships that exist in the Walter Sondheim Jr. 3
Public Service Internship Scholarship Program; increasing the maximum 4
scholarship award amount under the Program; requiring the Governor to include in 5
the annual budget bill an appropriation for the Program that is at least a certain 6
percentage of the appropriation provided in a prior fiscal year; and generally relating 7
to the Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Education 10
Section 18–1702 and 18–1704 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
2 HOUSE BILL 809
Preamble 1
WHEREAS, Governor Wes Moore has made commit ment to public service a 2
preeminent issue of his administration by establishing the Maryland Department of 3
Service and Civic Innovation, launching the service year option for high school graduates, 4
and expanding on the promise of Maryland Corps; and 5
WHEREAS, Governor Wes Moore has continued to build on his work by allocating 6
over $50 million in both the fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026 budget bills to provide 7
public service in the State, including securing federal funding; and 8
WHEREAS, This is vital work that the State must build on to ensure a new 9
generation grows up to serve our State and its people; now, therefore, 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Education 13
18–1702. 14
(a) (1) There is a scholarship program known as the Walter Sondheim Jr. 15
Public Service Internship Scholarship Program in the State. 16
(2) THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A T LEAST THE FOLLOWIN G PUBLIC 17
SERVICE INTERN FELLOWSHIPS: 18
(I) THE GOVERNOR’S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; 19
(II) THE SONDHEIM MARYLAND NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP 20
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; AND 21
(III) THE SONDHEIM PUBLIC SERVICE LAW FELLOWS 22
PROGRAM. 23
(b) The purpose of the Program is to assist college and graduate students to 24
explore public service career opportunities through internships. 25
(c) The Shriver Center shall administer the Program. 26
(d) An institution of higher education in the State may nominate eligible students 27
to participate in the Program on or before: 28
(1) January 1 of each year for summer and fall internships; and 29
(2) October 1 of each year for spring internships. 30
HOUSE BILL 809 3
(e) Priority for participation in the Program shall be given to an eligible student 1
who: 2
(1) Is a resident of the State; 3
(2) Has demonstrated an interest in a career in public service; and 4
(3) Assists in providing: 5
(i) Legal services: 6
1. To low–income residents in the State who cannot afford 7
legal services; or 8
2. In a public service position; 9
(ii) Social work services to low–income residents in the State; 10
(iii) Nursing services in nursing shortage areas in the State as 11
defined in § 18–802 of this title; or 12
(iv) Other services in the public or nonprofit sectors in which there is 13
a shortage of qualified practitioners to low–income or underserved residents or areas of the 14
State. 15
(f) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, for eligible students who 16
have agreed to serve in a public service internship, the Shriver Center shall award 17
scholarships on or before: 18
(i) January 15 of each year for spring internships; 19
(ii) May 1 of each year for summer internships; and 20
(iii) August 1 of each year for fall internships. 21
(2) Funds for the scholarships awarded under this subtitle shall be as 22
provided in the State budget. 23
(g) Subject to the availability of funds, the scholarship award under the Program 24
shall be at least $2,000 and no more than $5,000 $6,000. 25
(h) The Shriver Center shall serve as a clearinghouse for public and nonprofit 26
entities that wish to hire public service interns participating in the Program. 27
18–1704. 28
4 HOUSE BILL 809
(a) (1) Funds for the Program [may] SHALL be provided on an annual basis in 1
the State budget IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION. 2
(2) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2028, THE GOVERNOR SHALL 3
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APP ROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM 4
THAT IS AT LEAST 150% 125% OF THE APPROPRIATION PROVIDED IN FISCAL YEAR 5
2026. 6
(3) THE APPROPRIATION SHA LL INCLUDE FUNDING F OR THE 7
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY THAT IS AT LEAST 150% 125% OF 8
THE FUNDING PROVIDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 FOR: 9
(I) THE GOVERNOR’S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; 10
(II) THE SONDHEIM MARYLAND NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP 11
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; AND 12
(III) THE SONDHEIM PUBLIC SERVICE LAW FELLOWS 13
PROGRAM. 14
(b) The Governor may provide funding in the State budget to the Shriver Center 15
to administer the Program. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2026. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.