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AMENDED--NOT PRINTED IN THE HOUSE
Amt. No. 1A (Doc. Path council\bbm\10139ssp07)
May 31, 2007
H. 3379
Introduced by Reps. D.C. Smith, J.R. Smith, Perry, Clyburn and Stewart
S. Printed 5/24/07--S.
Read the first time March 22, 2007.
TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-104-20 AND 59-149-50, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP AND THE LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT ATTENDING AN OUT-OF-STATE HIGH SCHOOL IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP OR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP AND PROVIDE THAT THE EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL RANK AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF A SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT ATTENDING AN OUT-OF-STATE HIGH SCHOOL MAY BE USED PROVIDED IT IS CALCULATED PURSUANT TO A STATE-APPROVED, STANDARDIZED GRADING SCALE AT THE RESPECTIVE OUT-OF-STATE HIGH SCHOOL.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-104-20(F) and (G) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 162 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"(F) For purposes of subsection (E):
(1) 'Public or independent institution' means a:
(a) a South Carolina public institution defined in Section 59-103-5, excluding a public two-year or technical institution, and an independent institution as defined in Section 59-113-50, excluding an eleemosynary junior or independent two-year institution; or
(b) a public or independent bachelor's level institution chartered before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina.
(2) 'Resident student' means a:
(a) student who is either a member of a class graduating from a high school located in 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 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; and
(b) student classified as a resident of South Carolina for in-state tuition purposes under Chapter 112 of this title at the time of enrollment at the institution.
(G) In addition to qualifications established by regulation, to qualify for a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, a student shall:
(1) meet the following three criteria:
(a) a minimum score of 1200 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or an equivalent ACT score;
(b) a cumulative 3.5 grade point ratio on the Uniform Grading Scale at the end of the junior or senior year; and
(c) rank in the top six percent of the class at the end of the sophomore, junior, or senior year. When calculating eligibility for Palmetto Fellows Scholarships in schools where the top six percent of the graduating class is two students or less, the top two students must be considered for the scholarship regardless of class rank. The top six percent of the graduating class must meet all Palmetto Fellows Scholarship eligibility requirements in order to receive a scholarship. If the top six percent of the class is not a whole number of students, the Commission on Higher Education shall round up to the next whole number of students eligible; or
(2) meet the following two criteria:
(a) a minimum score of 1400 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or an equivalent ACT score; and
(b) a cumulative 4.0 grade point ratio on the Uniform Grading Scale at the end of the junior or senior year.
Qualifying scores must be certified by the high school on the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship application by the scholarship application deadline. For the purposes of meeting the rank criteria pursuant to this subsection, the existing high school rank of a South Carolina resident attending an out-of-state high school may be used provided it is calculated pursuant to a state-approved, standardized grading scale at the respective out-of-state high school. If the Commission on Higher Education determines that a state-approved standardized grading scale substantially deviates from the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale, the state-approved standardized grading scale shall not be used to meet the eligibility requirements for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship."
SECTION 2. Section 59-149-50(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 162 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"(A) To be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, a student must be either a student who has 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, a student who has 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, 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 1100 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). For the purpose of meeting the rank criteria pursuant to this section, the existing high school rank of a South Carolina resident attending an out-of-state high school may be used provided it is calculated pursuant to a state-approved, standardized grading scale at the respective out-of-state high school. If the Commission on Higher Education determines that a state-approved standardized grading scale substantially deviates from the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale, the state-approved standardized grading scale shall not be used to meet the eligibility requirements for the LIFE Scholarship."
SECTION 3. A. Chapter 104, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-104-25. (A) A resident student who is at least a sophomore attending a four-year public or private institution of higher learning in this State majoring in science or mathematics as defined below and who is receiving a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for his current year shall receive an additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend equal to the cost of attendance after applying all other scholarships or grants not to exceed three thousand three hundred dollars each year for not more than three additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a four-year degree program or for not more than four additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a five-year degree program or enrolled in a 3 plus 2 program. A year is defined as thirty credit hours of instruction or its equivalent each year. To receive the additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend each year, the student must receive the underlying Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for that year and must be making acceptable progress each year toward receiving a degree in his science or mathematics major. In addition, during his freshman year, the student is required to have successfully completed a total of at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses with a minimum of six hours in mathematics and a minimum of six hours in life and physical science including one laboratory course. For purposes of meeting the required minimum level of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses during a student's freshman year, advanced placement courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences taken in high school on which the student scored high enough on the advanced placement test to receive credit at his institution and for which he received credit count toward the fulfillment of this minimum requirement.
(B) The Commission on Higher Education by regulation shall define what constitutes a science or mathematics major but at minimum shall include majors in science or mathematics disciplines, computer science or informational technology, engineering, science education, math education, and health care and related disciplines including medicine and dentistry; provided, that nothing herein prevents a student from changing majors within acceptable science or mathematics disciplines. Additionally, the Commission on Higher Education shall annually communicate with high school guidance counselors regarding the list of qualifying majors.
