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SB 318

Relating to health benefits for substitute teachers; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session

Expands LARP to include Maryland veterinarians and veterinary technicians who meet degree and 5-year employment or 100-hour/year, 3-year volunteer requirements.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 318

SB 318 — Higher Education: Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program — Eligibility (Chapter 387)

Status: Approved by the Governor (Chapter 387). Effective date: July 1, 2025.
Introduced: January 14, 2025. Sponsors: Senators Lewis Young, Corderman, et al.

Main purpose

SB 318 expands eligibility for Maryland’s Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP) to include veterinary practitioners and veterinary technicians who meet specified education and service requirements. The change is intended to encourage veterinarians and vet technicians to provide paid or volunteer services in Maryland, especially at public or local-shelter settings.

Key provisions

  • Adds veterinary practitioners and veterinary technicians to the list of professions eligible for the Janet L. Hoffman LARP.
  • Education requirement: eligible individuals must have received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from any accredited veterinary college or university (i.e., not limited to in‑state schools).
  • Service requirement (either):
    • Employment route — provided veterinary (or veterinary technician) services as an employee in Maryland for at least 5 years; OR
    • Volunteer route — volunteered at qualifying animal shelters for at least 100 hours per year for at least 3 years. Qualifying shelters are:
    • owned by a local government; or
    • an organization contracted to perform animal control services for a local government; or
    • an organization that shelters animals and received a Maryland Spay and Neuter Grants Program award during the prior year.
  • The bill incorporates these added categories within the program’s existing eligibility framework (income limits, other criteria, and award distribution rules remain in effect).

Who is affected

  • Newly eligible: Maryland-based veterinarians and veterinary technicians who meet the degree and service/volunteer requirements.
  • Animal shelters and local governments: may see increased volunteer or employment interest from program-eligible veterinary professionals.
  • Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) / Office of Student Financial Assistance: will administer expanded eligibility and may need minor system and publicity updates.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Fiscal implications (per legislative fiscal analysis):
    • No immediate statutory appropriation required; program can be managed within existing appropriation levels.
    • Average LARP award in FY 2024 ≈ $5,800 per recipient (85 awards totaling $493,500).
    • FY 2026 appropriation for the program ≈ $4.1 million; additional awards would raise expenditures by about $5,800 per additional recipient if current funds are insufficient.
    • Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) modifications to add veterinarians estimated one‑time cost ≈ $8,000.
    • If funds are limited, additional eligible applicants can be placed on the program waiting list.

How the program works (brief)

Under existing program rules, awards are based on an applicant’s outstanding educational debt, and approved funds are typically distributed annually over three years while the recipient remains eligible and submits required documentation.

This change broadens LARP’s workforce‑incentive reach into veterinary fields, aligning loan‑repayment support with services that benefit public animal welfare and local shelter capacity in Maryland.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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