S 1193 General Bill, By Rose
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 112, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO TUITION OF
 POST SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-117 TO LIMIT
 THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF AN INSTITUTION TO INCREASE TUITION AND
 FEES ABOVE A RATE CALCULATED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND THE STATE
 POPULATION GROWTH, AND TO REQUIRE A REDUCTION IN STATE FUNDS FOR THE
 INSTITUTION FOR ANY AMOUNT ABOVE THIS RATE UNLESS APPROVED BY THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY.

   02/08/12  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
   02/08/12  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 6)

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 112, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO TUITION OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-117 TO LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF AN INSTITUTION TO INCREASE TUITION AND FEES ABOVE A RATE CALCULATED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND THE STATE POPULATION GROWTH, AND TO REQUIRE A REDUCTION IN STATE FUNDS FOR THE INSTITUTION FOR ANY AMOUNT ABOVE THIS RATE UNLESS APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

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 59-112-117.    (A)    A governing board of a public institution of higher learning may increase the rate of tuition and fees imposed on students above the rate of tuition and fees imposed for the preceding school year only to the extent of the increase in the average of the twelve monthly consumer price indices, as defined by Section 6-1-300(1), for the most recent twelve-month period consisting of January through December of the preceding calendar year, plus, the percentage increase in the previous year in the population of the State as determined by the South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics. If the average of the twelve monthly consumer price indices experiences a negative percentage, the average is deemed to be zero. If the State experiences a reduction in population, the percentage change in population is deemed to be zero.

(B)    If a governing board of a public institution increases the rate of tuition and fees above what is allowed under subsection (A), the amount of state funds received must be reduced by the amount of the excess, unless the increase is specifically authorized by the General Assembly."

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