H259 - 2023 Appropriations Act. (SL 2023-134)

Overview: Section 6.13 of S.L. 2023-134 requires the State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC) to create and implement a pilot program to allow Tri-County Community College to offer in-State tuition to up to 100 residents of the following Georgia counties that border North Carolina, so long as the out-of-state students do not displace a North Carolina resident eligible for in-State tuition:

• Fannin County.
• Rabun County.
• Towns County.
• Union County.

The pilot program expires at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. Beginning September 30, 2024, and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the SBCC must report the results of the pilot program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division. The report must include at least the following information:

• Information on out-of-state students who enrolled at the in-State tuition rate, including:
• The number of students enrolled.
• The programs that these students chose.
• Any programs unavailable to these students due to potential displacement of North Carolina residents.
• Any indicators of increased economic development as a result of this program.
• The number of out-of-state students enrolled who do not qualify for the in-State tuition rate.

This section became effective October 3, 2023, and applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year.