§10–491.

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

        (2)    “Board” means the Cyber Maryland Board.

        (3)    “Program” means the Cyber Maryland Program.

    (b)    There is a Cyber Maryland Program in the Corporation.

    (c)    The purposes of the Program are to:

        (1)    create and execute a talent pipeline that materially reduces workforce vacancies by July 1, 2026;

        (2)    serve as a one–stop shop for employers seeking to leverage cyber workforce development programs offered by the State and its partners;

        (3)    inform cybersecurity training and education programs operated by public or private entities with industry–driven needs;

        (4)    build the most advanced local and State information technology workforce in the nation, which, to the maximum extent possible, reflects the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State;

        (5)    coordinate and accelerate cybersecurity research and innovation in the State; and

        (6)    support the efforts of the Department of Information Technology to improve the State government’s cybersecurity posture, including State agencies, local government units, and critical infrastructure.

    (d)    The Program shall:

        (1)    conduct ongoing research by collaborating with the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc., Cybersecurity Talent Advisory Board to collect and analyze real–time industry data to identify cybersecurity workforce needs as described in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Approach;

        (2)    use the results of the research described in item (1) of this subsection to increase the effectiveness of existing State cybersecurity workforce programs for employers in the State;

        (3)    facilitate partnerships for new training and education programs to address the workforce needs identified under item (1) of this subsection;

        (4)    develop a statewide strategic plan for cybersecurity workforce development, using the results of the research described in item (1) of this subsection and with input from the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc., Cybersecurity Talent Advisory Board on or before December 1, 2023;

        (5)    administer and manage the Cyber Maryland Fund; and

        (6)    ensure that outcomes of the Program are inclusive and, to the maximum extent practicable, reflect the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State.

    (e)    (1)    In this subsection, “Fund” means the Cyber Maryland Fund.

        (2)    There is a Cyber Maryland Fund.

        (3)    The purposes of the Fund are to:

            (i)    achieve the purposes identified under subsection (c) of this section; and

            (ii)    support innovative approaches to meeting cybersecurity workforce needs.

        (4)    The Program shall administer the Fund.

        (5)    (i)    The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

            (ii)    The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

        (6)    The Fund consists of:

            (i)    money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and

            (ii)    any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.

        (7)    The Fund may be used only for:

            (i)    administering the Program; and

            (ii)    providing grants to elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, including community colleges, for–profit corporations, and nonprofit organizations to operate cybersecurity programs based on the strategic plan of the Program.

        (8)    (i)    The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.

            (ii)    Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.

        (9)    Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.

        (10)    For fiscal year 2025 and each year thereafter, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $250,000 for the Fund.

        (11)    Subject to the availability of funding, for fiscal year 2025 and each year thereafter, $250,000 of the Fund shall be used for implementing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Approach.

        (12)    (i)    The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation in an amount sufficient for hiring individuals to conduct the duties of the Program, including an Executive Director and at least one administrator.

            (ii)    The Executive Director shall:

                1.    be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer;

                2.    have relevant qualifications and experience with the activities and purposes of the Program; and

                3.    serve at the pleasure of the Chief Executive Officer.

    (f)    (1)    There is a Cyber Maryland Board.

        (2)    The Board consists of the following members:

            (i)    the Senate and House of Delegates cochairs of the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology;

            (ii)    the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee;

            (iii)    the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee;

            (iv)    the Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Secretary’s designee;

            (v)    the Secretary of Information Technology, or the Secretary’s designee;

            (vi)    the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc., or the Chair’s designee;

            (vii)    the Chair of the Maryland Workforce Association, or the Chair’s designee;

            (viii)    the following members, appointed by the Governor:

                1.    five members from the private sector with cybersecurity needs;

                2.    one representative from a nonprofit organization with expertise in cybersecurity talent development;

                3.    one representative from a community college;

                4.    one representative from a 4–year, public HBCU college;

                5.    one representative from a 4–year, public college; and

            (ix)    the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chief Executive Officer’s designee.

        (3)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the members of the Board shall elect a chair from among the members of the Board.

            (ii)    The chair may not be:

                1.    a State employee; or

                2.    the Chief Executive Officer.

        (4)    The Board shall:

            (i)    provide input regarding the development of the statewide cybersecurity workforce development strategic plan required under subsection (d)(4) of this section;

            (ii)    assist the Executive Director and staff of the Program with stakeholder outreach and engagement;

            (iii)    help the Executive Director of the Program explore synergies where appropriate with cybersecurity workforce development efforts by regional and county workforce development entities;

            (iv)    coordinate as necessary with the Maryland Department of Labor and the Department; and

            (v)    provide other advice and support for the Program.

        (5)    A member of the Board:

            (i)    may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but

            (ii)    is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

        (6)    The Governor may remove an appointed member of the Board for incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.

    (g)    On or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2026, the Program, in conjunction with the Corporation, shall submit a report on the operation and performance of the Program to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.