H*3793(Rat #0023, Act #0014 of 2017)  General Bill, By Crawford, Clemmons, 
Jordan, Johnson, Fry, Hardee, Bennett, Anderson, Alexander, Atkinson, Kirby, 
Crosby, Arrington, Sottile, McCoy, Daning, Duckworth, Hayes, Lowe, S. Rivers, 
Stavrinakis, Knight, Ryhal, Hewitt, Davis, Yow and Whipper

Similar(S 350)
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE MISSION AND GOALS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO
 AS TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN DEGREE PROGRAMS SO LONG AS STATE GENERAL FUNDS ARE NOT
 APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM. - ratified title

   02/16/17  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 21)
   02/16/17  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 21)
   02/28/17  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Knight
   03/02/17  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 2)
   03/03/17         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/07/17  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ryhal,
                     Hewitt, Davis
   03/08/17  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow, Whipper
   03/08/17  House  Amended (House Journal-page 22)
   03/08/17  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 22)
   03/08/17  House  Roll call Yeas-97  Nays-9 (House Journal-page 24)
   03/09/17  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 7)
   03/09/17  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/09/17  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/09/17         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/23/17  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education (Senate Journal-page 12)
   03/29/17  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 43)
   03/29/17  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 43)
   03/29/17  Senate Roll call Ayes-37  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 43)
   03/30/17  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 24)
   03/30/17         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/05/17  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 75)
   04/05/17  House  Roll call Yeas-101  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 75)
   04/19/17         Ratified R 23
   04/24/17         Signed By Governor
   04/27/17         Effective date 4/24/17
   04/28/17         Act No. 14

(A14, R23, H3793)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MISSION AND GOALS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN DEGREE PROGRAMS SO LONG AS STATE GENERAL FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM.

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

Degrees authorized, funding contingency

SECTION    1.    Section 59-103-15 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 213 of 2012, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-103-15.    (A)(1)    The General Assembly has determined that the mission for higher education in South Carolina is to be a global leader in providing a coordinated, comprehensive system of excellence in education by providing instruction, research, and life-long learning opportunities which are focused on economic development and benefit the State of South Carolina.

(2)    The goals to be achieved through this mission are:

(a)    high academic quality;

(b)    affordable and accessible education;

(c)    instructional excellence;

(d)    coordination and cooperation with public education;

(e)    cooperation among the General Assembly, Commission on Higher Education, Council of Presidents of State Institutions, institutions of higher learning, and the business community;

(f)    economic growth;

(g)    clearly defined missions.

(B)    The General Assembly has determined that the primary mission or focus for each type of institution of higher learning or other post-secondary school in this State is as follows:

(1)    Research institutions

(a)    college-level baccalaureate education, master's, professional, and doctor of philosophy degrees which lead to continued education or employment;

(b)    research through the use of government, corporate, nonprofit-organization grants, or state resources, or both;

(c)    public service to the State and the local community;

(2)    Four-year colleges and universities

(a)    college-level baccalaureate education and selected master's degrees which lead to employment or continued education, or both, except for doctoral degrees currently being offered;

(b)    bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering approved by the Commission on Higher Education at South Carolina State University;

(c)    bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering approved by the Commission on Higher Education at South Carolina State University;

(d)    doctoral degree in Marine Science approved by the Commission on Higher Education;

(e)    subject to subsection (C), doctoral degree in Nursing Practice approved by the Commission on Higher Education at Francis Marion University;

(f)    subject to subsection (C), doctoral degree in Nursing Practice approved by the Commission on Higher Education at the University of South Carolina Aiken;

(g)    subject to subsection (C), doctor of philosophy degree in Education Administration approved by the Commission on Higher Education at Coastal Carolina University;

(h)    subject to subsection (C), doctor of philosophy degree in Computer and Information Science approved by the Commission on Higher Education at the College of Charleston;

(i)        limited and specialized research;

(j)        public service to the State and the local community;

(3)    Two-year institutions - branches of the University of South Carolina

(a)    college-level pre-baccalaureate education necessary to confer associates' degrees which lead to continued education at a four-year or research institution;

(b)    public service to the State and the local community;

(4)    State technical and comprehensive education system

(a)    all post-secondary vocational, technical, and occupational diploma and associate degree programs leading directly to employment or maintenance of employment and associate degree programs which enable students to gain access to other post-secondary education;

(b)    up-to-date and appropriate occupational and technical training for adults;

(c)    special school programs that provide training for prospective employees for prospective and existing industry in order to enhance the economic development of South Carolina;

(d)    public service to the State and the local community;

(e)    continue to remain technical, vocational, or occupational colleges with a mission as stated in item (4)    and primarily focused on technical education and the economic development of the State.

(C)    Notwithstanding subsection (B), the doctoral degrees set forth in subsection (B)(2)(c), (d), and (e) are only allowed so long as new state general funds are not appropriated for the operations of the degree program."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 19th day of April, 2017.

Approved the 24th day of April, 2017.