In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Disabled public safety employee” means a State or local public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that: Precludes the individual from continuing to serve or be employed as a State or local public safety employee; and In the case of a volunteer member of a fire department or ambulance or rescue company or squad, precludes the member from continuing to be employed in the nonpublic safety occupation in which the member is engaged at the time of the injury. “Fund” means the Edward T. Conroy and Jean B. Cryor Scholarship Fund. “School employee” includes an employee of a public or nonpublic school in the State. “State or local public safety employee” means a person who is employed in the State as: A career or volunteer member of a: Fire department; Ambulance company or squad; or Rescue company or squad; A law enforcement officer; A correctional officer; or A member of the Maryland National Guard who was a resident of this State at the time of death. “Surviving spouse” means a person who has not remarried. “Victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks” means a Maryland resident who was killed as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the attack on the Pentagon in Virginia, or the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. There is a program of scholarships that are awarded by eligible postsecondary institutions under this section. The program for uniformed services and public safety personnel and their eligible dependents is the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program. The program for eligible dependents of public and nonpublic school employees is the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program. A person may apply to an eligible postsecondary institution for a scholarship under this section if the person: Is accepted for admission or enrolled in the regular undergraduate, graduate or professional program at an eligible institution; Is enrolled in a 2–year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program in an eligible institution; or Is enrolled in a private career school; Is at least 16 years old; and Meets the other eligibility criteria specified in this section. To apply for a scholarship under this section, the following persons are required to be a resident of Maryland at the time of application or at the time of the disabling or fatal event: A son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or the surviving spouse of a member of the uniformed services who: Died as a result of service after December 7, 1941; Suffered a service connected 100% permanent disability after December 7, 1941; or Was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action, if that occurred on or after January 1, 1960, as a result of the Vietnam conflict, and if the child was born prior to or while the parent was a prisoner of war or missing in action; A prisoner of war or missing in action, if that occurred on or after January 1, 1960, as a result of the Vietnam conflict and was a resident of this State at the time the person was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; A veteran who: Suffers a service connected disability of 25% or greater; and Has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veterans’ educational benefits; A son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of or the surviving spouse of a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; A son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of a school employee who, as a result of an act of violence: Died in the line of duty; or Sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the school employee 100% disabled; or The surviving spouse of a school employee who, as a result of an act of violence: Died in the line of duty; or Sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the school employee 100% disabled. To apply for a scholarship under this section, the following persons are not required to be a resident of Maryland at the time of application or at the time of the disabling or fatal event: A son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of any State or local public safety employee killed in the line of duty; or The surviving spouse of any State or local public safety employee killed in the line of duty; or A disabled public safety employee; A son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of a disabled public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that renders the public safety employee 100% disabled; or The surviving spouse of a disabled public safety employee who sustains an injury in the line of duty that renders the public safety employee 100% disabled. A scholarship awarded under this section: May be used for the tuition and mandatory fees at any eligible institution; and May not: Exceed the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate student at the 4–year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland Global Campus and University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, with the highest annual expenses for a full–time resident undergraduate; and Be less than the lesser of: $3,000; or The equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident of the institution attended by the recipient of the scholarship. Each postsecondary institution shall determine the eligibility of persons who apply to the institution for the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program and the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program. Funds for the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program and the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program shall be allocated by the Commission to each postsecondary institution based on a formula determined by the Commission, which may include prior year enrollment, eligible recipients, and institutional tuition and fees. In October and February of each year, each postsecondary institution shall report to the Commission the number of eligible recipients attending the institution. The Commission shall allocate funds for awards to postsecondary institutions subject to the availability of funds as provided in the State budget. Each postsecondary institution may make awards to eligible students subject to the allocation of funds from the Commission under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. The Commission shall adopt guidelines to implement this subsection. Each recipient of a scholarship under this section may hold the award for 5 years of full–time study or 8 years of part–time study. The number of eligible recipients under subsection (d)(2)(iii) of this section shall be limited to 15 each year. An award provided under subsection (d)(2)(iv) of this section may not exceed the amount specified in subsection (e)(2) of this section when combined with any other scholarship received by a student based on the student’s status as a child or spouse of a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Subject to a recipient’s continued eligibility under subsection (d) of this section and the availability of funds under subsection (f) of this section, an awarding authority shall give priority to a recipient of a scholarship before awarding funds to new applicants. There is an Edward T. Conroy and Jean B. Cryor Scholarship Fund. The Commission shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Commission: May accept any gift or grant from any person for the Fund; Shall use any gift or grant that it receives for a scholarship from the programs; and Shall deposit any gift or grant that it receives for the programs with the State Treasurer. For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $4,000,000 to the Fund.

