§346-17.4 Foster board allowances for students. (a) Any eligible foster child shall be eligible for foster board allowances after reaching the age of majority and the foster board payments for that person shall be paid to an accredited institution of higher learning or to the person's foster parents, provided that:
(1) The person is twenty-one years old or younger;
(2) The person is attending or has been accepted to attend an accredited institution of higher learning on a full-time basis, or on a part-time basis for the first academic year, if approved by the director upon such terms and conditions as the director deems appropriate; and
(3) The person has continued to reside in the foster home wherein the person reached the age of majority, or has continued to be accepted as a member of the foster family and be under the guidance and support of the foster family.
(b) Reimbursement to foster parents for the former foster child's maintenance cost up to the maximum allowable board amount shall be made retroactive to the person's entry into an accredited institution of higher learning 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.
(c) Foster board allowances may be applied to costs incurred in undertaking full-time studies or part-time studies for the first academic year, if approved by the director upon such terms and conditions as the director deems appropriate, at an institution of higher learning.
(d) The department's standards relating to income resources of the foster child shall be applicable to this section.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "eligible foster child" means a child who has been placed into foster care by the family court pursuant to chapter 587. [L 1989, c 394, §1; am L 1990, c 276, §1; am L 1999, c 124, §1; am L 2000, c 79, §1]