H 4947 Session 110 (1993-1994)
H 4947 General Bill, By Klauber, L.O. Graham, M.H. Kinon, J.G. McAbee and McKay
Similar(S 1181)
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.
03/22/94 House Introduced and read first time HJ-10
03/22/94 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works HJ-10
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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