S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 8.19 of S.L. 2021-180, as amended by Section 2.8(b) of S.L. 2022-6, establishes the North Carolina Patriot Star Family Recovery Scholarship Program (Program). Of the funds appropriated from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina (BOG) for the Program, the BOG is required to make funds available to (i) the Patriot Foundation and (ii) the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to establish and administer scholarships under the Program.

The Patriot Foundation and Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation will use the funds to provide scholarships to attend eligible postsecondary institutions to (i) eligible children and eligible spouses of certain veterans, (ii) eligible children of certain currently serving members of the Armed Forces, and (iii) eligible disabled veterans.

Any eligible child, eligible spouse, or eligible disabled veteran must meet the following additional criteria:

• Have a household income level of less than 350% of the federal poverty level, excluding veteran's disability compensation and related compensation benefits.
• Be attending or have been accepted to enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution.
• Have complied with the requirements of the Selective Service System, if applicable.

The Patriot Foundation and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation must separately administer and award scholarships to eligible applicants in accordance with the Program requirements, including establishing criteria and procedures related to scholarship documentation completion, the amount of individual scholarships, the conditions for revoking a scholarship, and any other procedures deemed necessary to administer the Program. Each foundation can contract with the State Education Assistance Authority for administrative assistance for the Program.

If an eligible child or eligible spouse receives a scholarship or grant to attend an eligible postsecondary institution other than from the Program, the scholarship awarded by the Program must be reduced so that the sum of all grants and scholarships does not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution.

The Patriot Foundation and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation are required to submit separate reports by April 1 for each year that the foundation spends federal funds for the Program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and various other entities on the activities related to the Program and the use of funds, through the deadline established by federal law and guidelines.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.