A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-104-20, relating to THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM so as to PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP AND IS ENROLLED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STUDENT SHALL COMMIT TO TEACH IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR SEVEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF A STUDENT DOES NOT TEACH IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, THE STUDENT SHALL RETURN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 59-104-20 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subsection to read:

   (J)(1)   A student who meets the requirements of this section and is enrolled in the South Carolina Teaching Fellows program administered by The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement is eligible for a supplemental teaching scholarship equal to the student's remaining tuition after the Palmetto Fellows scholarship and the Teaching Fellows scholarship have been applied to the student's tuition. A student who receives a supplemental teaching scholarship pursuant to this subsection shall commit to teach in a South Carolina public school for seven years after graduation.

      (2)   If a student does not teach in a South Carolina public school for seven years after graduation, the student shall return one seventh of the value of the supplemental teaching scholarship described in item (1) for each year of the first seven years after graduation that the student is not a South Carolina public school teacher. A student may apply for a waiver if the student enrolls in a master's degree program related to education. The Department of Revenue may garnish a person's income tax refund for failure to satisfy the financial responsibility requirements of this item.

      (3)   Each year in the annual general appropriations act, the General Assembly shall appropriate the funds necessary to fund the supplemental teaching scholarships awarded pursuant to this subsection.

SECTION 2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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