Maryland § 5-304

§ 5-304.

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    “Children of current or former recipients” means minors who:

            (i)    are at least 14 years old; and

            (ii)    reside with current or former recipients of benefits.

        (3)    “Former recipient” means an individual who received benefits under FIP in the past 5 years.

        (4)    “Foster youth” means an individual who:

            (i)    is an adult in out–of–home care under the responsibility of the State; or

            (ii)    1.    is an adult under the age of 25 years; and

                2.    was in out–of–home care under the responsibility of the State on the individual’s 18th birthday.

        (5)    “Obligor” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of the Family Law Article.

    (b)    (1)    The Secretary of Budget and Management, with the assistance of the Secretary, shall develop and implement a plan for hiring current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors by the principal departments within the Executive Branch of State government.

        (2)    For each principal department, the plan shall include:

            (i)    the units that most easily could hire current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors;

            (ii)    the positions most suitable for current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors;

            (iii)    a proposal for recruiting current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors;

            (iv)    job retention strategies; and

            (v)    a target number of current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors to be recruited.

        (3)    In consultation with the Secretary, the Secretary of Budget and Management shall report, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee of the General Assembly:

            (i)    on or before January 1, 2010, on the development of the hiring plan for current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors; and

            (ii)    on or before November 1 of each year, on the number of recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors hired and retained by the principal departments within the Executive Branch of State government.

    (c)    (1)    Working with appropriate local government officials, the Secretary and each local director shall develop and implement a local government hiring plan under which local governments may hire current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors.

        (2)    For each jurisdiction, the local government hiring plan shall include:

            (i)    a list of the units that most easily could hire current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors;

            (ii)    a list of the employment positions most suitable for current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors;

            (iii)    proposals to recruit current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors;

            (iv)    employment retention strategies; and

            (v)    a target number of current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors to be recruited.

        (3)    Each local director shall:

            (i)    develop and submit the local government hiring plan in accordance with a schedule and format that the Secretary determines;

            (ii)    implement in a timely manner the proposals and strategies in the local government hiring plan;

            (iii)    achieve the target numbers in the local government hiring plan; and

            (iv)    develop and submit reports to the Secretary in accordance with a schedule and format that the Secretary determines.

        (4)    On or before November 1 of each year and in consultation with the Maryland Association of Counties, the Secretary shall report, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee of the General Assembly, on:

            (i)    the development of the local government hiring plan; and

            (ii)    the number of current and former recipients, children of current or former recipients, foster youth, and obligors hired and retained by local governments.