Maryland Positive Youth Development Commission and Fund – Establishment

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0977*

SENATE BILL 977
F5 6lr3606
CF HB 1278
By: Senator Harris
Introduced and read first time: February 14, 2026
Assigned to: Rules

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Maryland Positive Youth Development Commission and Fund – Establishment 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Positive Youth Development Commission in 3
the State Department of Education to make grant awards to certain eligible 4
organizations that provide positive youth development programming to certain 5
youth; establishing the Maryland Positive Youth Development Fund as a special, 6
nonlapsing fund; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; 7
and generally relating to the establishment of the Maryland Positive Youth 8
Development Commission and the Maryland Positive Youth Development Fund. 9

BY adding to 10
Article – Education 11
Section 7–455 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 15
Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
Article – State Finance and Procurement 21
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 24

BY adding to 25
Article – State Finance and Procurement 26
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 27
2 SENATE BILL 977

Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 2

Preamble 3

WHEREAS, The General Assembly of Maryland finds that the health, safety, and 4
well–being of Maryland’s children and young adults is essential to the long –term social, 5
educational, and economic success of the State; and 6

WHEREAS, A growing body of research demonstrates that excessive and 7
unregulated social media use is associated with increased risk to youth mental health, 8
social isolation, anxiety, depression, and disrupted development; and 9

WHEREAS, The State is currently engaged in litigation seeking restitution from 10
social media companies to address harms caused to children and young adults; and 11

WHEREAS, Afterschool programs, summer learning programs, mentoring 12
programs, and other community –based yo uth development initiatives provide 13
evidence–based opportunities for children and young adults to build positive peer and adult 14
relationships, engage in meaningful learning, participate in physical activity, and develop 15
critical social and emotional skills; and 16

WHEREAS, These programs offer safe, developmentally appropriate alternatives to 17
excessive screen time and help disrupt negative cycles of social media dependency by 18
fostering connection, belonging, and real–world engagement; and 19

WHEREAS, The State currently lacks a dedicated, sustainable funding mechanism 20
to support positive youth development programs operating outside of traditional school 21
hours, despite the demonstrated need for and impact of these programs; and 22

WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a Maryland Positive 23
Youth Development Fund to leverage legal settlement proceeds and other revenue sources 24
to prevent harm, promote youth well –being, and expand access to high –quality, 25
community–based youth development opportunities across the State; now, therefore, 26

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 27
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 28

Article – Education 29

7–455. 30

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 31
INDICATED. 32

(2) “COMMISSION” MEANS THE MARYLAND POSITIVE YOUTH 33
SENATE BILL 977 3

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 1

(3) “ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATION S” MEANS COMMUNITY –BASED 2
ORGANIZATIONS, STATEWIDE YOUTH –SERVING ORGANIZATION S, LOCAL 3
GOVERNMENTS, AND SCHOOLS DELIVERING YOUTH PROGRAMS OUTSIDE REGULAR 4
SCHOOL HOURS. 5

(4) “FUND” MEANS THE MARYLAND POSITIVE YOUTH 6
DEVELOPMENT FUND. 7

(5) “POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELO PMENT PROGRAMMING ” MEANS 8
STRUCTURED, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES THAT: 9

(I) ARE GROUNDED IN EVIDE NCE–BASED OR 10
EVIDENCE–INFORMED PRACTICES; 11

(II) INCLUDE CONSISTENT , ENGAGED ADULT MENTOR S OR 12
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS; 13

(III) ARE PROVIDED BEFORE S CHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, DURING 14
SUMMER, OR AT OTHER TIMES OUTSIDE REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS; AND 15

(IV) INCLUDE PROG RAMMING DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FAMILY 16
ENGAGEMENT. 17

(6) “YOUTH” MEANS INDIVIDUALS FROM BIRTH THROUGH 25 YEARS. 18

(B) (1) THERE IS A MARYLAND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 19
COMMISSION IN THE DEPARTMENT. 20

(2) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS: 21

(I) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, OR THE 22
SUPERINTENDENT’S DESIGNEE; 23

(II) FOUR MEMBERS, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WHO: 24

1. ARE AT LEAST 14 YEARS OLD AND UNDER THE AGE OF 25
25 YEARS AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT; 26

2. COLLECTIVELY REFLECT THE GEOGRAPHIC, RACIAL, 27
AND SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF THE STATE; AND 28

4 SENATE BILL 977

3. HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OR HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY 1
COMMUNITY–BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS; 2

(III) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A PARENT OF A YOUTH WHO RESIDES 3
IN A RURAL JURISDICTION, APPOINTED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT; 4

(IV) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A PARENT OF A YOUTH WHO RESIDES 5
IN AN URBAN JURISDICTION, APPOINTED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT; 6

(V) ONE MEMBER , APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE 7
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN; 8

(VI) ONE MEMBER, APPOINTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; 9

(VII) ONE MEMBER , APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF 10
JUVENILE SERVICES; 11

(VIII) ONE MEMBER, APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN 12
SERVICES; 13

(IX) ONE MEMBER, APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH; 14

(X) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOG IST OR 15
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PR OFESSIONAL WITH EXPE RTISE IN ADOLESCENT MENTAL 16
HEALTH AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; 17

(XI) ONE MEMBER, APPOINTED BY THE COMPTROLLER; 18

(XII) TWO MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT 19
BOARDS, APPOINTED BY THE COC HAIRS OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF 20
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS; AND 21

(XIII) THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , WHO SHALL ACT IN AN 22
ADVISORY CAPACITY: 23

1. ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, 24
APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 25

2. ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, 26
APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 27

