1. (a)

   1. (1) The Department and the Maryland Department of Labor shall establish qualifications for operators of pilots under the Program.

   2. (2) The qualifications shall, at a minimum, require an operator to:

      1. (i) Be registered as a nonprofit organization in the State;
      2. (ii) Have previous experience and measured success in providing education services to adult learners, including industry certification and job placement services;
      3. (iii) Have previous experience providing education services or workforce development services to adult learners who have been limited by educational disadvantages, a disability, a criminal record, or similar barriers to employment opportunities;
      4. (iv) Have secured financing to develop or the capability to secure financing for the development of a physical site for the pilot; and
      5. (v) Hire appropriately trained instructional personnel.
   3. (3) An operator may be a partnership of two or more persons that meet the qualifications required under this subsection.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The operator shall adopt written standards for the admission and dismissal of students.
   2. (2) The standards and any amendments shall be submitted to the Department and the Maryland Department of Labor for approval.

3. (c) The operator may partner with:

   1. (1) A county board of education; or
   2. (2) A public institution of higher education in the State if the operator intends to provide course work for college credit.

Added by Acts 2017, c. 608, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 609, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017. Amended by Acts 2019, c. 8, § 5.