Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the shortfall reserve in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE GED voucher in the amount of $500.00 shall be available once to each student receiving a general educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Department of Technical and Adult Education, now known as the Technical College System of Georgia, after June 30, 1993. Such voucher shall be issued to such student upon enrollment in any eligible postsecondary institution in Georgia within 24 months from the date the general educational development (GED) diploma was awarded to the student and may only be used to cover postsecondary costs of attendance at such institution; provided, however, that for an individual who becomes eligible for such voucher while he or she is incarcerated in a penal institution in this state, such voucher may be used by such individual within 24 months from the date of release from the penal institution.
(Code 1981, §20-3-519.6, enacted by Ga. L. 1998, p. 626, § 2; Ga. L. 2001, p. 4, § 20; Ga. L. 2008, p. 335, § 2/SB 435; Ga. L. 2009, p. 8, § 20/SB 46; Ga. L. 2010, p. 398, § 1/SB 341; Ga. L. 2011, p. 1, § 5/HB 326; Ga. L. 2013, p. 222, § 12/HB 349.)
Editor's notes.- Ga. L. 2011, p. 1, § 17/HB 326, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that the 2011 amendment shall be applicable to postsecondary students beginning in the fall of 2011.
Ga. L. 2013, p. 222, § 21/HB 349, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2013, and shall apply to offenses which occur on or after that date. Any offense occurring before July 1, 2013, shall be governed by the statute in effect at the time of such offense."