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Indicates Matter Stricken
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AMENDED
May 29, 2003
H. 3926
Introduced by Reps. Limehouse, Howard, Sandifer, Koon, Harrell, Scarborough, J.E. Smith, Govan, Townsend, J.M. Neal, Cato, Rhoad, E.H. Pitts, Altman, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Breeland, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Dantzler, Edge, Emory, Freeman, Gourdine, Hamilton, Harrison, Haskins, Herbkersman, J. Hines, Jennings, Leach, Littlejohn, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, Owens, Parks, M.A. Pitts, Rice, Richardson, Rivers, Rutherford, Simrill, Skelton, D.C. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Snow, Stewart, Talley, Toole, Tripp, Umphlett, Vaughn, Walker, Whitmire and Wilkins
S. Printed 5/29/03--S.
Read the first time April 8, 2003.
TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DURATION OF LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT RECEIVING A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP ON AND AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND WHO IS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THIS DATE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ OR THE WAR ON TERRORISM SHALL HAVE ADDITIONAL SEMESTERS TO COMPLETE HIS ELIGIBILITY EQUAL TO THE SEMESTER HE WAS ACTIVATED PLUS ANY ADDITIONAL SEMESTERS OR PORTIONS OF SEMESTERS MISSED AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIVATION.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-149-60 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended to read:
"Section 59-149-60. (A) The student may receive a LIFE Scholarship for not more than ten semesters for a five-year degree program, eight semesters for a four-year degree program, or four semesters for a two-year degree program.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (A), a student receiving a LIFE Scholarship on and after September 11, 2001, who is a member of the national guard or reserves and who is called to active duty after this date in connection with the conflict in Iraq or the war on terrorism, or any military mobilization, shall have additional semesters to complete his eligibility equal to the semester he was activated plus any additional semesters or portions of semesters missed as a result of the activation."
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning July 1, 2003, the South Carolina Tuition Prepayment Program set forth in Chapter 4, Title 59 of the 1976 Code shall not accept new participants until the General Assembly authorizes the program to accept new participants by joint resolution. This section does not affect the existing participants in the program, and the Tuition Prepayment Program shall remain in full operation for this purpose.
SECTION 3. Chapter 75, Title 2 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:
"Section 2-75-90. (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2-75-05(B)(4) and (6) and 2-75-50 of the 1976 Code, to meet the endowed professorships matching requirement of those provisions, a research university may use funds specifically provided for use in the areas provided for in subsection (B) that are derived from private, federal, municipal, county, or local government sources, excluding state appropriations to the institution, tuition, or fees. Subject to the restrictions in subsection (B), only federal dollars received after July 1, 2003, may be used to meet the endowed professorships matching requirement.
(B) The matching funds in subsection (A) may be used only in the areas of Engineering, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Energy Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Information and Management Sciences, and for other sciences and research that create well-paying jobs and enhanced economic opportunities for the people of South Carolina and that are approved by the Research Centers of Excellence Review Board."
SECTION 4. Chapter 101, Title 59 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:
"Section 59-101-420. Notwithstanding another provision of law, a lease for antenna and tower operations within an institution of higher learning campus must conform to the present and future master plans for the property, as determined solely by the institution of higher learning."
SECTION 5. Section 59-149-10(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 418 of 1998, is amended to read:
"(2) a public or independent bachelor's level institution chartered before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina; or an independent bachelor's level institution which has attained 501(c)(3) tax status and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or the New England Association of Colleges and Schools; or a public or independent two-year institution which has attained 501(c)(3) tax status. Institutions whose sole purpose is religious or theological training, or the granting of professional degrees do not meet the definition of 'public or independent institution' for purposes of this chapter."
SECTION 6. A. Section 59-149-50(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) To be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, a student must be either a member of a class a student who has graduating graduated from a high school located in this State, a student who has completed at least three of the final four years of high school within this State, a home school student who has successfully completed a high school home school program in this State in the manner required by law, or a student who has graduating graduated from a preparatory high school outside this State, while a dependent of a parent or guardian who is a legal resident of this State and has custody of the dependent. , and these students These students must also meet the requirements of subsection (B) and be eligible for in-state tuition and fees as determined pursuant to Chapter 112 of Title 59 and applicable regulations. In addition, beginning with the 1998-99 school year for those students who graduate from high school on or after May 1998 the student must have graduated from high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade average on a 4.0 scale and have scored 1000 or better on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or have the equivalent ACT score, 1050 or better, beginning with school year 2000-2001, and 1100 or better, beginning with school year 2002-2003; provided that, if the student is to attend such a public or independent two-year college or university in this State, including a technical college, the SAT requirement does not apply. If a student chooses to attend such a public or independent institution of this State and does not make the required SAT score or the required high school grade point average, as applicable, the student may earn a LIFE Scholarship after his freshman year if he meets the grade point average and semester credit hour requirements of subsection (B)."
B. Section 12-6-3385(B)(3)(i) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(i) graduated from a high school in this State or attended at least three of the final four years of high school within this State;"
C. Section 59-145-50 (B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) Students receiving a LIFE Scholarship to retain it and students currently enrolled in an eligible institution to receive such a scholarship must, earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale each year and earn at least thirty credit hours each year for the maximum of semesters permitted at that institution by Section 59-149-60. The cumulative grade point average calculation, for purposes of LIFE scholarship eligibility, must be inclusive of the student's grade point average at all colleges and universities attended."
SECTION 7. Chapter 103 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-103-210. The Commission on Higher Education may retain up to one quarter of one percent of the funds appropriated for the following state supported financial aid programs:
1. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program
2. Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence Program
3. HOPE Scholarship Program
4. Need-Based Grants Program
5. Lottery Tuition Assistance Program.
Funds retained shall be adjusted to insure that total funds available to the Commission on Higher Education for the administration of the above listed state supported financial aid programs do not exceed two hundred thousand dollars when funds appropriated or authorized by the General Appropriations Bill are taken into consideration."
SECTION 8. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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