AN ACT to allow members of the north carolina national guard who are enrolled in a program granting a graduate certificate to be eligible for the north carolina NATIONAL GUARD tuition assistance benefit.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 116‑209.54(b) reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑209.54.  Eligibility.
…
(b)	This tuition assistance benefit shall be applicable to students in the following categories:
(1)	Students seeking to achieve completion of their secondary school education at a community college or technical institute.
(2)	Students seeking trade or vocational training or education.
(3)	Students seeking to achieve a two‑year associate degree.
(4)	Students seeking to achieve a four‑year baccalaureate degree.
(5)	Students seeking to achieve a graduate degree.
(6)	Students enrolled in a program granting a graduate certificate."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of September, 2015.

	s/	 Tom Apodaca
	 Presiding Officer of the Senate

	s/	 Paul Stam
	 Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2015