A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to amend the law regarding the benefits paid to students attending state educational institutions on scholarships for children of war veterans.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 165‑21(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	A scholarship granted pursuant to this Article shall consist of the following benefits in either a State or private educational institution:
(1)	With respect to State educational institutions, unless expressly limited elsewhere in this Article, a scholarship shall consist of:
a.	Tuition,
b.	A reasonable board  allowance at a college, university, or university‑owned facility,
c.	A reasonable room  allowance at a college, university, or university‑owned facility.
d.	Matriculation and other institutional fees required to be paid as a condition to remaining in said institution and pursuing the course of study selected, including a reasonable allowance as established by the Secretary of the Department of Administration for books, supplies, tools, personal computers, and specialty clothing required for the student's course of study.
e.	Travel allowance of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per semester.
(2)	With respect to private educational institutions, a scholarship shall consist of a monetary allowance as prescribed in G.S. 165‑22.1(d).
(3)	Only one scholarship may be granted pursuant to this Article with respect to each child and it shall not extend for a longer period than four academic years, which years, however, need not be consecutive. However, an extension may be granted by the Secretary of the Department of Administration for unusual or compelling situations.
(4)	No educational assistance shall be afforded a child under this Article after the end of an eight‑year period beginning on the date the scholarship is first awarded. Those persons who have been granted a scholarship under this Article prior to the effective date of this act shall be entitled to the remainder of their period of scholarship eligibility if used prior to August 1, 2010. Whenever a child is enrolled in an educational institution and the period of entitlement ends while enrolled in a term, quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the end of such term, quarter or semester, but not beyond the entitlement limitation of four academic years."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.