S 0185 General Bill, By Hayes
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-77-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" AS IT PERTAINS TO
 THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION EXCELLENCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO
 INCLUDE AN INSTITUTION THAT OFFERS AT LEAST ONE NONSECTARIAN PROGRAM AT THE
 BACCALAUREATE LEVEL, AND TO INCLUDE AN INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY AN
 ORGANIZATION THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 AND ALSO RECEIVES TITLE III FUNDING.

   12/10/14  Senate Prefiled
   12/10/14  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   01/13/15  Senate Introduced and read first time
                     (Senate Journal-page 121)
   01/13/15  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 121)

TO AMEND SECTION 2-77-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION EXCELLENCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN INSTITUTION THAT OFFERS AT LEAST ONE NONSECTARIAN PROGRAM AT THE BACCALAUREATE LEVEL, AND TO INCLUDE AN INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ALSO RECEIVES TITLE III FUNDING.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 2-77-15(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 162 of 2005, is further amended to read:

"(1)    'Eligible institution' means a four-year institution of higher learning or an institution of higher learning that is accredited to offer, and is actively offering, at least one nonsectarian program at the baccalaureate level:

(a)    at which sixty percent or more of the enrolled undergraduate students were low-income and educationally disadvantaged students, for the four consecutive years immediately preceding the then current year;

(b)    that is defined in Part B, Subchapter III, Chapter 28, Title 20 of the United States Code;

(c)(i)    that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or

(ii)    that is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and that receives Title III funding;

(d)    that is organized as a nonprofit corporation or is a public institution; and

(e)    that has its main campus located in South Carolina."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect July 1, 2015.