State high school diploma; “honors diploma”; Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy. Payment of fees; exceptions.

(b) Application to take or retake the examination described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall be accompanied by a money order or certified check in the nonrefundable amount of thirteen dollars. This amount shall include the fee for the state high school diploma. (c) No (1) veteran, as defined in section 27-103 , (2) member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103 , or (3) person under twenty-one years of age shall be required to pay the fees described in subsection (b) of this section. The commissioner may waive any fee described in subsection (b) of this section upon the submission of evidence indicating an inability to pay. (d) The Commissioner of Education shall keep a correct account of all money received under the provisions of this section and shall deposit with the State Treasurer all such money received by said commissioner. Funds paid to a local or regional board of education under this section shall be deposited in the school activity fund established under section 10-237 and expended to defray the costs of such testing and related administration and information. (e) The commissioner shall establish criteria by which an “honors diploma” may be issued for exemplary performance on the examination. (f) The Department of Education shall establish criteria by which a local or regional board of education, or the governing board of any other school that awards diplomas, may affix the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy on a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages. For purposes of this subsection, “foreign language” means a world language other than English and includes American Sign Language and any other language spoken by a Native American tribe.