The Ways and Means Committee Hearing today was dedicated to Education bills. Two bills particularly caught my interest. HB923 – Higher Education – Community Colleges – BRAC – Exemption from Out-of-State and Out-of-County Fees. This bill would authorize community college trustees to waive fees for an employee or a family member of an employee who moved to the state as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The BRAC plans estimate that from 19,500 to 20,800 new jobs will be created in Maryland when certain military commands are moved to Maryland. The University of Maryland System and Morgan State University have already decided to waive out-of -state tuition for people relocating because of BRAC. Generally students are required to reside in Maryland for at least 12 months to receive in-state tuition.
HB845 – Domestic Violence – Tween/Teen Dating Violence Education and Awareness would require the State Board of Education to develop and implement a program in public schools to educate students about dating violence beginning in the sixth grade. The bill would also expand the definition of a “victim of domestic violence” to include a person with whom the individual has had a dating relationship. The Office of the Attorney General testified that “teen dating violence and abuse remains an issue that often goes unrecognized or not discussed by many parents and teens.”
The testimony on this subject was very painful to hear. Parents and teens reported incidents of teens being struck in anger and physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sixty-two percent related that their friends have been called stupid, worthless or ugly by their dates. Domestic violence cannot be condoned under any circumstances and it is important that we get that message to all of our children, family and friends.