Higher Education - Loan Repayment and Scholarships for Correctional Officers

HB 1505 expands Maryland’s existing loan repayment and scholarship programs to include correctional officers. It amends two programs: the "Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers" (for repaying education loans) and the "Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program" (for tuition assistance). Correctional officers who work in state correctional facilities for at least 2 years (for loan repayment) or commit to 5 years of service (for scholarships) become eligible. The bill directly affects current and future correctional officers pursuing or completing degrees in Maryland. It does not create new funding but extends existing benefits to this workforce.