Section 13-405 - Tuition assistance. - Maryland Statutes

§ 13-405. Tuition assistance.
 

(a)  Definitions.-  

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(2) "Institution" means: 

(i) any campus of the University System of Maryland, any community college established under Title 16 of the Education Article, Morgan State University, or St. Mary's College; 

(ii) any private institution of higher education that grants a member a tuition waiver of at least 50%; 

(iii) any public postsecondary vocational-technical or trade school; or 

(iv) any private postsecondary vocational-technical or trade school that grants a member a tuition waiver of at least 50%. 

(3) "Member" means an individual who: 

(i) is regularly enlisted in the National Guard; or 

(ii) holds a commission in the National Guard as: 

1. an officer in the grade of major or below; or 

2. a warrant officer. 

(4) (i) "Tuition" means the basic instructional charge for undergraduate, graduate, professional, vocational-technical, and trade school credit courses and related fees at an institution. 

(ii) "Tuition" does not include charges for self-supporting programs. 

(b)  Amount.-  

(1) To the extent that funds are provided in the State budget, the Department may provide assistance equal to 50% of the cost of in-State tuition for any regularly scheduled undergraduate credit course, graduate credit course, professional credit course, vocational-technical course, or trade course for any active member attending an institution who is certified as eligible by the Adjutant General. 

(2) A member who receives assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection for an undergraduate credit, vocational-technical, or trade course shall remain an active member for at least 2 years following the completion of the course. 

(3) A member who receives assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection for a graduate or professional credit course shall remain an active member for at least 4 years following the completion of the course. 

(c)  Eligibility.-  

(1) The Adjutant General may not certify a member as eligible unless the member is: 

(i) enlisted and has at least 24 months remaining to serve on the current enlistment of the member; or 

(ii) an officer or warrant officer and agrees in writing to serve for a minimum of 24 months. 

(2) The 24-month requirement runs from the first day of classes for the semester. 

(d)  Effect of discharge.- If a recipient of tuition assistance under this section is discharged from the National Guard for a reason designated by the Adjutant General, the assistance terminates and the member shall reimburse the Department the amount of tuition assistance received for that semester within 30 days of discharge. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 65, § 12A; 2003, ch. 5, § 2; 2009, ch. 733.]