Md. Code, Educ. § 11-206.8

Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 11-206.8 - [See Note] Program evaluation unit

(a) The Commission shall establish a program evaluation unit to evaluate new programs and substantial modifications.

(b)

(1) The unit established in this section shall have at least 10 staff members who are employees of the Commission.

(2) The staff members assigned to this unit shall be in addition to the current workforce of the Commission.

(c) The unit established in this section shall assist the Commission in reviewing and evaluating proposals for new programs and substantial modifications of existing programs in accordance with §§ 11-206 and 11-206.1 of this subtitle.

(d) Beginning in fiscal year 2023, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation in an amount sufficient to employ the 10 staff members required under this section.

Md. Code, ED § 11-206.8

Added by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 42, Sec. 1, eff. 3/24/2021.

Added by 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 41, Sec. 1, eff. .

2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 42, Sec. 6, and 2021 Md. Laws, Ch. 41, Sec. 6eff. 3/24/2021, provide:

(a) Section 1 of this Act is contingent on the execution of a final settlement agreement in the case of The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education v. Maryland Higher Education Commission, 06-CV-02773-CCB (D. MD) on or before June 1, 2021, that :

(1) incorporates and does not exceed the financial and programmatic commitments contained in Section 1 of this Act; (2) incorporates the order described in subsection (d)(2) of this section; and

(2) incorporates the order described in subsection (d)(2) of this section; and

(3) provides for attorney's fees and expenses in an amount not less than $14,000,000 but not more than $25,000,000 to plaintiffs' counsel in The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education v. Maryland Higher Education Commission, 06-CV-02773-CCB (D. MD).

(b)(1) In fiscal year 2023, the Governor shall provide an allocation for the attorney's fees and expenses in the amount specified in the final settlement agreement described in subsection (a) of this section.

(2) The amount allocated under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be provided from the funds for the historically black colleges and universities under Section 1 of this Act, with the amounts allocated based on each institution's share of the total funds provided under Section 1 of this Act.

(3) Notwithstanding § 12-501 of the State Government Article or any other provision of law, the settlement agreement as provided in subsection (a) of this section, including attorney's fees and expenses provided in the settlement agreement, are not subject to approval by the Board of Public Works.

(1) is authorized to execute the final settlement agreement in subsection (a) of this section on behalf of the State on terms the Attorney General deems:

(i) as final resolution of the case of The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education v. the Maryland Higher Education Commission, 06-CV-02773-CCB (D. MD); and

(ii) appropriate to carry out the purposes of Section 1 of this Act; and

(2) shall provide written notice of the executed settlement agreement to the Department of Legislative Services, 90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401.

(d) Section 1 of this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be null and void if, on or before June 11, 2021:

(1) the Department of Legislative Services has not received notice of the settlement agreement; and

(2) an order has not been issued from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland or the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that:

(i) reverses or vacates the District Court's holding that the State failed to eliminate traceable de jure era policy of unnecessary program duplication; or

(ii) holds that any policy of unnecessary program duplication traceable to de jure segregation has been cured by the terms of the settlement agreement.