§18-5-19b. Adult education classes and programs; tuition and student assistance loans; authority of county boards to contract with federal agencies.

(a) The Board of Education of any county shall have authority to provide classes and programs for adult education and to charge tuition for members of such classes and/or programs, such tuitions not to exceed in any case the actual cost of operation of such classes and/or programs. The county board of education shall also have authority to enter into contracts of agreement with authorized agencies of the federal government for the education of adults and to provide, assemble and house materials and equipment for efficient instruction in any and all such classes and/or programs, contract for instruction for the term of the class and/or program to be offered, and to use school facilities by way of buildings and equipment under the control of said board. Any funds accruing from such tuitions shall be credited to adult education in the current expense fund of the county board of education and reported each year as of June thirtieth in the manner required for other financial reports of the board.

(b) Student assistance loans for attendance in adult education classes and/or programs shall be available in accordance with the applicable provisions of article twenty-two-d of this chapter to an eligible student pursuant to regulations promulgated by the state Board of Education, who shall administer such loan program as it relates to adult education classes and/or programs, and who shall stand in the place of the board of regents for purposes of loans received pursuant to this section. The limitations on investment provided for in section four of said article twenty-two-d shall remain in full force and effect.

State board regulations shall be in accordance with the provisions of article twenty-two-d to the extent practicable, except that the regulations shall provide for the following:

(1) The eligible student must be a high school graduate or equivalent or must be eighteen years of age;

(2) Maximum loan amounts and the maximum number of loans received by any eligible student shall be prescribed by regulation of the state board;

(3) The loan agreement may provide for the repayment of interest only until such time as the eligible student is no longer enrolled in the approved adult education class and/or program. However, in all cases, repayment of the principal shall commence at such time as the eligible student is no longer enrolled in the adult education class or program for which a loan or loans were received pursuant to this section: Provided, That an eligible student who enrolls in an institution of higher education subsequent to such adult education enrollment may defer such payment until completion or withdrawal from the institution of higher education; and

(4) Notwithstanding the time in which the eligible lending institution may provide for the repayment of the loan, the linked deposit shall be terminated at the maturity date next succeeding complete repayment or five years after cessation of enrollment, whichever is sooner.

The state board is not liable to any eligible lending institution in any manner for payment of the principal or interest on the loan to an eligible student.

(c) The Board of Education of any county shall have authority to enter into contracts of agreement with temporary teachers for the purpose of teaching adult education classes or programs which do not exceed ninety days or seven hundred twenty hours. The appointment of a temporary teacher is a contract of agreement for the duration of the class or program, and the temporary teacher shall not accrue benefits of retirement, personal leave, medical or life insurance, seniority rights, or any other provisions relating to salaries, wages and benefits pursuant to article four, chapter eighteen-a of this code: Provided, That such temporary appointment does not preclude the benefits mandated by federal law, workers' compensation and liability insurance coverage for the duration of the class or program.