Bill Summary for H 475 (2019-2020)

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Summary date: 

Mar 26 2019

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
House Bill 475 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 26, 2019
AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA PATRIOT STAR FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP ACT.
Intro. by Arp, Moore, Bell, Lewis.

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Bill summary

Appropriates $500,000 in recurring funds for 2019-20 from the General Fund to the UNC Board of Governors to be provided as a grant to the Patriot Foundation to establish the NC Patriot Star Family Scholarship Program (Program) to provide scholarships to eligible children and spouses of certain veterans and current service members of the US Armed Forces to attend eligible post secondary institutions. Defines eligible child as a person (1) who is attending or has been accepted to enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution; (2) who is a legal resident of the state when scholarship documentation is completed; (3) has complied with the Selective Service System requirements; and (4) whose parent is a veteran or a currently serving member of the Armed Forces that meets the specified NC residency requirements and meets the following specified service conditions: (a) was a member of the Armed Forces who was killed in action or in the line of duty, or died of wounds or other causes not due to the service member's willful misconduct during a period of war or national emergency; (b) was a member of the Armed Forces who died of service-connected injuries, wounds, illness, or other causes incurred or aggravated while a member of the Armed Forces during a period of war or national emergency; (c) is a veteran of the Armed Forces who incurred traumatic injuries or wounds or sustained a major illness while a member of the Armed Forces during a period of war or national emergency and is receiving compensation for a wartime service-connected disability of at least 50%; (d) is a current member of the Armed Forces who incurred traumatic injuries or wounds or sustained a major illness while a member of the Armed Forces during a period of war or national emergency. Defines an eligible spouse as any person (1) who is attending or has been accepted to enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution, (2) who is a legal resident of the state when scholarship documentation is completed, (3) has complied with the requirements of the Selective Service System, and (4) whose spouse was a member of the Armed Forces who was killed in action or the line of duty, or died of wounds or other causes not due to the service member's willful misconduct during a period of war or national emergency. Also defines eligible postsecondary institutions and veteran

Makes the Patriot Foundation responsible for administering the Program and sets out types of criteria and procedures that must be established by the Foundation. Prohibits the sum of all awarded scholarships and grants from exceeding the cost of attendance for the institution; requires that the amount of the scholarship be reduced in such circumstances.  

Requires the Foundation to report annually by April 1 to the specified NCGA committee and division on the activities described in the act and the use of state funds. 

Effective July 1, 2019.