EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb1141*
SENATE BILL 1141
F2 4lr3508
CF HB 607
By: Senators Lewis Young and Rosapepe
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
Assigned to: Rules
Re–referred to: Education, Energy, and the Environment, March 9, 2024
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 16, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Community Colleges – Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship – 2
Requirements 3
FOR the purpose of establishing that applicants for a Maryland Community College 4
Promise Scholarship are not subject to certain requirements of the scholarship 5
application process if the applicant enrolls in or participates in certain programs or 6
courses; authorizing a community college to require certain applicants for a 7
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship to complete an application for 8
admission to the community college; and generally relating to Maryland Community 9
College Promise Scholarships. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Education 12
Section 18–3603 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Education 18
18–3603. 19
2 SENATE BILL 1141
(a) (1) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a student may 1
apply annually to a Maryland community college located in the county or, in the case of a 2
regional community college, in the region where the applicant lives to receive a Maryland 3
Community College Promise Scholarship award. 4
(ii) If the community college located in the county or region where 5
the applicant lives does not offer the degree or certification program in which the applicant 6
wants to enroll, the student may apply to the community college outside the county or, in 7
the case of a regional community college, outside the region where the applicant lives to 8
receive a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship award. 9
(2) A community college annually shall select eligible applicants and offer 10
a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship award to each selected applicant to 11
be used for tuition at the community college. 12
(b) An applicant is eligible for a Maryland Community College Promise 13
Scholarship award if the applicant: 14
(1) [Is] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C)(4)(I) OF THIS 15
SECTION, IS eligible for in–State tuition; 16
(2) Enrolls as a candidate for a vocational certificate, a certificate, or an 17
associate’s degree or participates in a registered apprenticeship after graduating from a 18
high school or successfully completing a GED in the State: 19
(i) Except as provided in item (ii) of this item, at the community 20
college located in the county or, in the case of a regional community college, in the region, 21
where the applicant lives; or 22
(ii) At a community college in the State that has an on–campus 23
residential facility for students; 24
(3) Except as provided in subsection (c)(3) AND (4)(I) of this section, has 25
earned a cumulative grade point average of: 26
(i) For an initial award, at least 2.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent 27
at the end of the first semester or the end of the year of the senior year in high school; or 28
(ii) While enrolled at a community college in the State, at least 2.5 29
on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; 30
(4) Has an annual adjusted gross income of not more than: 31
(i) $100,000 if the applicant is single or resides in a single–parent 32
household; or 33
SENATE BILL 1141 3
(ii) $150,000 if the applicant is married or resides in a two–parent 1
household; 2
(5) (i) Enrolls in: 3
1. At least 6 credits per semester at the community college; 4
or 5
2. A sequence of credit or noncredit courses that leads to 6
licensure or certification; or 7
(ii) Participates in a registered apprenticeship program; and 8
(6) (i) Timely submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid 9
(FAFSA) or any other applications for any State or federal student financial aid, other than 10
a student loan, for which the applicant may qualify; or 11
(ii) Is ineligible to submit a FAFSA, qualifies for in–State tuition 12
under § 15–106.8 of this article, and timely submits an application for any State student 13
financial aid, other than a student loan, for which the applicant may qualify. 14
(c) (1) An applicant who receives any other educational grants or scholarships 15
that cover the applicant’s full cost of attendance at the community college is ineligible to 16
receive an award under this subtitle. 17
(2) An applicant who has earned a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s 18
degree is ineligible to receive an award under this subtitle. 19
(3) An applicant who graduated from high school 5 or more years before 20
the date of application is not subject to the grade point average requirements established 21
in subsection (b)(3)(i) of this section for an initial award. 22
(4) AN APPLICANT WHO ENRO LLS IN A NONCREDIT V OCATIONAL 23
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM , ENROLLS IN A SEQUENC E OF NONCREDIT COURS ES 24
LEADING TO LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION , OR PARTICIPATES IN A REGISTERED 25
APPRENTICESHIP PROGR AM: 26
(I) SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A MARYLAND COMMUNITY 27
COLLEGE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD IF THE APPLICANT IS A R ESIDENT OF THE 28
STATE OR GRADUATED FR OM A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE; 29
(II) IS NOT SUBJECT T O THE GRADE POINT AV ERAGE 30
REQUIREMENTS IN SUBS ECTION (B)(3) OF THIS SECTION; AND 31
4 SENATE BILL 1141
(III) (II) IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS IN 1
SUBSECTION (B)(6) OF THIS SECTION , UNLESS THE APPLICANT IS ENROLLING IN A 2
NONCREDIT PROGRAM FO R WHICH A FEDERAL PELL GRANT MAY BE USED; AND 3
(IV) MAY BE REQUIRED BY A COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO 4
COMPLETE AN APPLICAT ION FOR ADMISSION . 5
(d) On request the community college shall assist an applicant to submit a FAFSA 6
or any other applications for State or federal student financial aid. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2024. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.