, ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 240

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Education

6-112.

(a)     There is a program of State and local aid to teachers who pursue
certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards known as the
State and Local Aid Program for Certification by the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards.

(b)     Each school year, the State Board shall select, consistent with the amount
provided in the State budget for the Program, a maximum of 500 teachers to
participate in the Program.

(c)     The State Board shall adopt regulations to implement and administer the
Program established under this section, including:

(1)     Procedures for submitting applications for aid; and

(2)     Criteria for the selection of recipients of aid.

(d)     (1) Each teacher selected by the State Board to receive aid shall receive
from the State an amount equal to the certification fee charged by the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards.

(2)     Each county shall pay to the State one-third of the cost of
certification for each teacher who participates in the Program who teaches in the
county.

(3)     (i) A teacher who does not complete all the requirements for
assessment by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall
reimburse the State the full amount of the aid received to participate in the Program.

(ii) The State shall reimburse the county the amount received
under paragraph (2) of this subsection on receipt of the reimbursement of aid from a
teacher under this paragraph.

(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not
apply to a teacher who completes all the requirements for assessment by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards but who does not receive certification.

(e)     The State Board shall establish a statewide staff development plan that
utilizes the skills and knowledge of teachers who have obtained National Board
certification.

Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1997, as amended by Chapter 536 of the Acts of
1999, as amended by Chapter 61 of the Acts of 2000

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
on June 1, 1997. [It shall remain effective for a period of 7 11 years, and, at the end

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