GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1477

Short Title:  Exemplary High School Grads. Grants.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators McKoy; Jordan and Davis.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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June 3, 1996

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE EDUCATION FUND TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO EXEMPLARY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"ARTICLE 32.
"High School Graduates Education Fund.
"§ 116-256.  Purpose of Article.
The purpose of this Article is to acknowledge high school graduates who exemplify both academic success and responsible citizenship by graduating with an overall grade point average of C or higher and without a criminal record and to encourage and assist those students in continuing their education or vocational training by awarding grants to those graduates to help finance their continued studies.
"§ 116-257.   High School Graduate Education Fund established.
There is established the High School Graduate Education Fund to be administered by the State Education Assistance Authority.  Monies from the fund shall be used to award grants of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) to high school graduates who qualify under this Article for continuing their education.
"§ 116-258.  Eligibility for grants; criteria.
(a)	Any high school graduate who is a resident of North Carolina may apply for a grant under this Article if the person:
(1)	Graduated on or after May 30, 1997, and is applying within two years of the person's high school graduation;
(2)	Graduated with a grade point average of C or higher;
(3)	Has never been convicted of a criminal offense excluding Class 1 misdemeanor offenses under Chapter 20, but including a conviction for death by vehicle under G.S. 20-141.4(a2) and including a conviction for driving while impaired under G.S. 20-138.1.
(b)	The State Education Assistance Authority shall develop the process for applying for a grant and the criteria for awarding grants under this Article.
"§ 116-259.  Disbursement and use of grants.
(a)	A grant may be awarded under this section to a person who qualifies under this Article for any of the following purposes:
(1)	To attend a college, university, community college, or institution of higher education approved by the State Education Assistance Authority.
(2)	To attend a business school, trade school, or other professional training school or program approved by the State Education Assistance Authority.
(3)	To attend a technical or vocational training program approved by the State Education Assistance Authority.
(b)	A person who applies and is awarded a grant under this section shall receive the funds upon enrollment in the institution or program and appropriate verification by the State Education Assistance Authority of the person's enrollment.
(c)	Grants awarded under this Article shall be limited to no more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per person.  A graduate may receive no more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per year in grant money under this Article, may receive only one grant per school year, and may receive no more than two grants total under this Article."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the High School Graduate Education Fund for the 1996-97 fiscal year the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000).
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1996.