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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="18-1502" title_number="18" title_name="Student Financial Assistance" subtitle_number="15" subtitle_name="Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is a program of loan assistance repayment known as the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program in the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall assist in the repayment of the amount of any higher education loan owed by an individual who:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Receives a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A college or university in the State of Maryland;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A school of law;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>For a mental health professional, any accredited college or university; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>For a veterinary practitioner or veterinary technician, any accredited veterinary college or university; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Receives a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) from the Department after completing an alternative teaching preparation program approved by the State Superintendent;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Obtains eligible employment;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Receives an income that is less than the maximum eligible total income levels established by the Office, including any additional sources of income; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Satisfies any other criteria established by the Office.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>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:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Public school teacher in the State who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Has taught in Maryland for at least 2 years:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>In science, technology, engineering, fine arts, or math subjects;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>In a school in which at least the following percentages of the students are enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch program in the State:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>75% through June 30, 2025; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>55% beginning July 1, 2025; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>In a school that:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Had Title I status during the 2018–2019 school year;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Lost Title I status after the 2018–2019 school year; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Participates in the United States Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Has received a performance evaluation rating for the most recent year available in the county in which the teacher taught;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Mental health professional who has provided mental health services in a public school for at least 2 years as an employee of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A county school system; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A local health department through an agreement with a county board; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Nurse who has been a school nurse for at least 2 years.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>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:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A veterinarian practitioner who has provided veterinary services as:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>An employee in the State for a period not less than 5 years; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A volunteer for a minimum of 100 hours per year for a period not less than 3 years at an animal shelter that is owned by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A local government;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>An organization contracted to perform animal control services for a local government; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>An organization that shelters animals and was a recipient of the Maryland Spay and Neuter Grants Program during the prior year; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A veterinary technician who has provided veterinary technician services as:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>An employee in the State for a period not less than 5 years; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A volunteer for a minimum of 100 hours per year for a period not less than 3 years at an animal shelter that is owned by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A local government;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>An organization contracted to perform animal control services for a local government; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>An organization that shelters animals and was a recipient of the Maryland Spay and Neuter Grants Program during the prior year.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A grant awarded under subsection (c) of this section shall be known as the Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A recipient of a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Award shall be known as a Nancy Grasmick Public School Professional Scholar.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>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.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>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.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>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 licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapy counselor, or a licensed clinical professional counselor whose practice is located in a high–need geographic area of the State as determined by the Maryland Department of Health.</text>
  </level>
</section>
