Maryland Education Section 18-706
§ 18-706.
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) "Eligible organization" means an institution, including a licensed hospital, nursing home, adult day care center, public health agency, home health agency, or other organization authorized by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene.
(3) "Eligible institution" means an institution of postsecondary education:
(i) 1. Approved to operate by the Maryland Higher Education Commission; or
2. Recognized by the Commission as a regionally accredited institution offering an equivalent and nationally accredited out-of-state nursing program; and
(ii) That awards nursing degrees or diplomas.
(4) "Nursing shortage area" means a recognized area of nursing service or specialization determined by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to be an area where there exists a shortage of qualified nurses in eligible organizations.
(5) "Nursing student" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary nursing education degree or diploma program at an eligible institution.
(6) "Service obligation" means employment as:
(i) A nurse in a nursing shortage area in an eligible organization; or
(ii) A faculty member in a nursing program at an eligible institution.
(b) (1) Economic Development Student Assistance Grants may be awarded as scholarships for nursing students in nursing shortage areas.
(2) (i) The nursing scholarship awarded under this section shall be in the amount of tuition and fees not to exceed $3,000 annually for a full-time student or a prorated award according to the number of credit hours taken by a part-time student.
(ii) Each award shall be renewable on an annual basis up to a maximum amount of $12,000, if the recipient:
1. Remains a resident of this State;
2. Enrolls in an eligible institution;
3. Maintains a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and
4. Makes satisfactory progress toward the nursing degree or diploma according to the standards of the eligible institution attended.
(3) (i) For a nursing student enrolled in a nursing program, including mandatory summer academic sessions that are a required part of the approved curriculum, the nursing scholarship awarded under this section shall be in the amount of tuition and fees not to exceed $4,500 per calendar year.
(ii) Each award shall be renewable on an annual basis up to a maximum amount of $12,000, if the recipient:
1. Remains a resident of the State;
2. Enrolls in a nursing program at an eligible institution;
3. Maintains a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and
4. Makes satisfactory progress toward the nursing degree or diploma according to the standards of the eligible institution attended.
(c) Each recipient of the nursing scholarship awarded under this section shall:
(1) Be a nursing student;
(2) Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent;
(3) Be selected by the Office on a competitive basis from among the qualified applicants based on academic criteria established by the Commission; and
(4) Perform the service obligation in a:
(i) Full-time position at a rate of 1 year for each year that the recipient receives a grant awarded under this subtitle; or
(ii) Part-time position at a rate of 2 years for each year that the recipient receives a grant awarded under this subtitle.
(d) Notwithstanding § 18-701(b) and (c) of this subtitle, the Commission may award a nursing scholarship under this section to a nursing student attending an out-of-state eligible institution if:
(1) The nursing student provides the Commission with a copy of a letter that the nursing student received from the in-State eligible institution indicating that the nursing student's application was accepted and deferred due to a lack of capacity; and
(2) The Commission verifies, based on information provided to the Commission by the institution, that there is a lack of capacity at the in-State eligible institution identified under item (1) of this subsection for the relevant academic semester and nursing program.
(e) In making scholarship awards under this section, the Commission shall give priority to students enrolling in institutions of higher education in the State.
(f) (1) Each recipient of a nursing scholarship awarded under this section may be entitled, based on financial need, to an additional grant to meet living costs not to exceed $3,000 annually for a full-time student or a prorated award according to the number of credit hours taken by a part-time student.
(2) Each additional grant shall be renewable on an annual basis up to a maximum amount of $12,000, if the recipient meets the requirements for continuing the scholarship award under subsection (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
(3) The Office shall require a recipient of a nursing scholarship who seeks an additional grant for living costs to provide information to the Office sufficient to assure that the student has a definite financial need.
(g) (1) The Office shall waive the repayment of a grant award for a:
(i) Full-time nurse at the rate of 1 year for each year that the recipient performs the service obligation; or
(ii) Part-time nurse at the rate of 2 years for each year that the recipient performs the service obligation.
(2) The repayment of the grant award by a recipient who is not yet required by the provisions of this subtitle to begin repayment of the grant award and who accepts employment that fulfills the service obligation shall be forgiven, for the purposes of this subtitle, for a:
(i) Full-time nurse at the rate of 1 year for each year that the recipient performs the service obligation; or
(ii) Part-time nurse at the rate of 2 years for each year that the recipient performs the service obligation.
(h) The Commission shall establish and publish rules and regulations to administer the grants awarded under this section.
(i) Funds for the nursing scholarships awarded under this section shall be as provided in the annual budget of the Commission by the Governor.