(C) This additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend if lost may be regained in the same manner the underlying Palmetto Fellows Scholarship if lost may be regained.
(D) In addition, the amount of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for recipients who do not receive the enhanced stipend provided by this section beginning with the 2007 academic year shall be increased to an amount equal to that received by a LIFE scholarship recipient also receiving the enhanced stipend provided by Section 59-149-15."
B. Chapter 149, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-149-15. (A) A resident student who is at least a sophomore attending a four-year public or private institution of higher learning in this State majoring in science or mathematics as defined below and who is receiving a LIFE Scholarship for his current year shall receive an additional LIFE Scholarship stipend equal to the cost of attendance after applying all other scholarships or grants not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars each year for not more than three additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a four-year degree program or for not more than four additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a five-year degree program or enrolled in a 3 plus 2 program. In addition, during his freshman year, the student is required to have successfully completed a total of at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics and life science courses with a minimum of six hours in mathematics and a minimum of six hours in science including one laboratory course. A year is defined as thirty credit hours of instruction or its equivalent each year. To receive the additional LIFE Scholarship stipend each year, the student must receive the underlying LIFE Scholarship for that year and must be making acceptable progress each year toward receiving a degree in his science or mathematics major. For purposes of meeting the required minimum level of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses during a student's freshman year, advanced placement courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences taken in high school on which the student scored high enough on the advanced placement test to receive credit at his institution and for which he received credit count toward the fulfillment of this minimum requirement.
(B) The Commission on Higher Education by regulation shall define what constitutes a science or mathematics major but at a minimum shall include majors in science or mathematics disciplines, computer science or informational technology, engineering, science education, math education, and health care and related disciplines including medicine and dentistry; provided, that nothing herein prevents a student from changing majors within acceptable science or mathematics disciplines. Additionally, the Commission on Higher Education shall annually communicate with high school guidance counselors regarding the list of qualifying majors.
(C) This additional LIFE Scholarship stipend if lost may be regained in the same manner the underlying LIFE Scholarship if lost may be regained."
C. Section 59-150-370 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-150-370. (A) SC HOPE Scholarships are hereby established and are provided by the State. These scholarships are authorized in an amount of up to two thousand five hundred dollars, plus a one hundred fifty three hundred dollar book allowance to cover the cost of attendance, as defined by the Commission on Higher Education by regulation, during the first year of attendance only, to an eligible student attending a four-year public or independent institution as defined in subsection (B) who does not also qualify for a LIFE Scholarship or a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.
(B) For purposes of this chapter, a 'public or independent institution' that a student may attend to receive a SC HOPE Scholarship includes the following:
(1) a South Carolina four-year public institution as defined in Section 59-103-5 and a four-year independent institution as defined in Section 59-113-50;
(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 is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; or an independent bachelor's level institution which is accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools. 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.
(C) A student is eligible to receive a SC HOPE Scholarship if he meets the criteria for receiving and maintaining the Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship except that a minimum Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT score and requisite class rank are not required for eligibility for the SC HOPE Scholarship. These SC HOPE Scholarships must be granted and awarded as provided in this section.
(D) These SC HOPE Scholarships in combination with all other grants and scholarships must not exceed the cost of attendance at the particular institutions referenced in subsection (B).
(E) The Commission on Higher Education must promulgate regulations and establish procedures to administer the provisions of this section.
(F) All institutions participating in the SC HOPE Scholarship Program must report their enrollment and other relevant data as solicited by the Commission on Higher Education, which may audit these institutions to ensure compliance with this provision.
(G)(1) A resident student who is at least a sophomore attending a four-year public or private institution of higher learning in this State, majoring in science or mathematics as defined below, and who received a HOPE Scholarship for his first year of attendance, shall receive the HOPE Scholarship and book allowance in the amounts pursuant to subsection (A) for his second year of attendance. A year is defined as thirty credit hours of instruction or its equivalent. To receive the HOPE Scholarship and book allowance for his second year of attendance, the student is required to have successfully completed a total of at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses with a minimum of six hours in mathematics and a minimum of six hours in life and physical science including one laboratory course. For purposes of meeting the required minimum level of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses during a student's first year, advanced placement courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences taken in high school on which the student scored high enough on the advanced placement test to receive credit at his institution and for which he received credit count toward the fulfillment of this minimum requirement.
(2) The Commission on Higher Education by regulation shall define what constitutes a science or mathematics major but at minimum shall include majors in science or mathematics disciplines, computer science or informational technology, engineering, and health care and related disciplines including medicine and dentistry; provided, that nothing herein prevents a student from changing majors within acceptable science or mathematics disciplines."
D. This section takes effect upon approval by the Governor, and applies beginning with the academic year beginning in the fall of 2007.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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