Bill 532

                    Current Status

BillNumber:                532
Ratification Number:       515
Act Number:                464
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to tuition grants and the Higher Education 
                           Tuition Grant Commission

(A464, R515, S532)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-113-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION GRANT COMMITTEE, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CHANGE THE NAME OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION GRANT COMMITTEE TO HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION GRANT COMMISSION, PROVIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL EX OFFICIO MEMBER WHO IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION OR HIS DESIGNEE, DELETE CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND PROVISIONS, AND PROVIDE THAT THE HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION GRANT COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE SOLELY TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT LEAST ANNUALLY; TO AMEND SECTION 59-113-30, RELATING TO THE STUDENTS COVERED BY CHAPTER 113 OF TITLE 59 (TUITION GRANTS), THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS, AND ADJUSTMENT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND PROVIDE THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT MAY NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE STATE APPROPRIATION FOR EACH FULL-TIME STUDENT ENROLLED IN THE STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING WITH FOUR-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, RATHER THAN PROVIDING THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE STAT APPROPRIATION PER FULL-TIME STUDENT ENROLLED IN ALL STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHE LEARNING; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-113-50, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING" FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHAPTER 113 OF TITLE 59, SO AS TO CHANGE THE MEANING OF THAT TERM.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Name changed; Member added; report

SECTION 1. Section 59-113-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-113-10. There is created a Higher Education Tuition Grant Commission consisting of eight representatives of the independent institutions of higher learning in the State who choose to come under the provisions of this chapter. In addition, the membership of the Commission includes one ex officio member to be named by the House Committee on Education and Public Works, one ex officio member to be named by the Senate Committee on Education, and one ex officio member who is the chief executive officer of the State Commission on Higher Education or his designee. The terms of the representatives of the institutions are for three years and until their successors are selected and qualify. The membership of the Commission must be rotated among the participating institutions. The Commission shall administer the provisions of this chapter and shall make those regulations as may be necessary in order to carry out the intent of this chapter. The Commission is responsible solely to the General Assembly and shall report to that body at least annually."

Limited to certain state-supported institutions of higher learning

SECTION 2. Section 59-113-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-113-30. (A) The provisions of this chapter apply to students entering college as freshmen during the 1970-71 academic year.

(B) The amount of the grant to be paid for each semester, or appropriate academic term, must be determined by the Higher Education Tuition Grant Commission and the Commission shall award the maximum amount permissible under its regulations or the determined need of the student, whichever is less.

(C) The maximum amount may not exceed the average state appropriation for each full-time student enrolled in the state-supported institutions of higher learning with four-yea undergraduate degree. programs in the previous year. The tuition grants must be calculate annually by the Commission.

(D) The need of each applicant must be determined by acceptable need analysis such as the parents' confidential statement and such other analyses as the Commission may determine.

(E) An adjustment must be made in the tuition grant of any student awarded a scholarship from any other source if the combination of grants and awards exceeds the calculated need of the student. If the scholarship is for only a portion of tuition and fees, the student may qualify for a proportionate tuition grant in accordance with the provisions of this chapter."

Definition changed

SECTION 3. Section 59-113-50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-113-50. For the purposes of this chapter, an independent institution of higher learning means any independent eleemosynary junior or senior college in South Carolina whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina and which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools."

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 22nd day of April, 1988.