Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2002 Session > Title 59

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SECTION 59-127-10. Establishment of South Carolina State University.

There shall be established within this State a normal, industrial, agricultural and mechanical college for the higher education of the youth of the State, and such college shall be known as South Carolina State University.

SECTION 59-127-15. South Carolina State College changed to South Carolina State University.

South Carolina State College is changed to South Carolina State University, effective July 1, 1992, and wherever in the 1976 Code or in any other provision of law the name South Carolina State College appears, it must be construed to mean South Carolina State University.

SECTION 59-127-20. Board of trustees; election; terms.

(A) South Carolina State University is managed and controlled by a board of trustees, composed of thirteen members, twelve of whom are elected by the General Assembly, one member from each congressional district and six at large for terms of four years each and until their successors are elected and qualify. In electing members of the board, the General Assembly shall elect members based on merit regardless of race, color, creed, or gender and shall strive to assure that the membership of the board is representative of all citizens of the State of South Carolina. The Governor of the State or his designee is ex officio, the thirteenth member of the board of trustees. In case of a vacancy on the board, the Governor may fill it by appointment until the next session of the General Assembly. Members of the board are entitled to subsistence, per diem, and mileage authorized for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

Each position on the board constitutes a separate office and the seats on the board are numbered consecutively, one corresponding in number to each congressional district and Seats 7-12 at large. The Governor or his designee occupies Seat 13. Of the three present members of the board who reside in the sixth congressional district, the member with the longest remaining current term shall be the resident member selected from that congressional district occupying Seat 6. The two remaining members not determined to be the resident member from the sixth congressional district shall be considered at-large members of the board occupying Seats 8 and 12, respectively. The terms of each of these three members shall not be affected by the provisions of this paragraph.

The terms of the present members of the board who are elected by the General Assembly expire on the thirtieth day of June of the year in which the terms are scheduled to expire. The General Assembly shall elect successors to the elective trustees not earlier than the first day of April for a term to begin the following July first. Elections to fill vacancies on the board which are caused by the death, resignation, or removal of an elective trustee may be held earlier than the first day of April of the year in which the unexpired term terminates, but the term of the person elected to fill the vacancy expires on the last day of June of the year in which the term of the former member would have expired.

(B) Beginning with members elected to the board during 1992, terms of members are four years. In 1993, members from Seats 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11 must be elected, and the term of the member elected in 1993 from Seat 3 shall be one year, the terms of the members elected in 1993 from Seats 1, 2, and 4 shall be two years each, the term of the member elected in 1993 from Seat 11 shall be three years, and the term of the member elected in 1993 from Seat 5 shall be four years. Thereafter, successors to the members of the board elected in 1993 and successors to members of the board provided six-year terms by the provisions of this subsection must be elected for terms of four years each.

SECTION 59-127-30. Quorum at board meetings.

A majority of the board of trustees shall be necessary for the transaction of any business.

SECTION 59-127-40. Management and control of Claflin College.

The board of trustees of South Carolina State University may take charge of, manage and control all of the real and personal property belonging to Claflin College, in whosesoever hands or custody the same may be now or hereafter found, and shall hold the same in trust for the benefit and uses of South Carolina State University.

SECTION 59-127-50. College shall be separate from Claflin University and other institutions under religious control.

South Carolina State University shall forever be, and remain, free and separate from Claflin University and all other colleges, schools or other institutions which are wholly or in part under the direction or control of any church or religious or sectarian denomination or society.

SECTION 59-127-60. General powers of board.

In the management of affairs of said college whenever it is found necessary to protect or to promote the interests of the State or whenever the trustees deem it right and proper or expedient for any reason the trustees may sell, purchase or exchange real estate. And the trustees shall fix the time and duration of all vacations to be given the students of the institution. South Carolina State University shall have all the rights and privileges possessed prior to March 3, 1896 by Claflin College.

SECTION 59-127-70. Buildings; courses of study; appliances; staff.

The board of trustees of South Carolina State University may provide all necessary suitable buildings upon a proper site for the purpose, establish a course of study covering the normal, industrial, agricultural and mechanical sciences, provide the necessary appliances for proper instruction in the same and select a proper corps of professors and instructors and fix their salaries.

