1. (a) A community college shall verify the eligibility of an applicant for a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship award in accordance with this section.

2. (b)

   1. (1) A community college shall:

      1. (i) Verify that an applicant qualifies for a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship award under the requirements of § 18-3603 of this subtitle;
      2. (ii) Evaluate the applicant's income eligibility using federal standards for verification and in accordance with income eligibility criteria established by the Office;
      3. (iii) Maintain records used by the community college to determine the eligibility of applicants for not less than a period of 5 years after the end date of the award year associated with the student's last award; and
      4. (iv) Provide the Commission with an audit, in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission, to show that awards verified and administered under this section have been made properly.
   2. (2) A verification obtained by an applicant under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection may be used at another community college.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The Office shall review the audit provided to the Commission under subsection (b)(1)(iv) of this section not less than once every 3 years to verify that recipients met the eligibility requirements for an award.

   2. (2)

      1. (i) If the Office determines that a community college made an incorrect award to an ineligible student, the community college shall remit to the Commission the total amount of the award made in error.
      2. (ii) The Commission shall pay all amounts received under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph to the Need-based Student Financial Assistance Fund under § 18-107 of this title.
      3. (iii) The community college may not require a student to repay the community college for an incorrect award made from the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship.

Added by Acts 2023, c. 634, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.