§ 18-1502. Established; eligibility

   (a) Establishment. -- There is a program of loan assistance repayment known as the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program in the State.

(b) Eligibility. -- The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall assist in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by an individual who:

   (1) (i) Receives a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from:

         1. A college or university in the State of Maryland; or

         2. A school of law; or

      (ii) Receives a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) from the Department after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the State Superintendent;

   (2) Obtains eligible employment;

   (3) Receives an income that is less than the maximum eligible total income levels established by the Office, including any additional sources of income; and

   (4) Satisfies any other criteria established by the Office.

(c) Loan by a public school teacher. -- Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Office shall assist in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by a public school teacher in the State who:

   (1) Has taught in Maryland for at least 2 years:

      (i) In science, technology, engineering, or math subjects; or

      (ii) In a school in which at least 75% of the students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program in the State; and

   (2) Has received the highest performance evaluation rating for the most recent year available in the county in which the teacher taught.

(d) Nancy Grasmick Teacher Scholar. --

   (1) A grant awarded under subsection (c) of this section shall be known as the Nancy Grasmick Teacher Award.

   (2) A recipient of a Nancy Grasmick Teacher Award shall be known as a Nancy Grasmick Teacher Scholar.

(e) Applicant to demonstrate use of funds. -- An applicant for assistance in the repayment of a commercial loan shall demonstrate to the Office that the commercial loan was used for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses for graduate or undergraduate study.

(f) Approval of Office. -- Assistance in the repayment of a loan from an entity set forth in § 18-1501(c)(2) of this subtitle shall require the approval of the Office.

HISTORY: 1988, ch. 246, § 2; 1989, ch. 5, § 1; ch. 712; 1990, ch. 601; 1993, ch. 628; 1994, ch. 3, § 1; 1996, ch. 10, § 16; 1999, ch. 34, § 7; 2001, chs. 391, 471; 2002, ch. 315, § 6; ch. 429, § 6; 2003, ch. 252, § 10; 2006, ch. 434; 2008, ch. 36, § 6; 2009, chs. 575, 576; 2011, ch. 129; 2012, chs. 495, 496; 2013, ch. 43.