EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 900
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By: Senator Corderman
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Higher Education – Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program – 2
Eligibility 3
FOR the purpose of expanding the eligibility for the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance 4
Repayment Program to include individuals who received a certain degree from an 5
accredited veterinary school and provided veterinary services for a certain time 6
period at certain animal shelters; and generally relating to eligibility for the Janet 7
L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Education 10
Section 18–1502 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Education 16
18–1502. 17
(a) There is a program of loan assistance repayment known as the Janet L. 18
Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program in the State. 19
(b) The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall assist in the repayment of 20
the amount of any higher education loan owed by an individual who: 21
(1) (i) Receives a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from: 22
1. A college or university in the State of Maryland; 23 2 SENATE BILL 900
2. A school of law; [or] 1
3. For a mental health professional, any accredited college or 2
university; or 3
4. FOR A VETERINAR Y PRACTITIONER , ANY 4
ACCREDITED VETERINAR Y COLLEGE OR UNIVERSIT Y; OR 5
(ii) Receives a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) from the 6
Department after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the 7
State Superintendent; 8
(2) Obtains eligible employment; 9
(3) Receives an income that is less than the maximum eligible total income 10
levels established by the Office, including any additional sources of income; and 11
(4) Satisfies any other criteria established by the Office. 12
(c) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 13
in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a: 14
(1) Public school teacher in the State who: 15
(i) Has taught in Maryland for at least 2 years: 16
1. In science, technology, engineering, fine arts, or math 17
subjects; 18
2. In a school in which at least the following percentages of 19
the students are enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch program in the State: 20
A. 75% through June 30, 2025; and 21
B. 55% beginning July 1, 2025; or 22
3. In a school that: 23
A. Had Title I status during the 2018–2019 school year; 24
B. Lost Title I status after the 2018–2019 school year; and 25
C. Participates in the United States Department of 26
Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision; and 27
SENATE BILL 900 3
(ii) Has received a performance evaluation rating for the most recent 1
year available in the county in which the teacher taught; [or] 2
(2) Mental health professional who has provided mental health services in 3
a public school for at least 2 years as an employee of: 4
(i) A county school system; or 5
(ii) A local health department through an agreement with a county 6
board; OR 7
(3) A VETERINARIAN PRACTIT IONER WHO HAS PROVIDED 8
VETERINARY SERVICES AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR A MINIM UM OF 20 HOURS PER WEEK 9
OR AS A VOLUNTEER FO R A MINIMUM OF 15 HOURS PER WEEK AT AN ANIMAL 10
SHELTER THAT IS OWNED BY : 11
(I) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 12
(II) AN ORGANIZATION CONTR ACTED TO PERFORM ANI MAL 13
CONTROL SERVICES FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; OR 14
(III) AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND WAS A 15
RECIPIENT OF THE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM DURING THE 16
PRIOR YEAR. 17
(d) (1) A grant awarded under subsection (c) of this section shall be known as 18
the Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award. 19
(2) A recipient of a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award shall 20
be known as a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Scholar. 21
(e) An applicant for assistance in the repayment of a commercial loan shall 22
demonstrate to the Office that the commercial loan was used for tuition, educational 23
expenses, or living expenses for graduate or undergraduate study. 24
(f) Assistance in the repayment of a loan from an entity set forth in § 25
18–1501(c)(2) of this subtitle shall require the approval of the Office. 26
(g) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 27
in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a licensed clinical 28
alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapy counselor, or a 29
licensed clinical professional counselor whose practice is located in a high–need geographic 30
area of the State as determined by the Maryland Department of Health. 31
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 32
1, 2024. 33