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

Overview: OVERVIEW AND ANALYSIS: Section 8.16 of S.L. 2021-180 creates the Comprehensive Transition Postsecondary Scholarship Program (CTPP) to administer the Comprehensive Transition Postsecondary Scholarships (scholarships). The CTPP will provide scholarships to full-time North Carolina students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in certificate accomplishment programs at constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina that are approved by the United States Department of Education as CTPPs under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The University of North Carolina System Office must administer the CTPP, in consultation and collaboration with the constituent institutions. This section also establishes the Comprehensive Transition Postsecondary Scholarship Fund (CTPP Fund) to fund the awarded scholarships. All monies appropriated for the CTPP, all returned scholarship monies, and all interest earned on these funds will be placed in the CTPP Fund. Monies that are unexpended at the end of each fiscal year do not revert to the General Fund and remain available for the award of scholarships. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Qualify as a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes.
• Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as a full-time student in the Integrative Community Studies CTPP at the constituent institution.
• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate need according to the federal methodology in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Subject to the availability of monies in the CTPP Fund, scholarships must be awarded to eligible students in an amount to cover the cost of attendance in the CTPP at the constituent institution. If an eligible student also receives a scholarship or other grant covering the cost of attendance, then the amount of this scholarship must be reduced by an appropriate amount determined by the constituent institution so that the total amount of scholarships and grants received by the student does not exceed the cost of attendance. The cost of attendance is determined by the constituent institution. In the event there are not sufficient monies available for scholarships for each eligible student to cover the cost of attendance, the constituent institution can adjust the distribution of the amount of scholarships as necessary in an academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This section becomes effective beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year.