Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

H.B. 767
                         GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                                         Apr 18, 2023
                                     SESSION 2023                                   HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
     H                                                                                            D
                                  HOUSE BILL DRH40405-NG-75A
     Short Title:   Expanding Workforce and Education Act.                                   (Public)
     Sponsors:      Representative Cotham.
     Referred to:
                                    A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT TO EXPAND NORTH CAROLINA'S WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING IN-STATE
     TUITION TO NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO MEET
     CERTAIN CRITERIA.
             Whereas, a one percentage point (1%) increase in the postsecondary attainment rate
 would have resulted in over five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) in additional economic
 growth for North Carolina over just one year according to the United States Bureau of Economic
 Analysis; and
             Whereas, over eighty percent (80%) of the State's employers reported difficulty in
 finding employees for jobs requiring industry-valued credentials, and these high-skills jobs are
 expected to increase by more than eleven percent (11%) in the next six years; and
             Whereas, while North Carolina's employers report difficulty in finding skilled
 employees, postsecondary enrollment for The University of North Carolina constituent
 institutions and North Carolina community colleges has fallen on average by 2.7% since 2019;
 and
             Whereas, North Carolina must pursue multiple strategies to increase postsecondary
 enrollment so the State can have more potential employees entering the workforce with
 industry-valued credentials; Now, therefore,
 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
             SECTION 1. G.S. 116-143.1 is amended by adding the following new subsections
 to read:
     "(n) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person who meets all of the
 following qualifications shall be eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate:
             (1)    The person graduated and received a high school diploma from a school
                    within North Carolina that is not a nonpublic residential school.
             (2)    The person enrolled in the institution of higher education in the school year
                    immediately following his or her graduation and receipt of a high school
                    diploma.
             (3)    The person attended North Carolina public or nonpublic schools for a
                    minimum of four consecutive years immediately prior to high school
                    graduation and receipt of a high school diploma.
             (4)    The person holds an unexpired North Carolina drivers license or special
                    identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7.
             (5)    The person has received a social security number and card from the United
                    States Social Security Administration.
     This subsection does not make a person a resident of North Carolina for any other purpose.
                                  *DRH40405-NG-75A*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                   Session 2023
     (o)     A person who is eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate as provided in
 subsection (n) of this section shall provide evidence of his or her unexpired North Carolina
 drivers license or special identification card at the beginning of each semester of enrollment to
 continue to be eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate.
     (p)     Any information obtained as part of the process of applying for the in-State tuition
 rate pursuant to subsection (n) or (o) of this section shall be confidential and is not a public
 record."
             SECTION 2. G.S. 116-143.4 reads as rewritten:
 "§ 116-143.4. Admissions status of persons charged in-State tuition.
     (a)     A person eligible for the in-State tuition rate pursuant to this Article shall be
 considered an in-State applicant for the purpose of admission; provided that, admission.
 However, a person eligible for in-State tuition pursuant to G.S. 116-143.3(c) shall be considered
 an in-State applicant for the purpose of admission only if at the time of seeking admission he the
 person is enrolled in a high school located in North Carolina or enrolled in an adult high school
 equivalency diploma program in an institution located in this State.
     (b)     A person eligible for the in-State tuition rate pursuant to G.S. 116-143.1(n) shall not
 be considered an in-State applicant for the purposes of admission to a constituent institution of
 The University of North Carolina."
             SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2023, and applies beginning with
 the 2023-2024 academic year.
     Page 2                                                                       DRH40405-NG-75A
Statutes affected: 
Filed: 116-143.1, 116-143.4
Edition 1: 116-143.1, 116-143.4