Bill Summary for S 609 (2019-2020)

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Summary date: 

Apr 8 2019

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
Senate Bill 609 (Public) Filed Wednesday, April 3, 2019
AN ACT TO SIMPLIFY THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAM, CLARIFY ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS TO APPLY TO CERTAIN FOUR YEAR OLDS, AND MAKE VARIOUS OTHER CHANGES TO THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.
Intro. by Ballard, Clark, Johnson.

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Bill summary

Part I.

Amends GS 115C-112.5 by amending the eligibility requirements for the Children with Disabilities Scholarship Grant Program, by extending eligibility to children who do not meet the age-related requirements for entry into kindergarten but who are at least four years old and deemed by a nonpublic school to have the maturity to justify admission into the school (provided that other eligibility requirements are met). Deletes the requirement that the child have met at least one of the following: been enrolled in a NC public school or DOD school located in the state during the spring semester before the school year for which the student is applying, received special education or related services through the state public schools as a preschooler with a disability during the spring semester before the school year for which the student is applying, received a scholarship for the prior school year, was identified as a child with a disability before the end of the year of initial enrollment in kindergarten or first grade, had a parent or legal guardian on full time status in the active uniformed services of the US, have been domiciled in the state for at least six months, was in foster care, adoption decree had been entered no more than one year before application submission, was enrolled in a nonpublic school during the spring semester of the prior year and was enrolled for the entire school year immediately prior to the school year in which the student was enrolled in a state public school or DOD school located in the state. Makes conforming deletions in GS 115C-112.6 and GS 115C-112.8.

Part II.

Amends the eligibility for the Scholarship Grant Program in GS 115C-562.1 to extend eligibility to children who do not meet the age-related requirements for entry into kindergarten but who are at least four years old and deemed by a nonpublic school to have the maturity to justify admission into the school (provided that other eligibility requirements are met). Additionally amends eligibility criteria to require that the student reside in a household with an income level not in excess of 150% (was, 133%) of the amount required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program. 

Amends GS 115C-562.2 by deleting the limit on the amount that could be used to award scholarships to eligible students entering kindergarten or first grade to 40% of the funds that remained after grants were made to prioritized classes of students.

Part III.

Amends GS 115C-591 to extend eligibility for personal education savings accounts to children who do not meet the age-related requirements for entry into kindergarten but who are at least four years old and deemed by a nonpublic school to have the maturity to justify admission into the school (provided that other eligibility requirements are met).

Part IV.

Applies beginning with the award of scholarship funds for 2020-21.