A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make certain veterans and their spouses and dependent relatives who enroll in any of the state's public institutions of higher education eligible for in‑state tuition by waiving the TWELVE-month state residency requirement and to appropriate funds to implement the provisions of this act.
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.  Waiver of 12-month residency requirement for certain veterans and their spouses and dependent relatives.
(a)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Abode. – Has the same meaning as in G.S. 116‑143.3(a)(1).
(2)	Armed Forces. – Has the same meaning as in G.S. 116‑143.3(a)(2).
(3)	Home of record. – The state listed in the person's military separation document.
(4)	Institution of higher education. – Has the same meaning as in G.S. 116‑143.1(a)(1).
(b)	Waiver of 12-Month Residency Requirement for Veteran. – Any veteran who meets all of the following criteria is eligible to be charged the in‑State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees for enrollment without satisfying the 12-month residency requirement under G.S. 116‑143.1:
(1)	Served active duty in the Armed Forces and was discharged or released from the Armed Forces under conditions other than dishonorable.
(2)	Applies for admission to the institution of higher education and enrolls as an undergraduate at a constituent institution or as a student at a community college within three years of the veteran's discharge or release from the Armed Forces.
(3)	North Carolina is the veteran's home of record or last duty station.
(4)	Qualifies for one hundred percent (100%) of the federal benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill Active Duty Education Assistance Program) or 38 U.S.C. Chapter 33 (Post‑9/11 Educational Assistance).
(5)	North Carolina is the abode of the veteran on the date of enrollment.
(c)	Eligibility of Veteran's Spouse and Dependent Relatives. – The spouse or dependent relative of any veteran described in subsection (b) of this section is eligible to be charged the in‑State tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees for enrollment without satisfying the 12‑month residency requirement under G.S. 116‑143.1, provided the spouse or dependent relative meets all of the following criteria:
(1)	Applies for admission to the institution of higher education as defined in G.S. 116‑143.1(a)(3) and enrolls as an undergraduate at a constituent institution or as a student at a community college within three years of the veteran's discharge or release from the Armed Forces.
(2)	North Carolina is the abode of the spouse or dependent relative on the day of enrollment.
(3)	Receives transferred federal educational benefits from an eligible veteran under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill Active Duty Education Assistance Program) or 38 U.S.C. Chapter 33 (Post‑9/11 Educational Assistance).
(d)	The person applying for the benefit of this section has the burden of proving entitlement to the benefit.
(e)	A person charged less than the out‑of‑state tuition rate solely by reason of this section shall not, during the period of receiving that benefit, qualify for or be the basis of conferring the benefit of G.S. 116‑143.1(g), (i), (j), (k), or (l)."
SECTION 2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2014‑2015 fiscal year to implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Community Colleges the sum of one million nine hundred thousand dollars ($1,900,000) for the 2014‑2015 fiscal year to implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2014, and applies to veterans discharged or released on or after July 1, 2014, and the spouses and dependents of those veterans.