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Bill would extend law-enforcement scholarships to correctional officers, sponsors say
Summary
Delegate Sherry Sample Hughes told the Appropriations Committee HB 8-52 would expand an existing police/probation scholarship to correctional officers to support training, retention and professional development; corrections supervisors and officers testified in support.
Del. Sherry Sample Hughes presented House Bill 8-52 to expand the Maryland Police Officers and Probation Agent Scholarship Program to include correctional officers. She argued correctional officers perform essential public-safety work in challenging environments and deserve equitable access to existing scholarship resources.
Shai Tina Drummond, assistant warden at Worcester County Jail, and Ryan Taylor, a lieutenant at the Charles County Detention Center, testified in support, saying the change would provide meaningful educational and professional-development opportunities for correctional staff, aid retention and build a stronger public-safety workforce. They noted scholarship programs already exist for probation agents and police officers and this bill would align correctional officers with those cohorts.
Committee members discussed program uptake and certificate versus degree eligibility; sponsor and supporters said community-college and certificate options should be considered and that the program has unused capacity. The committee did not take a final vote and asked the sponsor to coordinate with the subcommittee regarding certificate eligibility and outreach.
