AN ACT to modify the tuition assistance program for members of the north carolina national guard.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 127A‑193 reads as rewritten:
"§ 127A‑193.  Benefit.
The benefit provided under this Article shall consist of a monetary educational assistance grant not to exceed the highest amount charged by a State educational institution per academic year or a lesser amount, as prescribed by the Secretary, to remain within the funds appropriated, to qualifying members of the North Carolina national guard. Benefits shall be payable for a period of one academic year at a time, renewable at the option of the Secretary."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 127A‑195(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	All tuition benefit disbursements shall be made to the business or trade school or State or private educational institution concerned, for credit to the tuition account of each recipient."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 127A‑195 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(f)	Any balance of the monetary educational assistance grant up to the maximum for the academic year remaining after tuition is paid pursuant to subsection (c) of this section may be disbursed to the recipient as reimbursement for required course books and materials. The manner of obtaining the reimbursement payment for these required books and materials shall be as prescribed by the Secretary."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 24th day of August, 2005.

	_____________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2005