South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

A151, R160, H3784

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. J.E. Smith, Pitts, Vick and Harrell
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ggs\22547zw13.docx

Introduced in the House on March 7, 2013
Introduced in the Senate on April 25, 2013
Passed by the General Assembly on March 19, 2014
Governor's Action: April 7, 2014, Signed

Summary: National Guard College Assistance Program

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3/7/2013  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15)
    3/7/2013  House   Referred to Committee on Ways and Means 
                        (House Journal-page 15)
   4/18/2013  House   Committee report: Favorable Ways and Means 
                        (House Journal-page 15)
   4/24/2013  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pitts, Vick, 
                        Harrell
   4/24/2013  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 95)
   4/24/2013  House   Roll call Yeas-103  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 96)
   4/25/2013  House   Read third time and sent to Senate 
                        (House Journal-page 31)
   4/25/2013  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10)
   4/25/2013  Senate  Referred to Committee on Education 
                        (Senate Journal-page 10)
   3/13/2014  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Education 
                        (Senate Journal-page 8)
   3/18/2014  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 12)
   3/18/2014  Senate  Roll call Ayes-33  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 12)
   3/19/2014  Senate  Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 20)
    4/3/2014          Ratified R 160
    4/7/2014          Signed By Governor
    4/9/2014          Effective date 04/07/14
   4/14/2014          Act No. 151

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/7/2013
4/18/2013
3/13/2014


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

(A151, R160, H3784)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-114-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE NATIONAL GUARD COLLEGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT EACH ACADEMIC YEAR'S ANNUAL MAXIMUM GRANT MUST BE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE PROGRAM FUNDS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-114-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE NATIONAL GUARD COLLEGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR COLLEGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANTS UPON COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING AND ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-114-65, RELATING TO GRANT AVAILABILITY, SO AS TO ALLOW APPROPRIATIONS TO THE NATIONAL GUARD COLLEGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO A SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEAR AND EXPENDED FOR THE SAME PURPOSE, AND TO EXEMPT APPROPRIATIONS TO THE NATIONAL GUARD COLLEGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FROM MIDYEAR BUDGET REDUCTIONS.

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

Determination of maximum grant

SECTION    1.    Section 59-114-30 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 40 of 2007, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-114-30.    Qualifying members of the National Guard may receive college assistance program grants up to an amount equal to one hundred percent of college tuition and fees, provided, however, the total of all grants received may not exceed eighteen thousand dollars. A member may not qualify for college assistance program grants for more than one hundred thirty semester hours or related quarter hours. Grants are not to be awarded for graduate degree courses. A new application must be submitted for each separate academic year prior to the beginning of the academic year. The annual maximum grant must be determined for each academic year based on the amount of available program funds."

Determination of eligibility

SECTION    2.    Section 59-114-40(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 40 of 2007, is further amended to read:

"(B)    Individuals joining the National Guard become eligible for college assistance program grants upon completion of basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Enlisted personnel shall continue their service in the National Guard during the term of the courses covered by the grant received. Officers shall continue their service with the National Guard for at least four years after completion of the most recent grant awarded or degree completion."

Appropriations carry forward and exemption

SECTION    3.    Section 59-114-65 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 40 of 2007, is amended to read:

"Section 59-114-65.    Grants provided pursuant to this chapter are subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the General Assembly. Funds appropriated for the college assistance program may be carried forward and expended for the same purpose. If a midyear budget reduction is imposed by the General Assembly or the State Budget and Control Board, the appropriations for the college assistance program are exempt. Up to five percent of the amount appropriated to the college assistance program may be used to defray administrative costs incurred by the commission associated with the implementation of this chapter."

Time effective

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 3rd day of April, 2014.

Approved the 7th day of April, 2014.

__________


This web page was last updated on July 24, 2014 at 2:50 PM