WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 365
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Chapter 365
(Senate Bill 657)
AN ACT concerning
Anne Arundel County – Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program for
Educators – Established
FOR the purpose of establishing the Anne Arundel County Student Loan Assistance
Repayment Program for Educators to assist in the repayment of certain student
loans owed by educators who meet certain eligibility requirements; authorizing the
governing body of Anne Arundel County to establish the Program for educators
employed by the Anne Arundel County Public School System; requiring the county
to establish the amount and terms and conditions of the Program; and generally
relating to the establishment of the Anne Arundel County Student Loan Assistance
Repayment Program for Educators.
BY adding to
Article – Education
Section 18–4001 through 18–4005 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 40. Anne
Arundel County Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Educators”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
SUBTITLE 40. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY STUDENT LOAN ASSISTANCE REPAYMENT
PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS.
18–4001.
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(B) “EDUCATOR” INCLUDES A CLASSROOM TEACHER, AN EDUCATION
SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL , AN EDUCATION –RELATED SERVICE PROVIDER, AND A
SPECIALIST ELIGIBLE FOR CERTIFICATION FR OM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION.
(B) (C) “HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN ” MEANS ANY LOAN FOR
UNDERGRADUATE OR GRA DUATE STUDY THAT IS OBTAINED FOR TUITION ,
EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES , OR LIVING EXPENSES F ROM: Ch. 365 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(1) A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSIT Y, GOVERNMENT , OR COMMERCIAL
SOURCE; OR
(2) AN ORGANIZATION , AN INSTITUTION , AN ASSOCIATION , A
SOCIETY, OR A CORPORATION THA T IS EXEMPT FROM TAX ATION UNDER § 501(C)(3)
OR (4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986.
(C) (D) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY STUDENT
LOAN ASSISTANCE REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS.
18–4002.
(A) IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE COUNTY
MAY ESTABLISH A STUDENT LOAN ASSISTANCE REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR
EDUCATORS EMPLOYED BY THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ATTRACT , RECRUIT, AND RETAIN
A DIVERSE CADRE OF Q UALIFIED EDUCATORS IN THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IS REFLEC TIVE OF THE STUDENT POPULATIO N
WITHIN THE COUNTY SC HOOLS.
(C) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , THE COUNTY SHALL
ASSIST IN THE REPAYM ENT OF HIGHER EDUCAT ION LOANS OWED BY AN INDIVIDUAL
WHO:
(1) RECEIVES A GRADUATE , PROFESSIONAL , OR UNDERGRADUATE
DEGREE FROM AN ACCRE DITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERS ITY;
(2) OBTAINS EMPLOYMENT AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE ANNE ARUNDEL
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM;
(3) COMMITS TO SERVE IN THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR A PERIOD O F NOT LESS THAN 5 YEARS;
(4) RECEIVES AN INCOME TH AT IS LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM
ELIGIBLE TOTAL INCOM E LEVELS ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTY , INCLUDING ANY
ADDITIONAL SOURCES O F INCOME THE INDIVIDUAL MAY EARN;
(5) IS NOT IN DEFAULT ON ANY STUDENT LOAN ; AND
(6) SATISFIES ANY OTHER CRITERIA ESTABLISHED UNDER THE
PROGRAM BY THE COUNTY .
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 365
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(D) AN APPLICANT FOR ASSI STANCE IN THE REPAYM ENT OF A COMMERCIAL
LOAN SHALL DEMONSTRA TE TO THE COUNTY THA T THE COMMERCIAL LOA N WAS
USED FOR TUITION , EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES , OR LIVING EXPENSES F OR GRADUA TE
OR UNDERGRADUATE STU DY.
18–4003.
LOAN ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL BE IN T HE AMOUNT AND ON
THE TERMS AND CONDIT IONS ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTY.
18–4004.
THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ADMI NISTERED BY THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
18–4005.
(A) FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE AS P ROVIDED ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS IN THE COUNTY BUDGET IN AN APPROPR IATION SEPARATE FROM THE
COUNTY’S APPROPRIATION TO T HE OPERATING BUDGET OF THE ANNE ARUNDEL
COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
(B) FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM M AY BE USED TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES OF THE PROGRAM.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.