1. (a) In this section, “homeless youth” has the same meaning as provided in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

2. (b) An individual is exempt from paying GED testing fees if:

   1. (1) the individual is a homeless youth;
   2. (2) the individual has had a consistent presence in the State for at least 1 year before the individual applies to take the GED test, as evidenced by school, employment, or other records; and
   3. (3) the Department verifies that the individual is a homeless youth.

3. (c) The Department may use the following individuals to verify that an individual is a homeless youth:

   1. (1) a homeless liaison from a local school system that the individual attended;
   2. (2) a director or a designee of the director of a program in the State funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; or
   3. (3) a director or a designee of the director of a program in the State funded under Title IV, Subtitle B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
4. (d) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement the requirements of this section.

Added by Acts 2016, c. 141, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016.