BALTIMORE

      Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan promised Maryland students last week he would increase state scholarship aid by $60 million a year if he is elected governor.

      But there is a catch: Students found using illegal drugs or committing violent acts would not be eligible for the Free State Scholarship Program.

      ``We need to expect and demand certain behavior from people if they want to be part of the program,'' Duncan said at a news conference at Morgan State University where he announced his three-part scholarship plan. Duncan faces Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley in the Democratic primary in September.

      Duncan did not propose a new revenue source for his $60 million increase, which he said would be on top of the existing $40 million state scholarship program. Economic growth would cover the cost as the plan is phased in over four years beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, he said.

      Duncan proposed creating a new merit-based scholarship plan for the top 10 percent of the students in each public high school if they attend college in Maryland. Those students could get grants of $5,000 a year for two years of college, or a total of $10,000.

      Duncan said about 6,200 graduates each year would be eligible for the plan, based on current public school enrollment.

The scholarships would help keep the state's best and brightest students in Maryland, Duncan said.

      He also proposed an expansion of the existing scholarship program that awards grants based on need, increasing the income ceiling for a family of four from $24,000 a year to $39,000 a year. Finally, Duncan said he would increase financial aid for students attending historically Black state colleges by $5 million a year.