Ch. 449                                    2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

appropriated annually for Educational Assistance Grants certain student
financial assistance programs to be allocated to institutions of higher education
in the State to fund Educational Excellence Awards; and generally relating to
funding for Educational Excellence Awards.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Education
Section 18-307
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2001 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

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

Article - Education

18-307.

(a)     Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Office shall compile
and certify lists for the entire State that rank applicants by financial need.

(b)     All funds for annual initial grants shall be awarded from the statewide list
on the basis of greatest financial need.

(c)      On or before May 1 of each year, the Office shall send each Senator and
each Delegate a list of individuals in each legislative district to whom Educational
Excellence Awards are awarded.

(d)     (1) (I) [If State funds are available for this purpose, institutions]
INSTITUTIONS of higher education in the State may provide Educational Excellence
Awards to students who otherwise meet the requirements for receiving an
Educational Excellence Award but who apply after the March 1 deadline or have
other extenuating circumstances.

(II) AT LEAST $3 MILLION OF THE TOTAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED
FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
AWARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION EACH YEAR THE COMMISSION
SHALL TRANSFER UP TO AT LEAST $2 MILLION OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER §
18-107(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(2)     The Commission shall:

(i) Establish guidelines for the awarding of Educational Excellence
Awards by the institutions of higher education to the students; and

(ii) Adopt regulations necessary for the implementation of this
subsection.

(3)     (i) The Commission shall allocate available funds to institutions of
higher education based on the proportion of State residents enrolled at each
institution who receive federal Pell Grants.

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