Bill Summaries: H955 (2015-2016 Session)

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  • Summary date: Apr 25 2016 - View summary

    Amends the definition of eligible student in GS 115C-112.5(2), for the purposes of the special education scholarships for children with disabilities, to expand eligibility (when other specified criteria are met) to children that have a parent or legal guardian who is on full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders.

    Amends GS 115C-112.6(b1), concerning the disbursement of special education scholarships for children with disabilities funds. Deletes the current provisions concerning scholarship endorsement for tuition and replaces it with the following. Requires the The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (Authority) to disburse scholarship funds awarded to eligible students for tuition at a nonpublic school based on the method selected by the nonpublic school. Allows a nonpublic school to elect to participate in the scholarship endorsement for tuition option or the reimbursement for tuition option, and sets out provisions governing the two options. 

    Provides that for the 2016-17 school year only, a child is deemed to have met the eligibility requirement of enrollment in a North Carolina public school during the previous semester under GS 115C-112.5(2)f.1. if (1) the child's parent or guardian submitted an application and was eligible to receive a scholarship grant under Part 1H (Special Education Scholarships for Children with Disabilities) of Article 9 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes for the 2015-16 school year and was enrolled in a public school for at least 75 days during the spring semester of the 2014-15 school year or (2) the child was enrolled for at least 75 days during the spring semester of the 2015-16 school year.

    Appropriates $5.8 million from the General Fund to the UNC Board of Governors in recurring funds for 2016-17 to be allocated to the State Education Assistance Authority to award special education scholarship grants for children with disabilities. Effective July 1, 2016.

    Amends GS 115C-562.1(3), which defines eligible students for scholarships grants to a nonpublic school, to establish that a child whose parent or legal guardian is on full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty order under 10 USC 12301 (federal statute of Reserve components generally) and 10 USC 12401 (federal statute of Army and Air National Guard of the United States status), is eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program.  

    Amends GS 115C-562.2 by amending the way in which opportunity scholarships are to be awarded after scholarship grants have been awarded to prior recipients, to require no more than 45% (was, 35%) of the remaining funds to be used to award scholarship grants to eligible students entering kindergarten or first grade. Adds that the following kindergarten and first graders are not included in determining the number of scholarship grants allowable: (1) students who have an eligible sibling who is receiving a scholarship grant, (2) students who have a sibling attending a North Carolina public school under GS 115C-366 (assignment of student to a particular school), and (3) students who are eligible for a scholarship grant under GS 115C-562.1(3)a.6 (have a parent or legal guardian on full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserves).

    Unless otherwise indicated, applies beginning with the 2016-17 school year.