H*3392(Rat #0054, Act #0048 of 2005)  General Bill, By Toole, Clyburn, 
Jefferson, Limehouse, Vaughn, Pinson and Vick
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-150-360, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO TUITION ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND A STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OR A
 TWO-YEAR INSTITUTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A STUDENT FEELS THAT HE WILL
 DEFINITELY NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, THE STUDENT MAY
 COMPLETE A SIMPLE FORM OF MINIMUM QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE STUDENT
 DEFINITELY WILL NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, AND IF SO, THE
 STUDENT IS EXEMPT FROM COMPLETING THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT
 AID. - ratified title

   01/26/05  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-85
   01/26/05  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-85
   02/03/05  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pinson
   03/10/05  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-3
   03/11/05         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/14/05  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Vick
   03/14/05  House  Amended HJ-19
   03/14/05  House  Read second time HJ-19
   03/15/05  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-108
   03/16/05  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   03/16/05  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-8
   04/21/05  Senate Committee report: Favorable Education SJ-10
   04/25/05  Senate Read second time SJ-13
   04/26/05  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-10
   04/28/05         Ratified R 54
   05/03/05         Signed By Governor
   05/05/05         Copies available
   05/05/05         Effective date 05/03/05
   05/09/05         Act No. 48

(A48, R54, H3392)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-150-360, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO TUITION ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND A STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OR A TWO-YEAR INSTITUTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A STUDENT FEELS THAT HE WILL DEFINITELY NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, THE STUDENT MAY COMPLETE A SIMPLE FORM OF MINIMUM QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE STUDENT DEFINITELY WILL NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, AND IF SO, THE STUDENT IS EXEMPT FROM COMPLETING THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID.

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

Tuition assistance to attend a state technical college or a two-year institution

SECTION    1.    Section 59-150-360(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)     A person who qualifies for in-state tuition rates pursuant to Chapter 112, Title 59 may receive tuition assistance to attend a technical college of this State or a public two-year institution of higher learning. A person who qualifies for in-state tuition rates pursuant to this title may attend an independent two-year institution of higher learning and receive lottery tuition assistance each year limited to the highest amount of tuition assistance received by students at public two-year institutions. In order to qualify as a first time entering freshman and before attempting twenty-four academic credit hours, a student must:

(1)    be a South Carolina resident for a minimum of one year;

(2)    be enrolled and maintain six credit hours each semester in a certificate, degree, or diploma program;

(3)    make reasonable progress toward completion of the requirements for the certificate, degree, or diploma program;

(4)    complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. If a student feels that he will definitely not qualify to receive federal financial aid, the student may complete a simple form of minimum questions created by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the Commission on Higher Education to determine if the student definitely will not qualify to receive federal financial aid. If it is determined that the student definitely will not qualify to receive federal financial aid, the student shall sign a form created by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the Commission on Higher Education, and the student is exempted from completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the Commission on Higher Education shall promulgate regulations to set thresholds for determining if a student definitely will not qualify to receive federal financial aid; and

(5)    not be the recipient of a LIFE Scholarship.

Regulations for implementation of this section are the responsibility of the South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, for the technical college system, and the Commission on Higher Education, for the two-year public and private institutions. These regulations must be developed in a coordinated effort, provide for the allocation of funds based on the tuition assistance granted at each institution, and be interchangeable between each of the institutions affected."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 28th day of April, 2005.

Approved the 3rd day of May, 2005.