NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 981
HOUSE BILL 842

AN ACT AUTHORIZING STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION CENTERS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES TO PERMIT NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS AT LEAST SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE TO ATTEND CLASSES WITHOUT PAYMENT OF TUITION.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  As used in this act, "tuition" shall mean the amount charged for registering for a credit hour of instruction and shall not be construed to mean any other fees or charges or costs of textbooks.
Sec. 2.  State-supported institutions of higher education, community colleges, industrial education centers and technical institutes, shall permit legal residents of North Carolina who have attained the age of 65 to attend classes for credit or noncredit purposes without the required payment of tuition; provided, however, that such persons meet admission and other standards deemed appropriate by the educational institution, and provided further that such persons shall be accepted by the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina only on a spaces available basis.
Sec. 3.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the State Board of Education shall each, with respect to the institutions governed by it, promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this act.
Sec. 4.  Persons attending classes under the provisions of this act, without payment of tuition, shall be counted in the computation of enrollment for funding purposes.
Sec. 5.  The officials of such institutions charged with administration of this act may require such proof as they deem necessary to insure that the person applying to the institution is eligible for the benefits provided by this act.
Sec. 6.  Any applicant who willfully misrepresents his eligibility for the tuition benefits provided under this act, or any person who knowingly aids or abets such applicant in misrepresenting his eligibility for such benefits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) or imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.
Sec. 7.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1977.