SECTION 59-127-75. Felton-Laboratory School at South Carolina State University; funds received; calculation.

Of the funds distributed pursuant to the higher education formula of the Commission on Higher Education, the Felton-Laboratory School at South Carolina State University shall receive each year one hundred percent of the funds it would have received for that year under the Education Finance Act, under the Education Improvement Act, and under aid to school districts-fringe benefits, as if it were a special school district. The calculation of the amount of funds which the Felton-Laboratory School is entitled to receive each year shall be made by the Department of Education.

SECTION 59-127-80. One half of land scrip fund vested in board.

One half of the fund known as the land scrip fund, to wit: Ninety-five thousand and nine hundred dollars, shall be for the benefit of the South Carolina State University and shall be a perpetual fund, which shall forever remain undiminished, and the board of trustees is authorized to use the income thereon, to wit: Six per cent per annum, payable semiannually, from July 1, 1889 for the use and maintenance of such college.

SECTION 59-127-85. South Carolina State University Board of Trustees; authority to enter into ground lease agreements.

The Board of Trustees of South Carolina State University with the approval of the Budget and Control Board may enter into one or more ground lease agreements with a private entity whereby the private entity will provide all services necessary for the creation and operation of an on-campus student housing facility including, but not limited to, financing, designing, construction, managing, operating, maintaining, and related services. Upon expiration of the ground lease agreement term, the private entity shall surrender unto South Carolina State University, such premises with the existing buildings, other structures and improvements constructed and located thereon and therein, in the same condition as when the construction of the buildings, other structures, and improvements were completed, only natural and normal wear and tear excepted. The Budget and Control Board must first approve all ground lease agreement terms and conditions including the consideration involved, and the full faith and credit of the State toward the lease obligations must not be pledged, and any statement to the contrary is deemed null and void as a matter of public policy. The private entity may be a nonprofit organization. The Budget and Control Board approval required shall be in lieu of or a substitute for any other approval required by any other provision of law or regulation in connection with the undertaking of the private entity and South Carolina State University; however, the private entity and South Carolina State University shall adhere to fire, life, and safety codes as required by the Office of the State Engineer.



SECTION 59-127-310. Definitions.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this article:

(1) "Admission fee" means the special fee or charge, in addition to other charges, imposed upon each person admitted to a "home" football game, except a freshman or intramural game, in Dawson Football Stadium at South Carolina State University or at any other location where a "home" game is played by the South Carolina State University varsity football team, excluding students admitted as a result of student fees paid to the institution for a regular session.

(2) "Bonds" means the Stadium Improvement Revenue Bonds of South Carolina State University authorized by this article.

(3) "University" means South Carolina State University, located at Orangeburg, South Carolina.

(4) "Dawson Football Stadium" means the football stadium of South Carolina State University located at Orangeburg, South Carolina.

(5) "Debt Service Fund" means the fund established by this article for the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds.

(6) "Improvements" means the enlargement and improvements to Dawson Football Stadium, including necessary equipment.

(7) "Special student fee" means the fee authorized by this article to be established by the university to provide funds to assist in the repayment of bonds authorized under this article and imposed upon each person in attendance at any regular session, excluding summer sessions, of the university, who is enrolled in a sufficient number of classes or courses for which credit is given toward any degree offered by the university to be classified as a regular full-time student for the purpose of assessing other student fees.

(8) "State board" means the State Budget and Control Board.

(9) "Trustees" means the Board of Trustees of South Carolina State University.

(10) "Net athletic revenues" means the entire revenues derived by the athletic department of the University for any fiscal year after payment of the operating and maintenance expenses of the department but before provision is made for depreciation, amortization, nonmandatory transfers, and interest expenses of the department for the fiscal year.

SECTION 59-127-320. Authority of trustees to construct, operate, and maintain improvements; limited authority to issue bonds; university authorized to apply other funds to stadium improvements.

(A) The right of the trustees to construct the improvements and then to operate and maintain them is affirmed.

(B) Subject to obtaining the approval of the state board expressed by resolution duly adopted, the trustees are authorized to issue not more than twenty million dollars of bonds for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, renovating, or equipping athletic facilities and for the purpose of refunding any previous series of bonds authorized by this section. Bonds issued pursuant to this section are payable from the admission fee, the special student fee, and net athletic revenues.

