Higher Education - The Senator Delores G. Kelley Scholarship Program - Establishment
Impact
The bill mandates that each participating county in Maryland contributes an equal amount to match the state funds awarded under the program for each scholarship recipient. This requirement fosters local investment in education and reinforces the importance of community support for students pursuing higher education. Additionally, the scholarship awards are capped at ten per year per HBCU, with a preference for students majoring in critical fields such as STEM and education, which indicates a strategic focus on workforce development in key areas.
Summary
Senate Bill 4, known as the Senator Delores G. Kelley Scholarship Program, is an initiative designed to provide financial support to eligible students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Maryland. The program specifically targets students who qualify for the maximum federal Pell Grant, aiming to ease their financial burden and promote access to higher education. By establishing this scholarship program, the bill seeks to bolster the enrollment of underprivileged students in HBCUs, thereby enhancing educational opportunities for those who may be facing financial barriers.
Contention
Discussions surrounding the bill may include debates on funding adequacy and the concentration of resources in HBCUs. Critics may argue about the effectiveness of matching funds from counties and whether all participating counties will be able to sustain their financial commitments. Moreover, the bill’s focus on specific academic majors could lead to discussions about equity and access for students pursuing other fields of study. Ultimately, while the legislation has the potential to expand educational access, the implementation and funding mechanisms will be crucial in determining its overall impact on Maryland's student population.
Higher Education - Edward T. Conroy and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program and Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program - Expansion (Officer Keona Holley Public Safety Act)
Assisted Living Programs - Unlicensed Programs - Resident Abuse, Exploitation, and Neglect (The Senator Delores Kelley Residents of Unlicensed Programs Protection Act)
Assisted Living Programs - Unlicensed Programs - Resident Abuse, Exploitation, and Neglect (The Senator Delores Kelley Residents of Unlicensed Programs Protection Act)
To create the Alabama Fits All Scholarship Program; require the State Board of Education to contract with a program manager to administer the program; to authorize the program manager to establish scholarship accounts on behalf of eligible students; to prohibit a program manager from accepting scholarship funds in certain circumstances; to require fiscal safeguards and accountability measures; to require eligible schools and service providers to meet certain standards to be eligible to receive scholarship funds; to authorize the program manager to distribute scholarship funds; to require the State Board of Education to provide limited oversight of the program manager, including an appeal process for the program manager's administrative decisions; to prohibit certain regulations of eligible schools and eligible service providers; to require criminal history background information checks for employees and officers of a program manager; to provide for program funding; and to require the program manager and the board to submit reports on the program to the Legislature.