South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 24

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Hutto
Document Path: l:\council\bills\jn\3305ph21.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 12, 2021
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Education

Summary: Licensure

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12/9/2020  Senate  Prefiled
   12/9/2020  Senate  Referred to Committee on Education
   1/12/2021  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 100)
   1/12/2021  Senate  Referred to Committee on Education 
                        (Senate Journal-page 100)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/9/2020

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THIS STATE AND ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW MAY ESTABLISH DOMICILE IN THIS STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING IN-STATE TUITION RATES AND FEES AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND FOR STATE-SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THIS STATE AND ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW MAY ESTABLISH RESIDENCY AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED OTHER LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

Whereas, approximately 6,400 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, also known as "DREAMers", live in South Carolina; and

Whereas, in 2017 and 2018, the Joint Legislative Committee for Children received public input in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Florence, wherein over forty DREAMers testified and requested eligibility to receive in-state tuition, eligibility for state scholarships, and the ability to receive occupational licenses; and

Whereas, approximately one-third of DREAMers in South Carolina are in middle school, high school, or college; and

Whereas, with federal legislation, South Carolina could have DREAMers in this State indefinitely and, even without federal legislation, South Carolina will have legal status DREAMers in this State until March 2021. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 112, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 59-112-45.    Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person who has a lawful presence in this State and is not precluded from establishing residency under federal immigration law may establish domicile in this State for the purpose of receiving in-state tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher learning. A person eligible for in-state tuition rates pursuant to this section is eligible for state-supported scholarships and grants, provided other eligibility requirements are met.

    (B)    The provisions of this section apply notwithstanding another provision of law."

SECTION    2.    Chapter 1, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 41-1-35.    Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person who has a lawful presence in this State and is not precluded from establishing residency under federal immigration law may establish residency and be eligible for occupational or professional licensure under the provisions of this chapter, provided other licensure requirements are met.

    (B)    The provisions of this section apply notwithstanding another provision of law."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2021 at 9:15 AM