Rep. WILLIAMS proposes the following Amendment No. to H.4025 as introduced by Ways & Means

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EXPLANATION: Establishes an Outdoor Engagement Center Pilot Program within the Dept. of Environmental Services.

Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 55, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, page 409, after line 20, by adding an appropriately numbered proviso to read:

/(DES: Outdoor Engagement Center Pilot Program) There is established within the Department of Environmental Services the Environmental Education Fund with a $750,000 appropriation. The department shall use the fund to create and implement the Outdoor Engagement Center Pilot Program. The purpose of the pilot program is to develop an Outdoor Engagement Center at one or more middle schools that will use schoolyard greenspace containing interactive educational demonstrations as real-world teaching tools for improving student academic learning across classroom subject matters. The department will establish the selection criteria, terms, and conditions for participation in the pilot program. A progress report on the success of the pilot engagement centers shall be submitted to the General Assembly no later than June 30, 2026./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend totals and titles to conform.