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SB 435

Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools - Title VI Coordinators (Remove Discrimination in Education Act)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Waldstreicher

Maryland public colleges and local school systems must designate Title VI coordinators, open complaint channels, and document investigations to strengthen civil rights compliance.

Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 435

SB 435 — Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools — Title VI Coordinators (Remove Discrimination in Education Act)

Status: Hearing scheduled 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.
Introduced: early 2025 (session filing) — effective date in bill: July 1, 2025

Main purpose

Require Maryland public institutions of higher education and each local school system to designate a dedicated Title VI coordinator to oversee compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, create a local complaint channel for alleged Title VI discrimination, and establish basic duties and recordkeeping for those coordinators. The bill is titled the "Remove Discrimination in Education Act."

Key provisions

  • Designations
    • Adds Section 11‑409 (higher education) and 26‑706 (local school systems) to the Education Article.
    • Requires the governing board of each Maryland institution of higher education and each local school system to designate a Title VI coordinator.
  • Coordinator duties (both sectors)
    • Possess expertise in Title VI law and regulations and oversee institutional compliance.
    • Promote equal access and participation in programs/activities.
    • Provide training and educational resources about Title VI obligations.
    • Document and investigate complaints, maintain records and reports.
    • Forward complaints (local school system coordinators) to the State Superintendent of Schools in accordance with §26‑705.
    • Perform other duties established by the governing body or local system.
  • Complaints
    • Amends §26‑705(a): persons alleging discrimination under §26‑704 may file complaints with the State Superintendent, or (if applicable) the Title VI coordinator of the local school system, or both. Complaints must specify relief requested; parents/guardians may file on behalf of minors.
  • Conforming/technical changes to incorporate the new complaint filing option and coordination requirements.

Who is affected

  • Public institutions of higher education in Maryland (governing boards and administrators).
  • Local school systems (administrators, students, parents).
  • Individuals alleging discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance (those currently covered by Title VI).
  • Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), which will receive forwarded complaints and may need to respond or provide translation services.

Fiscal and operational impacts

  • State: Fiscal note indicates potential increased higher‑education expenditures where institutions (e.g., University System of Maryland, Morgan State, BCCC) must hire new Title VI coordinators if existing staff cannot be designated. MSDE may incur minimal costs for translation services if complaint volume increases; anticipated to be absorbable within existing resources.
  • Local: Local school systems may need to hire or reassign staff to serve as Title VI coordinators — possible local expenditures. The bill may impose a state mandate on local governments.
  • No change to federal OCR complaint rights; individuals may still file with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • The bill sets an effective date of July 1, 2025.
  • Local coordinators are required to forward any complaints they receive to the State Superintendent per revised §26‑705.
  • The bill formalizes an internal/state‑level complaint intake point for Title VI matters (analogous to Title IX coordinator requirements at federally funded institutions).

Practical effect

SB 435 creates a formal, local institutional point of contact for Title VI compliance and complaints, aims to strengthen local capacity to investigate and document alleged discrimination, and is likely to require modest staffing and training investments by some institutions and local school systems.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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