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*sb0198*
SENATE BILL 198
F4 6lr1431
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator A. Washington Senators A. Washington, Augustine, Charles, Harris,
Rosapepe, and Watson
Requested: October 29, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Prince George’s Community College – Aerospace Technology Studies Program 2
and Aviation Systems Technology Programs – Feasibility Study 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Board of Community College Trustees for Prince George’s 4
County, in consultation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the 5
Department of Commerce, and the Prince George’s County Economic Development 6
Corporation, to establish an Aerospace Technology Studies Program at Prince 7
George’s Community College , i n consultation with certain entities, to complete a 8
certain feasibility study and program design assessment for aerospace and aviation 9
systems technology workforce training programs ; and generally relating to Prince 10
George’s Community College. 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Education 13
Section 16–420 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Education 19
2 SENATE BILL 198
16–420. 1
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 2
INDICATED. 3
(2) “BOARD” MEANS THE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE 4
TRUSTEES FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY. 5
(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY STUDIES 6
PROGRAM. 7
(B) THE BOARD, IN CONSULTA TION WITH THE COMMISSION, THE 8
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AND THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY ECONOMIC 9
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, SHALL ESTABLISH AN AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY 10
STUDIES PROGRAM. 11
(C) (1) THE BOARD, IN CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS, SHALL 12
DEVELOP THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM TO INCLUDE: 13
(I) AEROSPACE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY; 14
(II) AVIONICS AND ELECTRONICS; 15
(III) ADVANCED MANUFACTURING; AND 16
(IV) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AEROSPACE. 17
(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE: 18
(I) WORKFORCE–BASED LEARNING, INCLUDING INTERNSHIPS 19
AND APPRENTICESHIPS; AND 20
(II) A PATHWAY FROM HIGH SC HOOL TO COLLEGE AND 21
CAREERS FOR INDIVIDU ALS WITH AN INTEREST IN PURSUING A CAREER IN 22
AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY. 23
(D) THE BOARD SHALL ENTER INT O MEMORANDA OF UNDER STANDING TO 24
ESTABLISH FORMAL IND USTRY PARTNERSHIPS W ITH AT LEAST ONE AER OSPACE 25
AND TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYER IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY. 26
(E) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRAM AT PRINCE GEORGE’S 27
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS S UBJECT TO PROGRAM AP PROVAL BY THE COMMISSION 28
UNDER TITLE 11, SUBTITLE 2 OF THIS ARTICLE. 29
SENATE BILL 198 3
(F) (1) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 2026, AND EACH DECEMBER 15 1
THEREAFTER UNTIL THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESTA BLISHED, THE BOARD SHALL 2
SUBMIT A REPORT TO T HE COMMISSION, THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY 3
EXECUTIVE, THE MARYLAND AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION, AND, IN 4
ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL 5
ASSEMBLY ON THE STATUS OF ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM. 6
(2) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1 OF EACH YEAR A FTER THE 7
PROGRAM’S ESTABLISHMENT , THE BOARD SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE 8
COMMISSION, THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE MARYLAND 9
AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION, AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF 10
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON INDUSTRY 11
PLACEMENT AND OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM IN THE IMMEDI ATELY PRECEDING 12
ACADEMIC YEAR. 13
(a) Prince George’s Community College shall conduct a comprehensive feasibility 14
study and program design assessment to establish an aerospace systems technology 15
workforce training program and an aviation systems technology workforce training 16
program. 17
(b) The study shall include an examination of: 18
(1) the workforce demand for aerospace manufacturing, aerospace systems 19
technology, and aviation systems technology regionally and statewide; 20
(2) the current and projected needs of private sector employers engaged in 21
aerospace, aviation, engineering, defense, and advanced manufacturing in Prince George’s 22
County and the State; 23
(3) the appropriate associate degree, credit certificate, and noncredit 24
workforce credential structures that are aligned with high –value industry degrees, 25
certificates, and credentials; 26
(4) opportunities for stackable credentials that are eligible for federal or 27
State financial aid; 28
(5) the facilities, laboratories, simulators, equipment, and infrastructure 29
that are required to deliver the programs; 30
(6) faculty and instructor credential and certification requirements, 31
including recruitment and workforce development needs; 32
(7) apprenticeship, internship, and other work –based learning 33
opportunities with private sector employers; 34
4 SENATE BILL 198
(8) start–up costs, operating costs, and any long –term sustainability 1
considerations; and 2
(9) the recommended sequencing for program implementation. 3
(c) In conducting the study, Prince George’s Community College shall consult 4
with: 5
(1) private sector employers in aerospace, aviation, engineering, defense, 6
and advanced manufacturing; 7
(2) the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Comm ission under the 8
Department of Commerce; 9
(3) State and regional workforce development entities; 10
(4) the Maryland Department of Labor; and 11
(5) other economic development or industry stakeholders, as appropriate. 12
(d) The study shall include structured industry engagement, including employer 13
roundtables, workforce charrettes, and demand –validation sessions to ensure alignment 14
with current and projected labor markets. 15
(e) On or before December 1, 2027, Prince George’s Community College shall 16
report to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and the House 17
Ways and Means Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, 18
on: 19
(1) the findings of the workforce demand analysis; 20
(2) recommended models for degree, certificate, and noncredit workforce 21
credential programs; 22
(3) the investments that would be required for facilities, laboratories, 23
simulators, equipment, and infrastructure; 24
(4) faculty and staff plans; 25
(5) potential industry partnerships; 26
(6) a proposed implementation timeline; and 27
(7) a funding and sustainability plan. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, for fiscal year 2028, the 29
Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $100,000 to Prince 30
SENATE BILL 198 5
George’s Community College to complete the feasibility study and program design 1
assessment required under Section 1 of this Act, including for industry workforce analysis, 2
technical program design consulting, employer engagement, curriculum framework 3
development, and planning for facilities, laboratories, simulators, equipment, and 4
infrastructure investment. 5
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
July 1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 7
2028, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated 8
and of no further force and effect. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.