3. TWO MEMBERS FROM DIFF ERENT GEOGRAPHIC 28
REGIONS OF THE STATE WHO REPRESENT S TATEWIDE YOUTH –SERVING 29
SENATE BILL 977 5

ORGANIZATIONS, APPOINTED BY STATEWI DE YOUTH–SERVING ORGANIZATION S; 1
AND 2

4. ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG A STATEWIDE 3
AFTERSCHOOL NETWORK, APPOINTED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT. 4

(3) (I) THE TERM OF A MEMBER IS 2 YEARS. 5

(II) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE 6
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED. 7

(III) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN 8
SERVES ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED. 9

(IV) THE TERMS SHALL BE ST AGGERED WITH 50% OF THE 10
INITIAL MEMBERS SERV ING 2 YEARS AND THE REMAIN ING INIT IAL MEMBERS 11
SERVING 3 YEARS. 12

(4) THE COMMISSION SHALL BE COCHAIRED BY: 13

(I) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT; AND 14

(II) A MEMBER APPOINTED UNDER PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS 15
SUBSECTION WHO HAS B EEN SELECTED BY OTHE R MEMBERS APPOINTED UNDER 16
PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 17

(5) (I) THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET AT LEAST TWO TIMES P ER 18
CALENDAR YEAR. 19

(II) THE COMMISSION IS SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS 20
ACT. 21

(III) A MAJORITY OF THE VOTI NG MEMBERS OF THE 22
COMMISSION SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS. 23

(IV) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION: 24

1. MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION AS A MEMBER OF 25
THE COMMISSION; BUT 26

2. IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES 27
UNDER THE STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE 28
BUDGET. 29
6 SENATE BILL 977

(C) THE COMMISSION SHALL: 1

(1) ESTABLISH A GRANT APP LICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS FOR 2
ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS; 3

(2) MAKE GRANT AWARDS TO SUPPORT POSITIVE YOU TH 4
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE STATE; 5

(3) MONITOR AND EVALUATE ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE 6
RECEIVED A GRANT; 7

(4) ENSURE THE QUALITY AN D POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF A GRANT ; 8
AND 9

(5) ENSURE MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT OF YOUTH IN ALL ASPECTS 10
OF THE COMMISSION’S WORK , INCLUDING FUNDING PR IORITIES, GRANT REVIEW, 11
AND EVALUATION OF GRANTS. 12

(D) (1) THERE IS A MARYLAND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND. 13

(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE 14
ORGANIZATIONS THAT P ROVIDE POSITIVE YOUT H DEVELOPMENT PROGRA MMING 15
TO YOUTHS. 16

(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 17

(4) (I) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 18
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 19

(II) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND 20
SEPARATELY, AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 21

(5) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 22

(I) ALL REVENUES CONSISTI NG OF FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE 23
STATE FROM ANY SOURCE RESULTING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT LY, FROM ANY 24
JUDGMENT AGAINST OR SETTLEMENT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES F OUND TO 25
HAVE HARMED YOUTH; 26

(II) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 27
FUND; 28

SENATE BILL 977 7

(III) INTEREST EARNINGS; AND 1

(IV) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 2
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 3

(6) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY AS FOLLOWS: 4

(I) UP TO 10% OF THE FUNDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 5
OF T HE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR LITIGATIO N AGAINST SOCIAL 6
MEDIA COMPANIES; 7

(II) UP TO 10% OF THE FUNDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF 8
THE COMMISSION AND GRANTS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING 9
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY –BUILDING SUPPORT FOR ELIGIBLE 10
ORGANIZATIONS; AND 11

(III) THE REMAINING FUNDS F OR GRANTS TO ELIGIBL E 12
ORGANIZATIONS UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION. 13

(7) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE 14
FUND IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 15

(II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE 16
CREDITED TO THE FUND. 17

(8) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 18
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 19

(9) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR GRANTS TO EL IGIBLE 20
ORGANIZATIONS IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO AND IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE PLACE 21
OF FUNDING THAT OTHE RWISE WOULD BE APPRO PRIATED FOR PROVIDIN G 22
POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING TO YOUTHS. 23

(E) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR , THE COMMISSION SHALL 24
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 25
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON: 26

(1) REVENUES DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND; 27

(2) GRANTS AWARDED AND POPULATIONS SERVED BY THE GRANTS; 28

(3) THE OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS OF THE GRANTS; AND 29

8 SENATE BILL 977

(4) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR P OLICY AND FUNDING CHANG ES TO 1
ADVANCE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE. 2

(F) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY 3
OUT THIS SECTION. 4

Article – State Finance and Procurement 5

6–226. 6

(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 7

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 8
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 9
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 10
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 11
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 12
Fund of the State. 13

(iii) The provisions of subparag raph (ii) of this paragraph do not 14
apply to the following funds: 15

212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 16
Fund; [and] 17

213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 18

214. THE MARYLAND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 19
FUND. 20

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 21

(a) Section 1 of this Act is contingent on the State receiving funds resulting from 22
the execution of a final settlement agreement, judgment, or bankruptcy proceeding against 23
a social media company related to harm against children. 24

(b) The Attorney General shall provide written notice of the State receiving funds 25
resulting from the execution of a final settlement agreement, judgment, or bankruptcy 26
proceeding to the Department of Legislative Services, 90 State C ircle, Annapolis, MD 27
21401. 28

(c) Section 1 of this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, 29
shall be null and void if, on or before June 30, 2030, the Department of Legislative Services 30
has not received notice from the Attorney General under subsection (b) of this section. 31

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 32
SENATE BILL 977 9

2 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 1