Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 68
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Short, Mescher, Gregory and Ford
Document Path: l:\council\bills\pt\2195sj05.doc
Introduced in the Senate on January 11, 2005
Introduced in the House on April 14, 2005
Last Amended on April 12, 2005
Currently residing in the House Committee on Education and Public Works
Summary: Requirements to receive LIFE scholarship by home school students
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/8/2004 Senate Prefiled
12/8/2004 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
1/11/2005 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-112
1/11/2005 Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-112
4/7/2005 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education
SJ-15
4/11/2005 Scrivener's error corrected
4/12/2005 Senate Amended SJ-16
4/12/2005 Senate Read second time SJ-16
4/13/2005 Scrivener's error corrected
4/13/2005 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-22
4/14/2005 House Introduced and read first time HJ-48
4/14/2005 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works HJ-48
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/8/2004
4/7/2005
4/11/2005
4/12/2005
4/13/2005
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT AMENDED AND ADOPTED
April 12, 2005
S. 68
S. Printed 4/12/05--S. [SEC 4/13/05 1:38 PM]
Read the first time January 11, 2005.
TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A HOME SCHOOLED STUDENT TO RECEIVE A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-149-50(D) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(D) Beginning with school year 2002-2003, an entering freshman at a four-year institution to be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship in addition to the other requirements of this chapter shall meet two of the following three criteria:
(1) have the grade point average required by this section;
(2) have the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or equivalent ACT score required by this section;
(3) be in the top thirty percent of his high school graduating class.
For home school students and students whose high school graduating class is less than fifty students, the Commission on Higher Education may define alternative criteria for students to meet the requirement of item (3). Beginning with school year 2005-06, a home school student meets the requirements of item (3) if he is a member of a graduating class that is ranked by one of the home school associations defined in Section 59-65-45 or 59-65-47. A student home schooled pursuant to Section 59-65-40 shall meet the requirements of items (1) and (2) to be eligible for the scholarship.
After receipt of a LIFE Scholarship by an entering freshman beginning with school year 2002-2003, a student shall meet the criteria established in this chapter to retain or regain the scholarship.
For an exceptionally gifted student who is accepted into college without having attended high school, the Commission on Higher Education shall define alternative criteria for the student to qualify for a LIFE Scholarship."
SECTION 2. A. Section 59-149-10(B)(2) of the 1976 Code 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 was incorporated in its original charter in 1962, was granted a license to operate in 1997 by the Commission on Higher Education, has continued to maintain a campus in South Carolina, 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."
B. The provisions of Section 59-149-10(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as amended by this act, apply with regard to LIFE Scholarships awarded beginning with the 2004 fall semester.
SECTION 3. Section 59-149-50(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 187 of 2004, is further amended to read:
"(A) To be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, a student must be either a student who has graduated member of a class graduating 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 graduated graduating 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, or a student whose parent or guardian has served in or has retired from one of the United States Armed forces within the last four years, paid income taxes in this State for a majority of the years of service, and is a resident of this State. These students also must 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 1998-1999 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)."
SECTION 4. A. Section 59-149-50(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 public or independent institutions attended by the student."
B. The provisions of Section 59-149-50(B) of the 1976 Code, as amended by this act, apply with regard to LIFE Scholarships awarded beginning with the 2004 fall semester.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:26 P.M.