Reference is to the bill as introduced.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 59-112-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 11 of 2015, 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. Active duty military personnel may be
charged less than the undergraduate tuition rate for South
Carolina residents for courses that are presented on a distance
basis, regardless of residency.
(B)(1) Active duty
military personnel may be charged less than the undergraduate
tuition rate for South Carolina residents for courses that are
presented on a distance basis, regardless of residency.
(2)
For purposes of this section, 'active duty military
personnel' includes, but is not limited to, active duty
guardsmen and active duty reservists.
(C)(1) Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, a covered individual enrolled in a
public institution of higher education and receiving educational
assistance under Chapter 30 and Chapter 33, Title 38 of the
United States Code are entitled to pay in-state tuition and fees
without regard to the length of time the covered individual has
resided in this State.
(2)
For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual is
defined as:
(a)
a veteran who served ninety days or longer on active duty
in the Uniformed Service of the United States, their respective
Reserve forces, and the National Guard and who enrolls within
three years of discharge; or
(b)
a person who is entitled to and receiving assistance under
Section 3311(b)(9) or 3319, Title 38 of the United States Code
by virtue of the person's relationship to the veteran described
in subitem (a).
(3)
A covered individual must live in this State while
enrolled at the in-state institution.
(4) At the
conclusion of the applicable three year period in subsection
(C)(2)(a), a covered individual shall remain eligible for
in-state rates as long as he remains continuously enrolled in an
in-state institution or transfers to another in-state
institution during the term or semester, excluding summer terms,
immediately following his enrollment at the previous in-state
institution. In the event of a transfer, the in-state
institution receiving the covered individual shall verify the
covered individual's eligibility for in-state rates with the
covered individual's prior in-state institution. It is the
responsibility of the transferring covered individual to ensure
all documents required to verify both the previous and present
residency decisions are provided to the in-state
institution.
(D)
Notwithstanding another provision of law, a veteran of
the Armed Services of the United States who has evidenced intent
to establish domicile in South Carolina and his dependents are
entitled to receive in-state tuition and fees at public
institutions of higher education in this State without the
requirement of one year of physical presence in this State. For
purposes of this subsection, a 'veteran' means an individual who
has served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces and
who has been honorably discharged from such service."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.