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COMMITTEE REPORT
February 15, 2018
H. 4078
S. Printed 2/15/18--H.
Read the first time March 30, 2017.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4078) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, so as to enact the "Military Priority Registration Act"; and by adding Section 59-103-37, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by
deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. This act must be known and may be cited as the "Military Priority Registration Act".
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 103, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-103-37. (A) For purposes of this section:
(1) 'Military-related students' are defined as:
(a) active-duty members of the uniformed services;
(b) reservists;
(c) members of the South Carolina National Guard; and
(d) veterans of the uniformed services, with the exception of those separated through bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge.
(2) 'Professional careers' mean courses of study that prepare a student for a particular occupation or profession.
(B) Public institutions of higher learning shall give enrollment priority to military-related students as provided in this section.
(C) To demonstrate eligibility for priority course enrollment, a student must submit both the military priority enrollment request form and proof of military-related status to the registrar's office. Materials may be submitted in person, via email, fax, or postal mail. Any of the following are sufficient to document proof of military-related status:
(1) DD Form 214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty;
(2) DD Form 256 - Honorable Discharge Certificate;
(3) WD AGO - Enlistment Record;
(4) military orders;
(5) military identification card; or
(6) veteran identification card issued in South Carolina.
(D)(1) To demonstrate eligibility for the ensuing:
(a) summer session or fall semester, documentation must be received before March first; and
(b) January term or spring semester, documentation must be received by October first.
(2) These deadlines apply to students in the undergraduate, graduate, and professional careers.
(E) For the purposes of this section, the following constitutes priority course enrollment for the fall and spring semesters:
(1) for the undergraduate career, second, third and fourth-year students are assigned priority enrollment appointment dates within their class year;
(2) for the graduate career, students are assigned enrollment appointment dates one day before other students within the graduate career;
(3) for the professional careers, eligible students may request priority enrollment for graduation requirement courses; and
(4) for January term and summer session, military-related students are assigned enrollment appointment dates in the first enrollment group."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Amended on February 13, 2018
State Expenditure
This bill creates the Military Priority Registration Act, which provides a framework for priority course enrollment for military-related students. The framework provides priority enrollment as follows:
Student Type Enrollment Priority Undergraduate Assigned priority appointments within class year. Graduate Assigned appointments one day before other graduate students. Professional May request priority enrollment for courses required for graduation. All Students - January & Summer Terms Assigned appointments in the first enrollment group.
It also defines military-related students and sets out a timeline in which documentation must be submitted to the student's college, university, or technical college to determine eligibility for priority registration.
Commission on Higher Education. Commission on Higher Education (CHE) surveyed the public colleges and universities regarding the impact of this bill. The bill requires the public colleges and universities to implement the priority registration framework. Most institutions indicated that either there are no costs associated with implementing military priority registration or that any implementation costs will be minimal and can easily be managed within existing appropriations. The College of Charleston provided further explanation to quantify this minimal impact. It will incur a non-recurring other funds expenditure impact of $10,000 for reprogramming its registration computer system and training faculty, and a recurring impact of $5,000 associated with ongoing maintenance of the priority registration system and training.
CHE indicated that responses had not been provided by Clemson University, South Carolina State University, and Winthrop University.
State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education (Tech Board) responded on behalf of the technical colleges. The bill requires the technical colleges to implement the priority registration framework. The Tech Board indicated that there will be no expenditure impact as a result of implementing military priority enrollment. Any implementation costs will be minimal and can be managed within existing appropriations and authorizations.
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "MILITARY PRIORITY REGISTRATION ACT"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-103-37 SO AS TO PROVIDE PRIORITY COURSE ENROLLMENT FOR MILITARY-RELATED STUDENTS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMINOLOGY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act must be known and may be cited as the "Military Priority Registration Act".
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 103, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-103-37. (A) For purposes of this section, 'military-related students' are defined as:
(1) active-duty members of the uniformed services;
(2) reservists;
(3) members of the South Carolina National Guard; and
(4) veterans of the uniformed services, with the exception of those separated through bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge.
(B) To demonstrate eligibility for priority course enrollment, a student must submit both the military priority enrollment request form and proof of military-related status to the registrar's office. Materials may be submitted in person, via email, fax, or postal mail. Any of the following are sufficient to document proof of military-related status:
(1) DD Form 214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty;
(2) DD Form 256 - Honorable Discharge Certificate;
(3) WD AGO - Enlistment Record;
(4) military orders;
(5) military identification card; or
(6) veteran identification card issued in South Carolina.
(C)(1) To demonstrate eligibility for the ensuing:
(a) summer session or fall semester, documentation must be received before March first; and
(b) January term or spring semester, documentation must be received by October first.
(2) These deadlines apply to students in the undergraduate, graduate, and professional careers.
(D) For the purposes of this section, the following constitutes priority course enrollment for the fall and spring semesters:
(1) for the undergraduate career, second, third and fourth-year students are assigned priority enrollment appointment dates within their class year;
(2) for the graduate career, students are assigned enrollment appointment dates one day before other students within the graduate career;
(3) for the professional careers, eligible students may request priority enrollment for graduation requirement courses; and
(4) for January term and summer session, military-related students are assigned enrollment appointment dates in the first enrollment group."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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