This bill mandates the establishment of a program by the State Board of Education to cover the fees for high school equivalency exams for low-income individuals within six months of the bill's effective date. A low-income individual is defined as someone residing in a household with an income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program will only cover the cost of one exam per individual and will require applicants to provide documentation to verify their income.

Additionally, the bill amends the existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund to allocate a portion of its resources to pay for these exam fees. Specifically, it inserts a provision that allows 5% of the fund to be used for this purpose, alongside other established uses of the fund. This change aims to facilitate access to education and improve workforce development by supporting individuals seeking to obtain their high school equivalency diploma. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34:15D-9