GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION LAW 2001-229
AN ACT TO CODIFY THE NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, TO AMEND THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO ALLOW THE STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO TARGET A PORTION OF THE FUNDS TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Section 9.4(a) and Section 9.4(b) of S.L. 1999-237 are codified as G.S. 115D-40.1(a) and G.S. 115D-40.1(b), respectively.
SECTION 2. G.S. 115D-40.1, as codified by Section 1 of this act, reads as rewritten:
"§ 115D-40.1. Financial Assistance for Community College Students.
(a) Need-Based Assistance
Program. - Of the funds appropriated to the Community Colleges System
Office for the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium, the sum of five million dollars
($5,000,000) for the 1999-2000 fiscal year and the sum of five million dollars
($5,000,000) for the 2000-2001 fiscal year shall be used to provide the largest
financial need-based student assistance program in the history of the North
Carolina Community College System. Students must apply for federal Pell Grants
to be eligible for this program. It is the intent of the General Assembly
that the Community College System make these financial aid funds available to
the neediest students who are not eligible for other financial aid programs
that fully cover the required educational expenses of these students. The State
Board may use some of these funds as short-term loans to students who
anticipate receiving the federal HOPE or Lifetime Learning Tax Credits.
(b) Targeted Assistance. - Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the State Board may allocate no more than ten percent (10%) of the funds appropriated for Financial Assistance for Community College Students to students who do not qualify for need-based assistance but who enroll in low-enrollment programs that prepare students for high-demand occupations.
(c) Administration
of Program. - The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt
rules and policies for the disbursement of the financial assistance provided
in this section. Students must apply for either federal Pell Grants or complete
a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for
consideration for financial assistance. The State Board may contract with
the State Education Assistance Authority for administration of these financial
assistance funds. These funds shall not revert at the end of each fiscal year
but shall remain available until expended for need-based financial assistance.
(b) The State
Board of Community Colleges shall ensure that at least one counselor is
available at each college to inform students about federal programs and funds
available to assist community college students including, but not limited to,
Pell Grants and HOPE and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits and to actively
encourage students to utilize these federal programs and funds."
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2001.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of June, 2001.
s/ Beverly E. Perdue
President of the Senate
s/ James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Michael F. Easley
Governor
Approved 3:21 p.m. this 21st day of June, 2001