In the upcoming 2026 Maryland State legislative session, Senators Jack Bailey and Will Smith plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 690, legislation to amend Maryland’s Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program - to include correctional officers.
The goal of the bill is to make correctional officers, both current employees and students preparing for the profession, eligible for tuition assistance. This support would help promote professional development and career advancement for a group of public safety professionals who face high-stress and demanding work conditions.
SB 690 responded to ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in the correctional system. By offering tuition assistance, the legislation aims to make the profession more attractive and to retain qualified, committed officers dedicated to public safety. To ensure a return on the state’s investment, scholarship recipients would be required to serve as correctional officers for at least five years within eight years after graduation.
The legislation is an effort to strengthen Maryland’s public safety workforce. Supporters argue that expanding this scholarship would benefit not only individual officers but also the overall effectiveness and integrity of the correctional system. It also underscores a key challenge for state leaders: finding effective ways to attract, train, and retain the professionals who keep our communities safe.
Article by AFT Maryland staff
2025-10-10