Section 11-603 - Public Safety Apprenticeship Program(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Law enforcement agency" means the police department of a county, municipal corporation, university in the State, or State agency.(3) "Program " means the Public Safety Apprenticeship Program.(4) "Public safety agency" includes : (i) a correctional unit, as defined in § 2-401 of the Correctional Services Article;(ii) a law enforcement agency; and(iii) a public safety agency, as defined in § 1-301 of the Public Safety Article.(b) There is a Public Safety Apprenticeship Program in the Department.(c) The purposes of the Program are to: (1) provide young individuals opportunities to begin a career with a public safety agency;(2) foster positive relationships between the public, particularly young individuals, and public safety agencies;(3) develop a cohort of individuals qualified to join a public safety agency;(4) encourage public safety agencies to hire apprentices; and(5) help public safety agencies offset additional costs, if any, associated with hiring apprentices.(d) The Program shall consist of start-up grants and stabilization grants.(e) A public safety agency or a group of public safety agencies participating in the Program shall: (1) develop a registered apprenticeship program; and(2) establish a registered apprenticeship program that develops a career path that enables an individual to work in a public safety agency.(f)(1) The Department shall:(i) administer the Program; and(ii) award start -up and stabilization grants under the Program on a competitive basis to a public safety agency or a group of public safety agencies that meet the requirements of this section.(2)(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Department may award: 1. a start-up grant not exceeding $200,000 to a public safety agency or a group of public safety agencies for development and launch of a public safety agency's registered apprenticeship program under this section; and2. a stabilization grant not exceeding $5,000 to a public safety agency or a group of public safety agencies on the initial enrollment of each apprentice in the public safety agency's registered apprenticeship program.(ii) The Department may not award a start-up or stabilization grant under this section to a public safety agency or a group of public safety agencies that fail to bargain with the appropriate exclusive representative regarding any adjustments to wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment that are required for individuals to participate in the public safety agency's registered apprenticeship program. (g) For fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the State budget an appropriation of at least $750,000 for the Program to: (1) provide grants to eligible public safety agencies; and(2) cover the administrative costs of operating the Program.(h) The Department shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out this section, including regulations to:(1) develop requirements for grant applications;(2) develop a process for reviewing grant applications and awarding grants to eligible public safety agencies; and(3) determine the maximum amount that an eligible public safety agency or a group of public safety agencies may be awarded under the Program each fiscal year.Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 709,Sec. 1, eff. 6/1/2024.Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 708,Sec. 1, eff. 6/1/2024.Added by 2019 Md. Laws, Ch. 25, Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2019.