2920                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [Ch. 873

instructional equipment, instructional material to
nonpublic schools, and to provide for the
transportation of children attending nonpublic
schools in the State of Maryland, and relating
generally to State aid for children attending
nonpublic schools.

BY adding to

Article 77 — Public Education

Section 213-216, to be under the new

subtitle "Chapter 18.

Services for Nonpublic School Children"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1969 Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 213-216, to be under the new
subtitle "Chapter 18. Services for Nonpublic School
Children" be and they are hereby added to Article 77 —
Public Education, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969
Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 77 — Public Education
CHAPTER 18. SERVICES FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN

213.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY DECLARES AS A MATTER OF
LEGISLATIVE FINDING AND PUBLIC POLICY THAT:

(A) ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THIS STATE IS TO
FOSTER AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
CHILDREN OF THE STATE.

(B) NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR A SUBSTANTIAL
NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF THIS STATE.

[[(C) IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE TO
PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL AID TO CHILDREN WHO ATTEND THESE
SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE IN
OPERATION IN LIGHT OF RISING COSTS WHICH HAVE CAUSED MANY
OF SUCH SCHOOLS TO CLOSE.]]

[[(D)]] (C) MANY OF THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVING
STUDENTS WHO ARE TO BENEFIT UNDER THIS ACT HAVE A CHURCH
AFFILIATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS AWARE THAT THE
SUPREME COURT HAS ESTABLISHED LIMITATIONS FOR
CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE AID TO STUDENTS IN SUCH
SCHOOLS IN SEVERAL RECENT DECISIONS.