Prince George’s board backs extending temporary enrollment window for immunization records

Delegate Kim Taylor (D–Prince George's County) presented House Bill 6 08 to the Ways and Means Committee asking that the temporary enrollment acceptance period for students without complete immunization records be extended from 20 days to 60 days (the sponsor said she would consider an amendment to 45 days).

Taylor said foundation aid funding — the state’s primary enrollment‑based school funding — depends on counting students as “qualified” and that thousands of students who submit immunization records after the twentieth day are not counted, reducing school funding. She told the committee that the bill would allow additional time for families to provide records and would help maintain students in school while documentation is obtained.

Prince George’s County Board of Education member ****** E. Walker testified for the board in support. Walker told the committee the county annually enrolls thousands of newcomer students between July and September and cited a recent example in which the system lost roughly $8.4 million in state education funding because students missed the 20‑day deadline. She said a longer window would reduce disruption to learning, keep students in classrooms while families address documentation gaps, and disproportionately benefit families facing housing or access barriers.

Taylor said she would accept an amendment removing a particular subsection that conflicts with Department of Health regulations and noted county officials had suggested 45 days as a compromise. No committee action was recorded during the hearing; the sponsor requested a favorable report.