| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LA W. | |
| 4 | 4 | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. | |
| 5 | - | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | - | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | - | amendment. | |
| 8 | 5 | *sb0318* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | SENATE BILL 318 | |
| 11 | 8 | F2 5lr2085 | |
| 12 | - | CF | |
| 13 | - | By: Senators Lewis Young and Corderman | |
| 9 | + | CF 5lr2490 | |
| 10 | + | By: Senators Lewis Young and Corderman | |
| 14 | 11 | Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2025 | |
| 15 | 12 | Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment | |
| 16 | - | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 17 | - | Senate action: Adopted | |
| 18 | - | Read second time: February 25, 2025 | |
| 19 | 13 | ||
| 20 | - | ||
| 14 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 21 | 15 | ||
| 22 | 16 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 23 | 17 | ||
| 24 | 18 | Higher Education – Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program – 2 | |
| 25 | 19 | Eligibility 3 | |
| 26 | 20 | ||
| 27 | 21 | FOR the purpose of expanding the eligibility for the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance 4 | |
| 28 | 22 | Repayment Program to include individuals who received a certain degree from an 5 | |
| 29 | 23 | accredited veterinary school and provided veterinary services for a certain time 6 | |
| 30 | 24 | period or provided volunteer veterinary services at certain animal shelters and to 7 | |
| 31 | 25 | include individuals who provided veterinary technician services for a certain time 8 | |
| 32 | 26 | period or provided volunteer veterinary technician services at certain animal 9 | |
| 33 | 27 | shelters; and generally relating to eligibility for the Janet L. Hoffman Loan 10 | |
| 34 | 28 | Assistance Repayment Program. 11 | |
| 35 | 29 | ||
| 36 | 30 | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12 | |
| 37 | 31 | Article – Education 13 | |
| 38 | 32 | Section 18–1502 14 | |
| 39 | 33 | Annotated Code of Maryland 15 | |
| 40 | 34 | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16 | |
| 41 | 35 | ||
| 42 | 36 | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17 | |
| 43 | 37 | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18 | |
| 44 | 38 | ||
| 45 | 39 | Article – Education 19 | |
| 46 | 40 | ||
| 47 | 41 | 18–1502. 20 | |
| 42 | + | ||
| 43 | + | (a) There is a program of loan assistance repayment known as the Janet L. 21 | |
| 44 | + | Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program in the State. 22 | |
| 45 | + | ||
| 46 | + | (b) The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall assist in the repayment of 23 | |
| 47 | + | the amount of any higher education loan owed by an individual who: 24 | |
| 48 | 48 | 2 SENATE BILL 318 | |
| 49 | 49 | ||
| 50 | 50 | ||
| 51 | - | (a) There is a program of loan assistance repayment known as the Janet L. 1 | |
| 52 | - | Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program in the State. 2 | |
| 51 | + | (1) (i) Receives a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from: 1 | |
| 53 | 52 | ||
| 54 | - | (b) The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall assist in the repayment of 3 | |
| 55 | - | the amount of any higher education loan owed by an individual who: 4 | |
| 53 | + | 1. A college or university in the State of Maryland; 2 | |
| 56 | 54 | ||
| 57 | - | | |
| 55 | + | 2. A school of law; [or] 3 | |
| 58 | 56 | ||
| 59 | - | 1. A college or university in the State of Maryland; 6 | |
| 57 | + | 3. For a mental health professional, any accredited college or 4 | |
| 58 | + | university; or 5 | |
| 60 | 59 | ||
| 61 | - | 2. A school of law; [or] 7 | |
| 60 | + | 4. FOR A VETERINARY PRAC TITIONER OR VETERINARY 6 | |
| 61 | + | TECHNICIAN, ANY ACCREDITED VETER INARY COLLEGE OR UNI VERSITY; OR 7 | |
| 62 | 62 | ||
| 63 | - | 3. For a mental health professional, any accredited college or 8 | |
| 64 | - | university; or 9 | |
| 63 | + | (ii) Receives a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) from the 8 | |
