H.B. 612
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Apr 13, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40319-ND-123
Short Title: Expand Criminal Justice Fellows Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Carson Smith.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO BROADEN THE ELIGIBLE COUNTIES FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
3 FELLOWS PROGRAM AND TO ALLOW FOR THE EXTENSION OF CERTAIN
4 PROGRAM DEADLINES.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6 SECTION 1. G.S. 17C-20 reads as rewritten:
7 "§ 17C-20. Definitions.
8 As used in this Article, the following definitions apply:
9 …
10 (5) Eligible county. – A county with a population of less than 200,000 according
11 to the latest federal decennial census.in North Carolina.
12 …."
13 SECTION 2. G.S. 17C-22 reads as rewritten:
14 "§ 17C-22. North Carolina Criminal Justice Fellows Program established; administration.
15 …
16 (c) Awards of Forgivable Loans. – The Program shall provide forgivable loans of up to
17 three thousand one hundred fifty-two dollars ($3,152.00) per year for up to year, totaling a
18 maximum of six thousand three hundred four dollars ($6,304.00) over two years years, to selected
19 individuals. If the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that circumstances warrant an
20 extension of the period over which the Program shall provide forgivable loans to a selected
21 individual, the Committee may extend that period to three years but may not increase the
22 maximum loan amount. The funds from the forgivable loans may be used for tuition, fees, and
23 the cost of books. The Committee may determine the maximum amount of loan proceeds that
24 may be applied to community college fees and course textbooks. The number of forgivable loans
25 awarded annually shall not exceed 100 and the total number of recipients in the Program each
26 year shall not exceed 200. The Committee shall select recipients no later than June 1 of each
27 year.
28 …
29 (h) Recipient Obligations. – A recipient must become and remain a full-time student at a
30 North Carolina community college in an Applied Associate Degree in Criminal Justice or in a
31 Committee-approved related field of study at all times during each of the recipient's two
32 academic years of community college study and pursue continuously studies that will qualify the
33 recipient to be employed in an eligible criminal justice profession upon graduation. The recipient
34 must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA throughout the course of study and also maintain
35 appropriate credit hours for each semester to obtain an Applied Associate Degree in Criminal
36 Justice or Committee-approved field of study within two years. If the Committee, in its sole
*DRH40319-ND-123*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 discretion, determines that circumstances warrant an extension of the period within which the
2 recipient must obtain an Applied Associate Degree in Criminal Justice or Committee-approved
3 field of study, the Committee may extend that period by up to 12 additional months. The recipient
4 must also accept employment in an eligible county in an eligible criminal justice profession for
5 at least four out of five years following graduation. The Committee may adopt additional
6 recipient obligations it deems appropriate.
7 …."
8 SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to individuals
9 participating in the Program on or after that date and to Committee extension determinations
10 made on or after that date.
Page 2 DRH40319-ND-123


Statutes affected:
Filed: 17C-20, 17C-22
Edition 1: 17C-20, 17C-22