Ch. 697

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1)  COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN PHYSICAL OR
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BECOME LICENSED AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST,
PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, OR
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT; AND

(2)  PERFORM THE SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR 1 YEAR FOR
EACH YEAR THAT THE RECIPIENT HAS A TUITION ASSISTANCE AWARD AS
PROVIDED IN § 18-1603(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(B) (1) SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF § 18-1605(A), THE
STATE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD SHALL WAIVE THE REPAYMENT OF THE TUITION
ASSISTANCE AWARD IN PHYSICAL OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT THE RATE
OF 1 YEAR FOR EACH YEAR THAT THE RECIPIENT PERFORMS THE SERVICE
OBLIGATION.

(2)  A RECIPIENT SHALL BEGIN REPAYMENT AT ANY TIME
DURING THE REQUIRED PERIOD THAT THE RECIPIENT IS NO LONGER A
PHYSICAL OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST IN A PUBLICLY FUNDED PROGRAM
IN THIS STATE PERFORMING THE SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(3)  A RECIPIENT WHO IS NOT ALREADY A PHYSICAL OR
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND WHO LEAVES THE PROGRAM MAY DELAY
REPAYMENT AS LONG AS THE RECIPIENT REMAINS A FULL-TIME
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT.

(4) A RECIPIENT WHO IS ALREADY A PHYSICAL OR

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND WHO LEAVES THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
SHALL BEGIN REPAYMENT AT THE TIME THE RECIPIENT CEASES TO BE
ENROLLED AS A FULL-TIME STUDENT IN A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

(5) (4) (I) REPAYMENT SHALL BE MADE TO THE STATE
WITHIN 5 YEARS AFTER THE REPAYMENT PERIOD BEGINS AND SHALL FOLLOW
A REPAYMENT SCHEDULE ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD.

(II) THE STATE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD MAY WAIVE OR
DEFER REPAYMENT IN THE EVENT OF DISABILITY OR EXTENDED SICKNESS
WHICH PREVENTS THE RECIPIENT FROM FULFILLING THE SERVICE
OBLIGATION REQUIRED UNDER § 18-1603.

18-1605.

(A)  THE REPAYMENT OF THE TUITION ASSISTANCE AWARD IN
PHYSICAL OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY OF A RECIPIENT WHO IS NOT YET
REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF § 18-1604 OF THIS SUBTITLE TO BEGIN
REPAYMENT OF THE AWARD AND WHO ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT AS A PHYSICAL
OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST IN A PUBLICLY FUNDED PROGRAM, THAT
FULFILLS THE SERVICE OBLIGATION SHALL BE FORGIVEN, FOR THE
PURPOSES OF § 18-1604, AT A RATE OF 1 YEAR FOR EACH YEAR THAT THE
RECIPIENT PERFORMS THE SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(B)  THE STATE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO
IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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