| 64 | + | Department after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the 9 | |
| 65 | + | State Superintendent; 10 | |
| 65 | 66 | ||
| 66 | - | 4. FOR A VETERINARY PRAC TITIONER OR VETERINA RY 10 | |
| 67 | - | TECHNICIAN, ANY ACCREDITED VETERINARY COL LEGE OR UNIVERSITY ; OR 11 | |
| 67 | + | (2) Obtains eligible employment; 11 | |
| 68 | 68 | ||
| 69 | - | (ii) Receives a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) from the 12 | |
| 70 | - | Department after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the 13 | |
| 71 | - | State Superintendent; 14 | |
| 69 | + | (3) Receives an income that is less than the maximum eligible total income 12 | |
| 70 | + | levels established by the Office, including any additional sources of income; and 13 | |
| 72 | 71 | ||
| 73 | - | ( | |
| 72 | + | (4) Satisfies any other criteria established by the Office. 14 | |
| 74 | 73 | ||
| 75 | - | ( | |
| 76 | - | ||
| 74 | + | (c) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 15 | |
| 75 | + | in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a: 16 | |
| 77 | 76 | ||
| 78 | - | ( | |
| 77 | + | (1) Public school teacher in the State who: 17 | |
| 79 | 78 | ||
| 80 | - | (c) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 19 | |
| 81 | - | in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a: 20 | |
| 79 | + | (i) Has taught in Maryland for at least 2 years: 18 | |
| 82 | 80 | ||
| 83 | - | (1) Public school teacher in the State who: 21 | |
| 81 | + | 1. In science, technology, engineering, fine arts, or math 19 | |
| 82 | + | subjects; 20 | |
| 84 | 83 | ||
| 85 | - | (i) Has taught in Maryland for at least 2 years: 22 | |
| 84 | + | 2. In a school in which at least the following percentages of 21 | |
| 85 | + | the students are enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch program in the State: 22 | |
| 86 | 86 | ||
| 87 | - | 1. In science, technology, engineering, fine arts, or math 23 | |
| 88 | - | subjects; 24 | |
| 87 | + | A. 75% through June 30, 2025; and 23 | |
| 89 | 88 | ||
| 90 | - | 2. In a school in which at least the following percentages of 25 | |
| 91 | - | the students are enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch program in the State: 26 | |
| 89 | + | B. 55% beginning July 1, 2025; or 24 | |
| 92 | 90 | ||
| 93 | - | A | |
| 91 | + | 3. In a school that: 25 | |
| 94 | 92 | ||
| 95 | - | | |
| 93 | + | A. Had Title I status during the 2018–2019 school year; 26 | |
| 96 | 94 | ||
| 97 | - | 3. In a school that: 29 SENATE BILL 318 3 | |
| 95 | + | B. Lost Title I status after the 2018–2019 school year; and 27 | |
| 96 | + | SENATE BILL 318 3 | |
| 98 | 97 | ||
| 99 | 98 | ||
| 99 | + | C. Participates in the United States Department of 1 | |
| 100 | + | Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision; and 2 | |
| 100 | 101 | ||
| 101 | - | A. Had Title I status during the 2018–2019 school year; 1 | |
| 102 | + | (ii) Has received a performance evaluation rating for the most recent 3 | |
| 103 | + | year available in the county in which the teacher taught; 4 | |
| 102 | 104 | ||
| 103 | - | B. Lost Title I status after the 2018–2019 school year; and 2 | |
| 105 | + | (2) Mental health professional who has provided mental health services in 5 | |
| 106 | + | a public school for at least 2 years as an employee of: 6 | |
| 104 | 107 | ||
| 105 | - | C. Participates in the United States Department of 3 | |
| 106 | - | Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision; and 4 | |
| 108 | + | (i) A county school system; or 7 | |
| 107 | 109 | ||
| 108 | - | (ii) | |
| 109 | - | ||
| 110 | + | (ii) A local health department through an agreement with a county 8 | |
| 111 | + | board; [or] 9 | |
| 110 | 112 | ||
| 111 | - | (2) Mental health professional who has provided mental health services in 7 | |
| 112 | - | a public school for at least 2 years as an employee of: 8 | |
| 113 | + | (3) Nurse who has been a school nurse for at least 2 years; 10 | |
| 113 | 114 | ||
| 114 | - | (i) A county school system; or 9 | |
| 115 | + | (4) VETERINARIAN PRACTITI ONER WHO HAS PROVIDED VETERIN ARY 11 | |
| 116 | + | SERVICES AS: 12 | |
