H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 11.23: Centralized Process to Determine Residency for Tuition Purposes (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Sec. 11.23 of S.L. 2015-241 states the General Assembly's intent to establish a coordinated and centralized process for residency determination (centralized process). The State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) is authorized to perform necessary functions for implementing a centralized process, to be functional for students enrolling after December 31, 2016, to determine residency for tuition purposes for students applying to a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina (UNC) or a North Carolina community college and for students applying for State-funded financial aid to attend eligible private postsecondary institutions. The SEAA must consult with UNC General Administration, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in implementing the centralized process.

UNC General Administration and the NCCCS must take necessary actions to facilitate the transition from a campus-based residency determination system to the centralized process. The following State agencies must expeditiously cooperate with the SEAA in verifying evidence for classification of an individual as a resident for tuition purposes:

• Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation.
• Department of Public Instruction.
• Department of Commerce.
• Department of Health and Human Services.
• Department of Revenue.
• State Board of Elections
• State Chief Information Officer.

This section became effective July 1, 2015.