MD SB897

National Center for School Mental Health at University of Maryland School of Medicine must develop and publish a student technology and social media resource guide for public school students, in consultation with the State Department of Education, beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Guide must include age-appropriate information on safe internet usage, covering social media platforms, online games, AI products, smartphones, laptops, and e-commerce platforms, with details on privacy concerns, addictive qualities, and potential harmful impacts on users.

Phased implementation requires the guide to cover personal-use technology products in 2027-2028, add educational technology in 2028-2029, and become a multimedia product in 2029-2030.

Center must complete a needs assessment by September 1, 2026, and the guide must be posted on Department and county board websites, updated annually, and distributed to all public schools and parent-teacher organizations.

Governor must appropriate $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $125,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 and 2029 to fund research and development of the guide.