A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ENCOURAGE LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT STUDENT ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION PROGRAMS AND TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS SERVING AS LEGISLATIVE OR GOVERNOR'S PAGES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS and to expand ELIGIBILITY of children to obtain certain scholarships under part 2 of article 14 of chapter 143B of the general statutes.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Part I. ENCOURAGE LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT STUDENT ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION PROGRAMS
SECTION 1.(a)  Part 1 of Article 26 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑382.5.  Student attendance recognition programs.
Local boards of education are encouraged to adopt a student attendance recognition program within the local school administrative unit to promote student attendance in school and participation in class as an integral part of academic achievement and the learning process. If the local board of education adopts a student attendance recognition program, a student with an absence resulting from service as a legislative page or a Governor's page shall be eligible for participation in the program and the student's absence shall not be included as part of the student's record of attendance for the purposes of the program."
SECTION 1.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2017‑2018 school year.

part II. expand ELIGIBILITY of children to obtain certain wartime veterans scholarships
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 143B‑1226 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑1226.  Classes or categories of eligibility under which scholarships may be awarded.
…
(3)	Class II: For the purposes of this subdivision, a child shall include any person meeting either of the requirements set forth in G.S. 143B‑1224(3)a. or b. and who is a child, as that term is defined in 37 U.S.C. § 401. Under this class a scholarship may be awarded to not more than 100 children yearly, each of whose veteran parent, at the time the benefits pursuant to this Part are sought to be availed of:
a.	Is or was at the time of the parent's death receiving compensation for a wartime service‑connected disability of twenty percent (20%) or more, but less than one hundred percent (100%), as rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or
b.	Was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received as a result of an act of any opposing armed force, as a result of an international terrorist attack, or as a result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force.
(4)	Class III: For the purposes of this subdivision, a child shall include any person meeting either of the requirements set forth in G.S. 143B‑1224(3)a. or b. and who is a child, as that term is defined in 37 U.S.C. § 401. Under this class a scholarship may be awarded to not more than 100 children yearly, each of whose veteran parent, at the time the benefits pursuant to this Part are sought to be availed of:
a.	Is or was at the time of his death drawing pension for permanent and total disability, nonservice‑connected, as rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
b.	Is deceased and who does not fall within the provisions of any other eligibility class described in G.S. 143B‑1226(1), (2), (3), (4)a., nor (5).
c.	Served in a combat zone, or waters adjacent to a combat zone, or any other campaign, expedition, or engagement for which the United States Department of Defense authorizes a campaign badge or medal, who does not fall within the provisions of any other class described in G.S. 143B‑1226(1), (2), (3), (4)a., or (5).
.…"
SECTION 2.(b)  The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall document the number of applicants who apply for Class II and Class III scholarships, as provided in G.S. 143B‑1226, and shall report on this information to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government by March 30, 2018. The report shall include the total number of applications received and the total number of those applications made eligible as a result of this act.

part iII. Effective date
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.