Bill > SB977

This bill establishes the Maryland Positive Youth Development Commission within the State Department of Education to oversee grant awards to eligible organizations that provide structured, evidence-based programs for youth, defined as individuals from birth through 25 years old, outside of regular school hours, and that include adult mentors and family engagement. The bill also creates the Maryland Positive Youth Development Fund, a special, nonlapsing fund that will receive money from judgments or settlements against social media companies found to have harmed youth, as well as state appropriations and interest earnings, with a portion of the fund dedicated to administrative costs for litigation against social media companies and for the commission's operations, while the remainder will be used for grants to support positive youth development programming. The commission will be composed of various members, including youth representatives, parents, and officials from relevant state agencies, and will be responsible for establishing grant processes, monitoring awards, and ensuring youth involvement in its work. The bill also specifies that interest earned by the Fund will be credited back to the Fund, and its provisions are contingent on the state receiving funds from a settlement or judgment against a social media company, with a deadline of June 30, 2030, for this to occur, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0977?ys=2026RS