NATIONAL GUARD EDUCATION ASSISTANCE CHANGES. (NEW)

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View NCGA Bill Details2017-2018 Session
House Bill 486 (Public) Filed Monday, March 27, 2017
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM AND THE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM POLICY TO REQUIRE THAT A STUDENT WHO IS A NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE MEMBER PLACED ON ACTIVE DUTY STATUS BE GIVEN AN EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THE STUDENT IS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO THE STUDENT FOR COMPLETION OR WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASSES THAT WILL NOT PENALIZE THE STUDENT ACADEMICALLY; TO BROADEN THE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO COVER STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN APPROVED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW FOR IN‑STATE TUITION FOR VETERANS; AND TO PROHIBIT THE CLOSURE OF THE EASTERN CAROLINA STATE VETERANS CEMETERY IN GOLDSBORO.
Intro. by G. Martin, Szoka.

Status: Ch. SL 2017-155 (House Action) (Jul 21 2017)

SOG comments (3):

Identical bill

Identical to S 400, filed 3/27/17.

Change long and short titles

Senate committee substitute to 1st edition changed long and short titles.  Long title was AN ACT TO BROADEN THE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO COVER STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN APPROVED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. Short title was NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Long Title Change

Senate amendment #1 to the 2nd edition makes changes to the long title. The original title is as follows:

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM AND THE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM POLICY TO REQUIRE THAT A STUDENT WHO IS A NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE MEMBER PLACED ON ACTIVE DUTY STATUS BE GIVEN AN EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THE STUDENT IS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO THE STUDENT FOR COMPLETION OR WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASSES THAT WILL NOT PENALIZE THE STUDENT ACADEMICALLY; TO BROADEN THE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO COVER STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN APPROVED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; AND TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW FOR IN‑STATE TUITION FOR VETERANS.

Bill History:

H 486/S.L. 2017-155

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Jul 25 2017 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO DIRECT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM AND THE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM POLICY TO REQUIRE THAT A STUDENT WHO IS A NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE MEMBER PLACED ON ACTIVE DUTY STATUS BE GIVEN AN EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THE STUDENT IS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO THE STUDENT FOR COMPLETION OR WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASSES THAT WILL NOT PENALIZE THE STUDENT ACADEMICALLY; TO BROADEN THE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO COVER STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN APPROVED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW FOR IN‑STATE TUITION FOR VETERANS; AND TO PROHIBIT THE CLOSURE OF THE EASTERN CAROLINA STATE VETERANS CEMETERY IN GOLDSBORO. Enacted July 21, 2017. Section 4 is effective July 1, 2017. The remainder is effective July 21, 2017. Sections 1 and 2 apply beginning with the 2017 fall academic semester.


  • Summary date: Jun 27 2017 - View Summary

    Senate amendment #1 adds the following to the 2nd edition. Prohibits the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) from closing any of the State-owned veterans' cemeteries. Directs DMVA to continue to operate all the State-owned veterans' cemeteries and maintain the current level of operations at each of those cemeteries. Directs the Office of State Budget and Management to realign the base budget for DMVA for the 2017-19 fiscal biennium to increase receipts and include operational costs of the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro. Makes organizational and conforming changes. Changes the act's long title.


  • Summary date: May 24 2017 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

    Amends the act's short and long titles.

    Adds a new subsection to GS 116-11, pertaining to the powers and duties of the UNC Board of Governors (BOG), and a new subsection to GS 115D-5, pertaining to the powers and duties of the State Board of Community Colleges. Directs the BOG and the State Board to adopt a policy to be applied uniformly throughout each System, providing that any enrolled student who is a National Guard Service Member placed on State active duty status during an academic term be given an excused absence for the period of time the student is on active duty. Details four requirements of the policy, including requiring that the student be given the opportunity to make up any test or other work missed during the excused absence, and permitting the student to drop, with no penalty, any course that the student was unable to complete as a result of being placed on State active duty status. Requires the BOG and the State Board to adopt these policies by July 1, 2017, and to direct each constituent institution or community college to implement the policies beginning with the 2017 fall academic term. Applies beginning with the 2017 fall academic semester.

    Removes the application provision for proposed GS 116-209.54(b).

    Amends GS 116-143.3A, pertaining to the waiver of 12-month residency requirement for certain veterans and other individuals entitled to federal education benefits under 38 USC Chapter 30 or 38 USC Chapter 33. Adds new subsection (c1), making eligible for the in-state tuition rate recipients using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 USC 3319) while the transferor is on active duty in the Armed Forces, the commissioned corps of the US Public Health Service, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, so long as the recipient's abode is in North Carolina and the recipient provides the institution of higher education a letter of intent to establish NC residency.

    Adds new subsection (c2), making eligible for the in-state tuition rate recipients of the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 USC 3311(b)(9)), whose parent or spouse died in the line of duty, without regard as to whether the death in the line of duty followed a period of active duty service of 90 days or more, so long as the recipient's abode is in North Carolina and the recipient provides the institution of higher education a letter of intent to establish NC residency.

    Makes conforming changes to subsection (c). Modifies subsection (d), providing that after the expiration of the three-year period following discharge (currently, following discharge or death) as described in 38 USC 3679(c), any enrolled veteran entitled to federal education benefits under 38 USC Chapter 30 or 38 USC Chapter 33 and any other enrolled individual described in subsection (c) of GS 116-143.3A entitled to federal educational benefits under 38 USC Chapter 30 or 38 USC Chapter 33 who is eligible for in-State tuition under the statute continues to be eligible for the in-State tuition rate, provided that the covered individual remains continuously enrolled at that institution of higher education. Effective July 1, 2017.


  • Summary date: Mar 27 2017 - View Summary

    Amends GS 116-209.54 to make the tuition benefits package for North Carolina National Guard members also available to students in professional certification programs recommended by the Director of the North Carolina National Guard Education and Employment Center and approved by the North Carolina National Guard Education Services Officer. Applies beginning with the 2017 fall academic semester.