S 1181 Session 110 (1993-1994)
S 1181 General Bill, By Hayes, Lander, Leventis and Wilson
Similar(H 4947)
A Bill to amend Chapter 111, Title 59, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
relating to scholarships and education, by adding Article 6 so as to provide
for free tuition at state-supported colleges and universities and technical
schools for persons serving in the South Carolina National Guard, and to
provide the procedures for the granting of such free tuition.
02/15/94 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
02/15/94 Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-4
A BILL
TO AMEND CHAPTER 111, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND
EDUCATION, BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 SO AS TO PROVIDE
FOR FREE TUITION AT STATE-SUPPORTED COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS FOR PERSONS
SERVING IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD,
AND TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURES FOR THE GRANTING
OF SUCH FREE TUITION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 111, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended
by adding:
"Article 6
Free Tuition for Persons Serving in the
South Carolina National Guard
Section 59-111-410. As used in this article, `tuition' means the
amount charged for registering for a credit hour of instruction and
shall not be construed to mean any other fees or charges or costs of
textbooks.
Section 59-111-420. (A) A student enrolled in state-supported
institutions of higher learning or technical colleges, as these
institutions are enumerated in Section 59-111-340, who is serving in
the South Carolina National Guard is exempt from all tuition charges
as long as the student remains a member in good standing in the South
Carolina National Guard. The student must be a resident of South
Carolina in order to be eligible for such free tuition. This tuition
exemption may be claimed for a period of eight years or until the
receipt of a bachelor's degree, whichever occurs first. The State
Commission on Higher Education shall administer the provisions of
this section and shall have the authority to issue an exemption for
tuition fees to a member of the South Carolina National Guard. This
exemption shall remain in effect for one full academic year and shall
be renewed after the student has completed a full academic year of
work equal to thirty semester hours, in accordance with regulations
prescribed by the commission. An exemption for thirty hours may
remain in effect for more than one year.
(B) The tuition-free benefits provided by this section are based on
the excess capacity of each state-supported educational institution or
availability of seats. Availability of seats shall be determined on a
course-by-course basis during registration.
(C) Participation is limited to first and second term enlisted
members and requires a two-year service commitment for each year
of enrollment.
(D) Degree programs of these students may not exceed one
hundred thirty semester credit hours or one hundred ninety-five quarter
hours. This benefit applies equally to full-time and part-time students.
(E) If the student terminates service in the South Carolina
National Guard or if the student's work and conduct are no longer
satisfactory to the governing body of the institution the student
attends, the exemption is forfeited immediately, and the student shall
pay the institution all tuition charges from which the student was
exempt for that period.
(F) To receive the exemption, a student must be a member in good
standing of the active South Carolina National Guard for the entire
semester for which the exemption is claimed. The student must
continuously maintain satisfactory participation in the South Carolina
National Guard as prescribed by regulations promulgated by the South
Carolina Adjutant General, the National Guard Bureau, the Department
of the Army, and the Department of the Air Force.
(G) The Adjutant General shall promulgate the regulations
necessary for the implementation of this article and submit a list of
eligible participants to the State Commission on Higher Education for
validation.
(H) The State Commission on Higher Education shall validate the
South Carolina National Guard list and forward an exemption
certificate for each student to the registrar of the appropriate
institution. The institution must then permit the student to attend
classes at the institution without paying tuition on a space available
basis.
Section 59-111-430. The credit hours generated by students who
are members of the South Carolina National Guard receiving free
tuition under this article shall be used in computing the higher
education funding formula and shall have an impact on the level of
funding an institution receives.
Section 59-111-440. The provisions of this article are applicable
beginning with the fall semester or quarter of 1995 and
thereafter."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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