PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                                 Ch. 162

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.

145.

(A)     (1) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2)      "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

(3)      "PROGRAM" MEANS THE CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.

(4)      "SECRETARY" MEANS THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES.

(B)     THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS
AND POLICIES TO ESTABLISH A CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.

(C)     ALL EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE STATE SHALL
COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE REGULATIONS AND
POLICIES OF THE PROGRAM.

(D)     THE PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM ARE:

(1)      TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS TO BECOME
NATURALIZED CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE
CIVIC LIFE OF MARYLAND;

(2)      TO INCREASE THE NUMBER AND PROPORTION OF ELIGIBLE
FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS WHO BECOME CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES; AND

(3)      TO ENCOURAGE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS WHO BECOME
CITIZENS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.

(E)     (1) THE SECRETARY SHALL MAY SECURE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM
FROM THE STATE BUDGET.

(2) FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM MAY NOT EXCEED $100,000 OF THE
ANNUAL STATE BUDGET.

(F)      IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET, THE PROGRAM SHALL;

(1) ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS TO LEARN ENGLISH;

(1) (2) ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS TO BECOME NATURALIZED
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES;

(2) (3) INFORM ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS, THE PROCESS OF NATURALIZATION, AND THE
AVAILABILITY OF CITIZENSHIP SERVICES;

(3) (4) MAKE AVAILABLE OR INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF
INSTRUCTION IN THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:

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