// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2022 PER CHAPTER 763 OF 2017 //
(a) It is the policy of the State that all students have access to high–quality, low–cost learning materials and resources.
(b) (1) For fiscal year 2019, the Governor shall include $100,000 in general funds in the State budget for the purpose of providing a grant to the William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation at the University System of Maryland for the Maryland Open Source Textbook Initiative.
(2) The funds allocated under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be used to:
(i) Award grants to support and promote the adoption, adaptation, and creation of openly licensed educational resources in order to reduce a student’s cost of attendance while maintaining or improving learning outcomes;
(ii) Reimburse expenses incurred in the operation of the Maryland Open Source Textbook Initiative, including administrative functions and the evaluation of its efficacy; and
(iii) Reimburse money expended in fiscal year 2018 that would have met the requirements of items (i) and (ii) of this paragraph if funds had been available.
(c) To the extent practicable, funds allocated under subsection (b) of this section shall be for the adoption, adaptation, and creation of openly licensed educational resources that are equally accessible to and independently usable by individuals with disabilities.