| 115 | 117 | ||
| 116 | - | ( | |
| 117 | - | ||
| 118 | + | (I) AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD NOT LESS TH AN 13 | |
| 119 | + | 5 YEARS; OR 14 | |
| 118 | 120 | ||
| 119 | - | (3) Nurse who has been a school nurse for at least 2 years;. 12 | |
| 121 | + | (II) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINIMUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR 15 | |
| 122 | + | FOR A PERIOD NOT LESS THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL SHELTER THAT IS OWNED BY : 16 | |
| 120 | 123 | ||
| 121 | - | (4) VETERINARIAN PRACTITI ONER WHO HAS PROVIDED VETERIN ARY 13 | |
| 122 | - | SERVICES AS: 14 | |
| 124 | + | 1. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 17 | |
| 123 | 125 | ||
| 124 | - | | |
| 125 | - | ||
| 126 | + | 2. AN ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED TO PERFOR M 18 | |
| 127 | + | ANIMAL CONTROL SERVI CES FOR A LOCAL GOVE RNMENT; OR 19 | |
| 126 | 128 | ||
| 127 | - | (II) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINI MUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR 17 | |
| 128 | - | FOR A PERIOD NOT LES S THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL S HELTER THAT IS OWNED BY: 18 | |
| 129 | + | 3. AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND 20 | |
| 130 | + | WAS A RECIPIENT OF T HE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM 21 | |
| 131 | + | DURING THE PRIOR YEA R; OR 22 | |
| 129 | 132 | ||
| 130 | - | 1. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 19 | |
| 133 | + | (5) VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WHO HAS PROVIDED VETERINARY 23 | |
| 134 | + | TECHNICIAN SERVICES AS: 24 | |
| 131 | 135 | ||
| 132 | - | | |
| 133 | - | ||
| 136 | + | (I) AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD NO T LESS THAN 25 | |
| 137 | + | 5 YEARS; OR 26 | |
| 134 | 138 | ||
| 135 | - | 3. AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND 22 | |
| 136 | - | WAS A RECIPIENT OF T HE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM 23 | |
| 137 | - | DURING THE PRIOR YEA R; OR 24 | |
| 139 | + | (II) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINI MUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR 27 | |
| 140 | + | FOR A PERIOD NOT LES S THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL S HELTER THAT IS OWNED BY: 28 | |
| 138 | 141 | ||
| 139 | - | (5) VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WHO HAS PROVIDED VET ERINARY 25 | |
| 140 | - | TECHNICIAN SERVICES AS: 26 | |
| 141 | - | ||
| 142 | - | (I) AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD NO T LESS THAN 27 | |
| 143 | - | 5 YEARS; OR 28 | |
| 144 | - | 4 SENATE BILL 318 | |
| 145 | - | ||
| 146 | - | ||
| 147 | - | (II) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINI MUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR 1 | |
| 148 | - | FOR A PERIOD NOT LES S THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL S HELTER THAT IS OWNED BY : 2 | |
| 149 | - | ||
| 150 | - | 1. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 3 | |
| 151 | - | ||
| 152 | - | 2. AN ORGANIZATION CONTR ACTED TO PERFORM 4 | |
| 153 | - | ANIMAL CONTROL SERVI CES FOR A LOCAL GOVE RNMENT; OR 5 | |
| 154 | - | ||
| 155 | - | 3. AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND 6 | |
| 156 | - | WAS A RECIPIENT OF T HE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM 7 | |
| 157 | - | DURING THE PRIOR YEA R. 8 | |
| 158 | - | ||
| 159 | - | (D) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , 9 | |
| 160 | - | THE OFFICE SHALL ASSIST I N THE REPAYMENT OF T HE AMOUNT OF ANY HIG HER 10 | |
| 161 | - | EDUCATION LOAN OWED BY: 11 | |
| 162 | - | ||
| 163 | - | (1) A VETERINARIAN PRACTIT IONER WHO HAS PROVID ED 12 | |
| 164 | - | VETERINARY SERVICES AS: 13 | |
| 165 | - | ||
| 166 | - | (I) AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD NO T LESS THAN 14 | |
| 167 | - | 5 YEARS; OR 15 | |
| 168 | - | ||
| 169 | - | (II) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINI MUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR 16 | |
| 170 | - | FOR A PERIOD NOT LES S THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL S HELTER THAT IS OWNED BY: 17 | |