(C) It is not intended by this article to limit the university in the construction of the improvements to the sums provided in this article, and if the university obtains funds from other sources for the purposes of enlarging and improving the football stadium, then it is empowered to apply the funds to the improvements as now contemplated or to provide further improvements for the football stadium.

SECTION 59-127-330. Full faith and credit of State not pledged; no personal liability for executing bonds.

The faith and credit of the State of South Carolina must not be pledged for the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds and there must be on the face of each bond a statement plainly worded to that effect. Neither the trustees nor any other persons executing the bonds are personally liable for them.

SECTION 59-127-340. Trustees to adopt resolutions for issuance of bonds; single issue or separate issues authorized.

In order to utilize the authorizations of this article, the trustees, on behalf of the university, shall adopt resolutions providing for the issuance of the bonds within the limitations mentioned, and by that resolution shall prescribe the tenor, terms, and conditions of the bonds and the obligations of the university incurred in connection with their issuance. The bonds may be issued as a single issue or as several separate issues. In the event that the bonds are issued as two or more issues, then all bonds must be on a parity in all respects inter se and are equally and ratably entitled to payment from the sources provided in this article.

SECTION 59-127-350. Requirements of bonds.

The bonds must be issued as serial bonds, maturing in equal or unequal amounts, at those times and on those occasions, and in denominations as the trustees determine. However, the last maturing bonds of any issue must be expressed to mature not later than twenty years from their date, and the first maturing bonds of any issue must fall due not later than five years from their date. The bonds shall bear a rate of interest, payable on occasions as the trustees prescribe, and must be payable in a medium of payment and at a place as the resolutions prescribe. Bonds may be issued with provisions permitting their redemption before their stated maturity, at a time and under conditions as the trustees prescribe. Bonds made subject to redemption before their stated maturities may contain a provision requiring the payment of a premium for the privilege of exercising the right of redemption, in an amount the trustees prescribe. All bonds that are subject to redemption must contain a statement to that effect on the face or reverse of each bond. A resolution authorizing redeemable bonds must contain provisions specifying the manner of call and the notice that must be given.

SECTION 59-127-360. Registration of bonds.

The bonds may be in the form of fully registered bonds, payable to the registered owner as shown on the books of the treasurer of the university, or on registry books kept for the university by the State Treasurer or by any corporate registrar, upon conditions the trustees prescribe.

SECTION 59-127-370. Tax exempt status of bonds and interest.

The bonds and all interest to become due on them must have the tax exempt status pursuant to Section 12-2-50.

SECTION 59-127-380. Persons who may lawfully invest in bonds.

It is lawful for all executors, administrators, guardians and fiduciaries, and all sinking fund commissions to invest any monies in their hands in the bonds.

SECTION 59-127-390. Execution and delivery of bonds.

The bonds must be executed in the name of the university in a manner and by those persons the trustees determine, and the seal of the university must be reproduced, affixed to, or impressed on each bond. The delivery of the bonds so executed is valid notwithstanding changes in officers or seal occurring after the execution and before the delivery.

SECTION 59-127-400. Sale of bonds.

All bonds must be disposed of in a manner the trustees determine, except that a sale, privately negotiated without public advertisement, must not be made unless the approval of the state board is obtained.

SECTION 59-127-410. Disposition of proceeds of sale of bonds.

The proceeds of all bonds must be delivered to the State Treasurer and retained in a special fund or funds and applied solely to the purposes for which the bonds are issued. Withdrawals from the Debt Service Fund must be made on the order or requisition of the university and must be in a manner the State Treasurer prescribes. The State Treasurer may make temporary investments of funds derived from the proceeds of bonds in obligations enumerated in Section 11-9-660 with maturities consonant with the need for the funds.

SECTION 59-127-420. Authorization of special fees for repayment of bonds.

