Bill > SB539

This bill establishes the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program, administered by the Department of Social and Economic Mobility, to provide grants to eligible organizations, such as nonprofit organizations and local workforce boards, for planning and executing job fairs and workforce events that connect job seekers with employers. It also creates the Workforce Opportunities Grant Fund, a special, nonlapsing fund to support this program, with any interest earned on the fund's money being credited back to it. The bill specifies that for fiscal years 2028 through 2030, the Governor must include at least $500,000 in the annual budget for the program. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to ensure that interest earned on this new fund is not automatically directed to the State's General Fund, as is typical for most state funds, and requires the Department to report annually on the program's activities and outcomes, including the number of events, participants, and job placements. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and will remain in effect for five years, expiring on September 30, 2031.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0539?ys=2026RS