§346-17.4  Higher education board allowances
for students.  (a)  An eligible former foster youth shall be eligible for
higher education board allowances after reaching the age of majority, and the
higher education board allowance for that former foster youth shall be paid to
an accredited institution of higher education, another intermediary contracted
by the department, the former foster youth, or to the former foster youth's
former foster parents or legal custodians, as appropriate; provided that:



(1)  The former foster youth is twenty-six years old
or younger;



(2)  The former foster youth has submitted an
application for the higher education board allowance through the age of
twenty-one years old, except that a former foster youth who is between the ages
of twenty-two years and twenty-six years on July 1, 2008, and attending an
institution of higher education, may apply for a higher education board
allowance after July 1, 2008, and no later than June 30, 2009; and



(3)  The former foster youth is attending or has been
accepted to attend an accredited institution of higher education.



(b)  The higher education board allowance may
be issued while the former foster youth is attending an accredited institution
of higher education on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis, in accordance
with rules adopted by the department.



(c)  Reimbursement to foster parents for the
former foster youth's higher education board cost up to the maximum allowable
board amount shall be made retroactive to the former foster youth's entry into
an accredited institution of higher education on a full-time basis, but no
earlier than July 1, 1987, or on a part-time basis for the first academic year,
but no earlier than July 1, 1999.



(d)  Higher education board allowances may be
applied by the former foster youth to costs incurred in undertaking full-time
studies or part-time studies at an institution of higher education in
accordance with rules adopted by the department.



(e)  The duration of the total higher education
board allowance shall not exceed sixty months.



(f)  The department's standards relating to
income resources of foster children shall be applicable to this section.



(g)  Higher education board allowances shall be
provided subject to the availability of state and federal funds. [L 1989, c
394, §1; am L 1990, c 276, §1; am L 1999, c 124, §1; am L 2000, c 79, §1; am L
2001, c 80, §2; am L 2006, c 289, §3; am L 2008, c 198, §2]