Section 13-405 - Tuition assistance.
§ 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.]