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Advocates push bill to designate Title VI coordinators in Maryland schools and campuses
Summary
Supporters including ADL and JCRC urged the committee to pass HB 109, which would direct public K–12 and public higher‑education institutions to designate Title VI coordinators to improve reporting and response to discrimination; committee members asked for clarifying language on reporting to MSDE.
Delegate Vogel introduced HB 109 to strengthen compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by encouraging or requiring public schools and campuses to designate Title VI coordinators as points of contact for discrimination complaints.
Lily Fleishman, a recent college graduate and assistant regional director at ADL’s Washington DC office, described personal and national data on campus antisemitism and said students often do not know who to contact when incidents occur. Meredith Bridal (ADL) and Deborah Miller (JCRC) provided national and state statistics, including ADL data on antisemitic incidents in K–12 and higher education, and urged a favorable report.
Witnesses said the policy mirrors the country’s experience with Title IX coordinators by consolidating reporting pathways and improving timeliness and transparency of investigations. Delegates questioned scope (whether it applies to institutions that do not receive federal funds) and whether the role would be a new hire; witnesses said the designation could be combined with existing Title IX coordinators and that additional training might be needed.
Members also noted MSDE written testimony flagged ambiguity over whether forwarded complaints to the state superintendent are for oversight or state action; sponsors offered to work with MSDE to clarify language. The committee concluded testimony; no vote was recorded during the hearing.
