reward under the Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Workforce
Tuition Assistance Program; requiring the repayment of an award for failure to
comply with certain requirements; requiring the Governor to include certain
providing for funding for the Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health
Workforce Tuition Assistance Program in the annual as provided in the State
budget; defining certain terms; and generally relating to the Developmental
Disabilities and Mental Health Workforce Tuition Assistance Program.

BY adding to

Article - Education

Section 18-2101 through 18-2108, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle
"Subtitle 21. Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Workforce
Tuition Assistance Program"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Community-based programs serving citizens with developmental
and psychiatric disabilities currently employ more than 40,000 direct service
employees; and

WHEREAS, The low entry-level wages these programs are able to pay often
require the hiring of staff who do not have the benefit of a college education; and

WHEREAS, Low salary levels available in these community—based programs
contribute to high staff turnover rates; and

WHEREAS, Community-based programs would benefit from a more stable,
educated workforce to ensure that services are of a high quality; and

WHEREAS, Tuition assistance incentives for prospective and current staff
would increase workforce stability and service quality, enable resources to be used in
expanding services, and provide economic opportunities for individuals interested in
human service careers; now, therefore,

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

Article - Education

SUBTITLE 21. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

18-2101.

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(B) "COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM" MEANS ANY NONPROFIT COMMUNITY
PROGRAM LICENSED BY THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION OR