Increased Limit Is Proposed for Senate Scholarships

Maryland senators could hand out more money in individual college scholarships with less public scrutiny under a bill set to come before the state Senate today.

The legislative scholarship program has long been a source of debate in Annapolis. Critics say it gives lawmakers too much discretion in doling out millions of state dollars. Two Republican lawmakers have bills under consideration to kill or restrict the program.

But a Montgomery County senator is sponsoring a bill to increase the amount that senators can award in individual scholarships from $2,000 a year to about $8,700, or the full cost of tuition at the University of the Maryland or other state colleges and universities.

Under the bill, finding out who received a scholarship from a senator would require a Freedom of Information Act request. Currently, the names can be obtained with a phone call to the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Montgomery), the sponsor, said the bill was not designed to loosen the rules but to make them "less complex." She said that state delegates can grant the full amount of tuition at public universities and that some rules unfairly prevent students from receiving scholarships. One constituent, she said, could not receive scholarship money to go to college summer school.

"I've been really frustrated about this," Forehand said.

Senators, who can award as much as $138,000 a year each in scholarships, handed out a total of $5.7 million last year. Delegates, who can award as much as $34,488 each, doled out $4.6 million.

Senators have been handing out scholarships since 1924. The procedure has changed over the years. For example, at one time, recipients were required to teach in Maryland for two years after they graduated.

Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) said the program has "outlived its usefulness." "I don't think the legislature ought to be in the business of awarding scholarships," Frosh said.

The Higher Education Commission has not taken a position on the legislation. Helen Szablya, a spokeswoman for the commission, said few people ever ask for the names of recipients.

"It's usually during election year when someone wants to know about" an incumbent, she said. "And then sometimes it's the delegates or senators themselves, because they want to publicize it."

The bill also would allow senators to award scholarships after Sept. 1, the current cutoff date, and it would remove a provision that allows the state to take scholarship money a senator has not awarded and give it to applicants from outside the senator's district.