Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 21, 2012
H. 4641
Introduced by Reps. Daning, Knight, Crosby, Ott, King, Brannon, Southard, Erickson, McEachern, J.E. Smith, Atwater, Spires, Gilliard, Battle, Bowers, R.L. Brown, Chumley, Cobb-Hunter, Harrison, Herbkersman, Hosey, Howard, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Murphy, Pitts, Tallon and Toole
S. Printed 3/21/12--H.
Read the first time January 19, 2012.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4641) to amend Section 59-112-50, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to in-state tuition rates for military personnel and their, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 59-112-50(B), as contained in SECTION 1, page 2, by striking on line 11, / once they / and inserting:
/ provided that within two years of the date of discharge, they enroll at a state institution and /.
When amended subsection (B) reads:
/ (B) In addition to the provisions of subsection (A), a veteran of the Armed Services of the United States who has been honorably discharged, and their dependents, who are not otherwise eligible for in-state tuition rates, are entitled to receive in-state tuition rates at state institutions provided that within two years of the date of discharge, they enroll at a state institution and have evidenced an intent to establish domicile in South Carolina. These individuals are eligible for in-state tuition rates as long as they remain continuously enrolled at a state institution or transfer to an eligible institution during the term or semester, excluding summer terms, immediately following their enrollment at the previous institution, subject to provisions concerning such transfers as provided for in subsection (A)." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
PHILLIP D. OWENS for Committee.
EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:
Based on the colleges' and universities' individual responses to the Commission on Higher Education survey, the legislation would impact tuition and fee revenues collected. The provision would enable eligible students to pay in-state rates for the year during which in-state residency is being established, and retain the in-state rate for each year following that they remain enrolled. The cost results from loss of the tuition differential for each eligible student. For undergraduate full-time students, the in-state, out-of-state student tuition differential per student in FY 2011-12 ranged from $1,608 to $16,817. For graduate students (excluding law, medicine and pharmacy), the differential per student ranges from $5,020 to $12,528.
The state's colleges and universities receive a combination of general fund appropriations and student tuition and fees for support of educational and general operating needs. If any one institution has substantial numbers of eligible students and the loss in revenue resulting from the enactment of the provision is not covered by increased state general funds, an increase to student tuition and fees would be needed to comply with the legislation.
SPECIAL NOTES:
The Commission on Higher Education does not collect data which could be utilized to predict the number of students who might become eligible or seek eligibility for in-state tuition and fee rates under the proposed amendment.
Approved By:
Brenda Hart
Office of State Budget
TO AMEND SECTION 59-112-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR DEPENDENTS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE CRITERIA UNDER WHICH VETERANS WHO ARE HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND THEIR DEPENDENTS MAY RECEIVE IN-STATE TUITION RATES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-112-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 246 of 2010, is further amended to read:
"Section 59-112-50. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, during the period of their assignment to duty in South Carolina, members of the Armed Services of the United States stationed in South Carolina and their dependents are eligible for in-state tuition rates. When these armed service personnel are ordered away from the State, their dependents are eligible for in-state tuition rates as long as they remain continuously enrolled at the state institution in which they are enrolled at the time the assignment ends or transfer to an eligible institution during the term or semester, excluding summer terms, immediately following their enrollment at the previous institution. In the event of a transfer, the receiving institution shall verify the decision made by the student's previous institution in order to certify the student's eligibility for in-state tuition rates. It is the responsibility of the transferring student to ensure that all documents required to verify both the previous and present residency decisions are provided to the institution. These persons and their dependents are eligible for in-state tuition rates after their discharge from the armed services even though they were not enrolled at a state institution at the time of their discharge, if they have evidenced an intent to establish domicile in South Carolina and if they have resided in South Carolina for a period of at least twelve months immediately preceding their discharge.
(B) In addition to the provisions of subsection (A), a veteran of the Armed Services of the United States who has been honorably discharged, and their dependents, who are not otherwise eligible for in-state tuition rates, are entitled to receive in-state tuition rates at state institutions once they have evidenced an intent to establish domicile in South Carolina. These individuals are eligible for in-state tuition rates as long as they remain continuously enrolled at a state institution or transfer to an eligible institution during the term or semester, excluding summer terms, immediately following their enrollment at the previous institution, subject to provisions concerning such transfers as provided for in subsection (A)."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on March 21, 2012 at 7:13 PM