To provide for the adequate payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds, the trustees are authorized to place into effect either the admission fee or the special student fee, or both. If only one of the fees is imposed at the time the bonds are issued, the trustees, at any time the bonds are outstanding, by resolution, may impose the other fee to further secure payment of the bonds. The fees must be established on a basis and in an amount necessary to provide for the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds as they mature and to provide cushion or reserve for them in the Debt Service Fund that the trustees consider prudent. Either the admission fee or the special student fee, or both, may be imposed as soon after the effective date of this article as the trustees determine. It is the duty of the trustees to calculate the debt service requirements of the bonds not less frequently than annually and at that time, appropriate revisions of the admission fee or the special student fee, or both, may be made if required to make adequate provisions for the payment of principal and interest on the bonds and the maintenance of the cushion or reserve in the fund.

The special student fee must bear nomenclature as the trustees prescribe and, in the discretion of the trustees, it may be included as a part of any other fees. However, it is the duty of the trustees to account for the receipts from the special student fee to the State Treasurer.

SECTION 59-127-430. Disposition of monies from other sources for repayment of bonds.

Except to the extent other monies are restricted inconsistent with these provisions, the trustees are empowered to deposit, in the Debt Service Fund, before the issuance of any bonds, monies derived from other sources, including funds raised by the athletic department of the university. They also are empowered throughout the life of the bonds to make payments from these other sources to the fund, and in calculating the amount or rate of the admission fee or the special student fee, or both, for any year, they may take into account all monies then actually paid to the fund from the other sources which then are available to meet the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds for the year.

SECTION 59-127-440. Powers of trustees in authorizing issuance of bonds.

In the resolutions authorizing the issuance of the bonds, the trustees are empowered to:

(1) covenant and agree throughout the life of the bonds that the admission fee or the special student fee, or both, are imposed, maintained, and revised when necessary, in an amount, without limitation as to rate, as is sufficient, when added to net athletic revenues in any year, to meet the payment of the principal and interest for the bonds as they become due, and to create a cushion or reserve fund as the trustees consider prudent. The cushion or reserve must be used only to meet the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds under the conditions as the trustees prescribe and must be maintained in a manner as to insure its availability for repayment;

(2) establish the Debt Service Fund, which must be maintained at the hands of the State Treasurer;

(3) covenant that all revenues derived from the admission fee or the special student fee, or both, are paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in the fund in a manner prescribed by the State Treasurer;

(4) establish appropriate rules requiring the payment of the admission fee or the special student fee, or both;

(5) covenant as to the use of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds;

(6) provide for the terms, form, registration, exchange, execution and authentication of bonds, and for the replacement of lost, destroyed, or mutilated bonds;

(7) covenant for the mandatory redemption of bonds on terms and conditions as the resolutions authorizing the bonds prescribe;

(8) prescribe the procedure, if any, by which the terms of the contract with the bondholders may be amended, the number of bonds whose holders must consent to amendment, and the manner in which the consent is given;

(9) covenant to insure the football stadium against loss by fire or other casualty;

(10) operate and maintain the football stadium in good repair;

(11) prescribe the events of default and the terms and conditions upon which all or any bonds are or may be declared due before maturity, and the terms and conditions upon which the declaration and its consequences may be waived;

(12) reserve the right to issue additional bonds payable from the sources provided in this article for the payment of the bonds pursuant to Section 59-127-460 or to the extent to which the trustees may become authorized to issue additional bonds by legislation enacted, if it is necessary in the future to further enlarge or improve the football stadium and to prescribe the conditions under which additional bonds may be issued; and

(13) make further covenants and agreements as necessary or desirable in order to market the bonds.

SECTION 59-127-450. Responsibilities of State Treasurer.

The State Treasurer is authorized to accept custody of receipts and revenues derived from the imposition of the admission fee and any special student fee imposed by the trustees, to deposit them in the Debt Service Fund, and to utilize the proceeds of the fund for the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds and for the establishment of a cushion or reserve for their payment. The trustees shall make adequate provisions for the transmission of the revenues derived from the fees to the State Treasurer in a manner prescribed by the State Treasurer. Monies in the fund may be invested and reinvested by the State Treasurer in obligations enumerated in Section 11-9-660, with maturities consonant with the needs of the fund.

SECTION 59-127-460. Authority of trustees to issue additional bonds; purposes for which additional bonds may be issued.

The trustees are authorized to issue additional bonds in one or more series as provided in the resolutions authorizing the original series of bonds for the purpose of refunding or retiring the bonds or for the purpose of enlarging or improving the football stadium.