| 171 | - | ||
| 172 | - | 1. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 18 | |
| 173 | - | ||
| 174 | - | 2. AN ORGANIZATION CONTRAC TED TO PERFORM 19 | |
| 175 | - | ANIMAL CONTROL SERVI CES FOR A LOCAL GOVE RNMENT; OR 20 | |
| 176 | - | ||
| 177 | - | 3. AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND 21 | |
| 178 | - | WAS A RECIPIENT OF T HE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM 22 | |
| 179 | - | DURING THE PRIOR YEA R; OR 23 | |
| 180 | - | ||
| 181 | - | (2) A VETERINARY TECHNICIA N WHO HAS PROVIDED VET ERINARY 24 | |
| 182 | - | TECHNICIAN SERVICES AS: 25 | |
| 183 | - | ||
| 184 | - | (I) AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD NO T LESS THAN 26 | |
| 185 | - | 5 YEARS; OR 27 | |
| 186 | - | ||
| 187 | - | (II) A VOLUNTEER FOR A MINI MUM OF 100 HOURS PER YEAR 28 | |
| 188 | - | FOR A PERIOD NOT LES S THAN 3 YEARS AT AN ANIMAL S HELTER THAT IS OWNED BY: 29 | |
| 189 | - | ||
| 190 | - | 1. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 30 SENATE BILL 318 5 | |
| 142 | + | 1. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 29 4 SENATE BILL 318 | |
| 191 | 143 | ||
| 192 | 144 | ||
| 193 | 145 | ||
| 194 | 146 | 2. AN ORGANIZATION CONTR ACTED TO PERFORM 1 | |
| 195 | 147 | ANIMAL CONTROL SERVI CES FOR A LOCAL GOVE RNMENT; OR 2 | |
| 196 | 148 | ||
| 197 | 149 | 3. AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHELTERS ANIMALS AND 3 | |
| 198 | 150 | WAS A RECIPIENT OF T HE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER GRANTS PROGRAM 4 | |
| 199 | 151 | DURING THE PRIOR YEA R. 5 | |
| 200 | 152 | ||
| 201 | - | (d | |
| 202 | - | ||
| 153 | + | (d) (1) A grant awarded under subsection (c) of this section shall be known as 6 | |
| 154 | + | the Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award. 7 | |
| 203 | 155 | ||
| 204 | 156 | (2) A recipient of a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award shall 8 | |
| 205 | 157 | be known as a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Scholar. 9 | |
| 206 | 158 | ||
| 207 | - | (e) | |
| 159 | + | (e) An applicant for assistance in the repayment of a commercial loan shall 10 | |
| 208 | 160 | demonstrate to the Office that the commercial loan was used for tuition, educational 11 | |
| 209 | 161 | expenses, or living expenses for graduate or undergraduate study. 12 | |
| 210 | 162 | ||
| 211 | - | (f) | |
| 163 | + | (f) Assistance in the repayment of a loan from an entity set forth in § 13 | |
| 212 | 164 | 18–1501(c)(2) of this subtitle shall require the approval of the Office. 14 | |
| 213 | 165 | ||
| 214 | - | (g) (H) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall 15 | |
| 215 | - | assist in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a licensed 16 | |
| 216 | - | clinical alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapy 17 | |
| 217 | - | counselor, or a licensed clinical professional counselor whose practice is located in a 18 | |
| 218 | - | high–need geographic area of the State as determined by the Maryland Department of 19 | |
| 219 | - | Health. 20 | |
| 166 | + | (g) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist 15 | |
| 167 | + | in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a licensed clinical 16 | |
| 168 | + | alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapy counselor, or a 17 | |
| 169 | + | licensed clinical professional counselor whose practice is located in a high–need geographic 18 | |
| 170 | + | area of the State as determined by the Maryland Department of Health. 19 | |
| 220 | 171 | ||
| 221 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July | |
| 222 | - | 1, 2025. | |
| 172 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20 | |
| 173 | + | 1, 2025. 21 | |
| 223 | 174 | ||
| 224 | - | ||
| 225 | - | ||
| 226 | - | Approved: | |
| 227 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 228 | - | Governor. | |
| 229 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 230 | - | President of the Senate. | |
| 231 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 232 | - | Speaker of the House of Delegates. |