There is a program of scholarships for children of volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members who died or were disabled by an accident resulting from: Performing any duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of the fire company; or Actively participating in the ambulance or rescue squad work of an incorporated volunteer fire company or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad in the State. The recipient of a scholarship under this section shall be a graduate of an accredited high school. The Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Firefighters Association, in its discretion, shall: Determine the amount of each award; and Select the recipient of each award. The Maryland State Firefighters Association shall provide the funds for these awards.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Eligible institution” means a public or private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State that possesses a certificate of approval from the Commission. “Fund” means the Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Fund. “Scholarship” means the Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship. There is a Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship. An individual may apply to the Office for the scholarship if the individual: Is a resident of Maryland; Is accepted for admission or enrolled in a course offered at an eligible institution; and Is actively engaged as a career or volunteer firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member in an organized fire department or ambulance or rescue squad in the State. A scholarship awarded under this section: May be used for the tuition and mandatory fees at any eligible institution; and May be up to: 100% of the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident student at a 2–year public institution of higher education established under Title 16 of this article with the highest annual expenses for a full–time resident student; or 50% of the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate student at the 4–year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland Global Campus and University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, with the highest annual expenses for a full–time resident undergraduate. Any student financial aid, other than a student loan, awarded to a scholarship recipient shall be credited to the recipient’s tuition before the calculation of any award amount provided through the scholarship. Initial awards shall be provided to scholarship recipients on a first–come, first–served basis. A scholarship recipient shall maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Each recipient of a scholarship under this section may hold the award for 5 years of full–time study or 8 years of part–time study. A Senator or Delegate may authorize the Office to award all or a portion of the funds authorized under Subtitles 4 and 5 of this title to eligible recipients of scholarships awarded under this section. Funds for the Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship shall be as provided in the annual budget of the Commission by the Governor. There is a Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Fund in the Commission. The Commission shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Commission: May accept any gift or grant from any person or corporation for the Fund; Shall use any gift or grant that it receives for a scholarship from the Fund; and Shall deposit any gift or grant that it receives for the Fund with the State Treasurer. At the end of the fiscal year, the Commission shall prepare an annual report on the Fund that includes an accounting of all financial receipts and expenditures to and from the Fund. The Commission shall submit a copy of the report to the General Assembly in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. A recipient of a scholarship shall work for at least 1 year as a volunteer or career firefighter or ambulance or rescue squad member in an organized fire department or ambulance or rescue squad in the State after completion of study at an eligible institution. A scholarship recipient shall repay the Commission the funds received under this section if the recipient does not perform the service obligation required under subsection (i) of this section.

For purposes of this section, an individual served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict if the individual was an active service member who served in: Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined in federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001; or Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined in federal regulations, on or after March 19, 2003. There is a Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship. An individual may apply to the Office for a scholarship under this section if the individual: Is a resident of Maryland; Is accepted for admission or enrolled in the regular undergraduate program at an eligible institution; or Is accepted for admission or enrolled in a 2–year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program in an eligible institution; and Is a veteran who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict; Is an active service member who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict; or Is a member of a reserve component who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict described in subsection (a) of this section; or Is a son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse of: A veteran or an active service member who is serving or has served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict; or A member of the reserve component who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq conflict described in subsection (a) of this section. A scholarship awarded under this section may supplement, but is not contingent on, any federal education benefits for which a recipient qualifies as a result of an individual’s service or status as a dependent of an active service member or of a veteran. Each scholarship may be used, at any eligible institution, to pay for educational expenses as defined by the Office, including: Tuition and mandatory fees; and Room and board. The annual amount of a scholarship may not exceed 50% of the equivalent annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board of a resident undergraduate student at the 4–year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland Global Campus and University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, with the highest annual expenses for a full–time resident undergraduate. A scholarship recipient shall maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Each recipient of a scholarship under this section may hold the award for 5 years of full–time study or 8 years of part–time study. A scholarship recipient is not required to submit an application for federal or State financial aid. Scholarship recipients who file for financial aid must file by March 1 of each year. A Senator or Delegate may authorize the Office to award all or a portion of the funds authorized under Subtitles 4 and 5 of this title to eligible recipients of scholarships awarded under this section. Funds for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship shall be as provided in the annual budget of the Commission by the Governor. In this subsection, “Fund” means the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Fund. There is a Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Fund in the Commission. The Commission shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Commission: May accept any gift or grant from any person or corporation for the Fund; Shall use any gift or grant that it receives for a scholarship from the Fund; and Shall deposit any gift or grant that it receives for the Fund with the State Treasurer. At the end of the fiscal year, the Commission shall prepare an annual report on the Fund that includes an accounting of all financial receipts and expenditures to and from the Fund. The Commission shall submit a copy of the report to the General Assembly as provided under § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.

There is a Richard W. Collins III Leadership With Honor Scholarship Program. An individual is eligible for a scholarship under this section if the individual is: Eligible for in–State tuition; A member of a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program; A minority student or a student who is a member of another group historically underrepresented in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs; and A student at a historically black college or university in the State. The Office shall: Award at least 25% of its total annual grant money to students at Bowie State University; Award the remaining amount of its total annual grant money to students at historically black colleges and universities other than Bowie State University; Determine the amount of each award; Select the recipient of each award; and Prioritize students with financial need in selecting recipients of each award. The Governor shall include in the State budget an annual appropriation of at least $1,000,000 to the Program. The Office shall adopt procedures or regulations necessary to implement this section.