EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0690*
SENATE BILL 690
F2 5lr2961
By: Senators Bailey and Smith
Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Higher Education – Scholarships for Correctional Officers 2
FOR the purpose of altering the eligibility criteria for the Maryland Police Officers and 3
Probation Agents Scholarship Program to include correctional officers; and generally 4
relating to scholarships for correctional officers. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 18–3801 through 18–3804, 18–3806, and 18–3807 to be under the amended 8
subtitle “Subtitle 38. Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and 9
Correctional Officers Scholarship Program” 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
Subtitle 38. Maryland Police Officers [and], Probation Agents, AND CORRECTIONAL 16
OFFICERS Scholarship Program. 17
18–3801. 18
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
(B) “CORRECTIONAL OFFICER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 8–201 OF 20
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ARTICLE. 21
[(b)] (C) “Eligible institution” means: 22 2 SENATE BILL 690
(1) A public senior higher education institution in the State; or 1
(2) A community college in the State. 2
[(c)] (D) “Police officer” has the meaning stated in § 3–201 of the Public Safety 3
Article. 4
[(d)] (E) “Probation agent” means an individual serving as a parole and 5
probation agent, supervisor, or regional administrator for the Department of Public Safety 6
and Correctional Services. 7
[(e)] (F) “Service obligation” means to work as a police officer or probation agent 8
in the State not less than 5 years during the 8–year period after graduation. 9
18–3802. 10
(a) There is a Maryland P olice Officers [and], Probation Agents, AND 11
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship Program. 12
(b) The purpose of the program is to provide tuition assistance for students who 13
are: 14
(1) Attending an eligible institution and enrolled in a degree program that 15
would further the student’s intent to become a police officer [or], probation agent, OR 16
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER after graduation; or 17
(2) Employed as a police officer [or], probation agent, OR CORRECTIONAL 18
OFFICER, attending an eligible institution, and enrolled in a degree program that would 19
further the police officer’s [or], probation officer’s, OR CORRECTIONAL OFFI CER’S career. 20
(c) The Office shall publicize the availability of the Maryland Police Officers 21
[and], Probation Agents, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship. 22
18–3803. 23
(a) Each year, the Office shall select eligible students and offer a scholarship to 24
each student selected to be used at an eligible institution of the student’s choice. 25
(b) A recipient of the Maryland Police Officers [and], Probation Agents, AND 26
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship shall: 27
(1) Be a Maryland resident or have graduated from a Maryland high 28
school; 29
SENATE BILL 690 3
(2) Be accepted for admission or currently enrolled at an eligible institution 1
as a full–time or part–time undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a course of study 2
or program that would further the recipient’s career; 3
(3) Sign a letter of intent to perform the service obligation on completion of 4
the recipient’s required studies; and 5
(4) Satisfy any additional criteria the Commission may establish. 6
(c) A current police officer [or], probation agent, OR CORRECTIONAL OFFI CER 7
shall be eligible for a Maryland Police Officers [and], Probation Agents, AND 8
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship if they meet the eligibility criteria under 9
subsection (b) of this section. 10
18–3804. 11
The recipient of a Maryland Police Officers [and], Probation Agents, AND 12
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship shall repay the Commission the funds received 13
as set forth in § 18–112 of this title if the recipient does not: 14
(1) Satisfy the degree requirements of the eligible course of study or 15
program or fulfill other requirements as provided in this subtitle; or 16
(2) Perform the service obligation to work as a police officer [or], probation 17
agent, OR CORRECTIONAL OFFI CER for at least 5 years during the 8–year period after 18
graduation. 19
18–3806. 20
The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least 21
$5,000,000 to the Commission to award scholarships under this subtitle, and the 22
Commission shall use: 23
(1) $2,500,000 for scholarships to students intending to become police 24
officers [or], probation agents, OR CORRECTIONAL OFFI CERS after graduation; and 25
(2) $2,500,000 for scholarships for existing police officers [or], probation 26
agents, OR CORRECTIONAL OFFI CERS to attend an eligible institution and remain a 27
police officer [or], probation agent, OR CORRECTIONAL OFFI CER after graduation. 28
18–3807. 29
The Office shall: 30
(1) Publicize the availability of Maryland Police Officers [and], Probation 31
Agents, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarships; and 32 4 SENATE BILL 690
(2) To the extent practicable, award scholarships under this subtitle in a 1
manner that reflects ethnic, gender, racial, and geographic diversity. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 3
1, 2025. 4