A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to waive the twelve-month state residency requirement for certain veterans and their dependents, Thus allowing them to qualify for the resident tuition rate.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 14 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 116‑143.3A.  Tuition of veterans and their dependents.
(a)	The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Abode. – Defined in G.S. 116‑143.3(a)(1).
(2)	Armed forces. – Defined in G.S. 116‑143.3(a)(2).
(3)	Veteran. – Any person who is honorably discharged from the Armed Forces  on or after July 1, 2011.
(b)	Notwithstanding G.S. 116‑143.1(b), a veteran who qualifies for admission to an institution of higher education as defined in G.S. 116‑143.1(a) shall be considered a resident for tuition purposes if the veteran's abode is North Carolina and the veteran was last stationed at a permanent duty station in North Carolina.
Notwithstanding G.S. 116‑143.1(b), any dependent relative of a veteran eligible for resident tuition under this section shall also be considered a resident for tuition purposes if the dependent's abode is North Carolina."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of six million three hundred thousand dollars ($6,300,000) for the 2012‑2013 fiscal year to assist with the cost of waiving the 12‑month State residency requirement for certain veterans of the Armed Forces and their dependents and classifying them as residents for tuition purposes.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) for the 2012‑2013 fiscal year to assist with the cost of waiving the 12-month State residency requirement for certain veterans of the Armed Forces and their dependents and classifying them as residents for tuition purposes.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2012, and applies for the 2012‑2013 fall academic semester and each subsequent academic semester.