H 3170 General Bill, By Harrell, W.D. Smith, Cato, Chellis, Cooper, Harrison, 
Walker, Witherspoon, Merrill, Ott, Ballentine, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bingham, 
Brady, Ceips, Clemmons, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Gambrell, Haley, 
Haskins, Hardwick, Herbkersman, Hinson, Leach, Littlejohn, Limehouse, Loftis, 
Lowe, Lucas, Mahaffey, Owens, Perry, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, Rice, Sandifer, 
Scarborough, Simrill, Skelton, D.C. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.R. Smith, 
Spires, Taylor, Thompson, Umphlett, Viers, Whitmire, Young, Bales, Kirsh, 
Huggins, Bowen, Jefferson, Alexander, R. Brown, Breeland, Bannister, White, 
Edge, Harvin, Kennedy, Crawford, Jennings, Miller, Gullick, Anthony, Phillips, 
Coleman, Mitchell, F.N. Smith, J.E. Smith, Clyburn, Sellers, Cobb-Hunter, Agnew, 
Bowers, Knight, Mulvaney, Neilson, Williams, Branham, Toole, Battle, Duncan, 
Hodges and Talley

Similar(S 291, S 656)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-104-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT STUDENT WHO IS AT LEAST A SOPHOMORE
 ATTENDING A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN THIS STATE, MAJORING IN SCIENCE
 OR MATHEMATICS, AND RECEIVING A PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP SHALL RECEIVE AN
 ADDITIONAL PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP STIPEND FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS
 UNDERGRADUATE TERM IF HE MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS INCLUDING MAKING
 SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS TOWARD RECEIVING AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN
 SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS MAJOR
 INCLUDES AN ENGINEERING MAJOR; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-149-15 SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT STUDENT WHO IS AT LEAST A SOPHOMORE ATTENDING A PUBLIC
 OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN THIS STATE, MAJORING IN SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND
 RECEIVING A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP SHALL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL LIFE SCHOLARSHIP
 STIPEND FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS UNDERGRADUATE TERM IF HE MEETS CERTAIN
 CONDITIONS INCLUDING MAKING SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS TOWARD RECEIVING AN
 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A SCIENCE
 OR MATHEMATICS MAJOR INCLUDES AN ENGINEERING MAJOR.

   12/20/06  House  Prefiled
   12/20/06  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   01/09/07  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-94
   01/09/07  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-95
   01/11/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowen
   01/16/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Jefferson, Alexander, R.Brown, Breeland,
                     Bannister, White, Edge, Harvin, Kennedy,
                     Crawford, Jennings, Miller, Gullick, Anthony,
                     Phillips, Coleman, Mitchell, F.N.Smith,
                     J.E.Smith, Clyburn, Sellers, Cobb-Hunter, Agnew,
                     Bowers, Knight, Mulvaney, Neilson, Williams
   01/18/07         Scrivener's error corrected
   01/18/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Branham
   01/23/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Toole
   01/25/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Battle
   01/30/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Duncan
   02/08/07  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways
                     and Means HJ-1
   02/13/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hodges, Talley
   02/14/07  House  Amended HJ-16
   02/14/07  House  Read second time HJ-23
   02/15/07  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-16
   02/15/07  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-13
   02/15/07  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-13
   05/23/07  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education SJ-54
   05/24/07         Scrivener's error corrected
   06/06/07  Senate Amended SJ-51
   06/06/07  Senate Read second time SJ-51
   01/16/08  Senate Recommitted to Committee on Education SJ-19

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

AMENDED

June 6, 2007

H. 3170

Introduced by Reps. Harrell, W.D. Smith, Cato, Chellis, Cooper, Harrison, Walker, Witherspoon, Merrill, Ott, Ballentine, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bingham, Brady, Ceips, Clemmons, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Gambrell, Haley, Haskins, Hardwick, Herbkersman, Hinson, Leach, Littlejohn, Limehouse, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mahaffey, Owens, Perry, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, Rice, Sandifer, Scarborough, Simrill, Skelton, D.C. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.R. Smith, Spires, Taylor, Thompson, Umphlett, Viers, Whitmire, Young, Bales, Kirsh, Huggins, Bowen, Jefferson, Alexander, R. Brown, Breeland, Bannister, White, Edge, Harvin, Kennedy, Crawford, Jennings, Miller, Gullick, Anthony, Phillips, Coleman, Mitchell, F.N. Smith, J.E. Smith, Clyburn, Sellers, Cobb-Hunter, Agnew, Bowers, Knight, Mulvaney, Neilson, Williams, Branham, Toole, Battle, Duncan, Hodges and Talley

S. Printed 6/6/07--S.

Read the first time February 15, 2007.

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-104-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT STUDENT WHO IS AT LEAST A SOPHOMORE ATTENDING A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN THIS STATE, MAJORING IN SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND RECEIVING A PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP SHALL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP STIPEND FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS UNDERGRADUATE TERM IF HE MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS INCLUDING MAKING SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS TOWARD RECEIVING AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS MAJOR INCLUDES AN ENGINEERING MAJOR; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-149-15 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT STUDENT WHO IS AT LEAST A SOPHOMORE ATTENDING A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN THIS STATE, MAJORING IN SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND RECEIVING A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP SHALL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL LIFE SCHOLARSHIP STIPEND FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS UNDERGRADUATE TERM IF HE MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS INCLUDING MAKING SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS TOWARD RECEIVING AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS MAJOR INCLUDES AN ENGINEERING MAJOR.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-149-50(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 162 of 2005, is further amended to read:

"(A)    To be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, a student must be either a student who has graduated from a high school located in this State, a student who has completed at least three of the final four years of high school within this State, a home school student who has successfully completed a high school home school program in this State in the manner required by law, a student who has graduated from a preparatory high school outside this State, while a dependent of a parent or guardian who is a legal resident of this State and has custody of the dependent, or a student whose parent or guardian has served in or has retired from one of the United States Armed Forces within the last four years, paid income taxes in this State for a majority of the years of service, and is a resident of this State. These students also must meet the requirements of subsection (B) and be eligible for in-state tuition and fees as determined pursuant to Chapter 112 of Title 59 and applicable regulations. In addition, beginning with the 1998-1999 school year for those students who graduate from high school on or after May 1998, the student must have graduated from high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade average on a 4.0 scale and have scored 1000 1100 or better on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or have the equivalent ACT score, 1050 or better, beginning with school year 2000-2001, and 1100 or better, beginning with school year 2002-2003; provided that, if the student is to attend such a public or independent two-year college or university in this State, including a technical college, the SAT requirement does not apply. If a student chooses to attend such a public or independent institution of this State and does not make the required SAT score or the required high school grade point average, as applicable, the student may earn a LIFE Scholarship after his freshman year if he meets the grade point average and semester credit hour requirements of subsection (B)."

SECTION    2.    A.    Chapter 104, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-104-25.    (A)    A resident student who is at least a sophomore attending a four-year public or private institution of higher learning in this State majoring in science or mathematics as defined below and who is receiving a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for his current year shall receive an additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend equal to the cost of attendance after applying all other scholarships or grants not to exceed three thousand three hundred dollars each year for not more than three additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a four-year degree program or for not more than four additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a five-year degree program or enrolled in a 3 plus 2 program. A year is defined as thirty credit hours of instruction or its equivalent each year. To receive the additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend each year, the student must receive the underlying Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for that year and must be making acceptable progress each year toward receiving a degree in his science or mathematics major. In addition, during his freshman year, the student is required to have successfully completed a total of at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses with a minimum of six hours in mathematics and a minimum of six hours in life and physical science including one laboratory course. For purposes of meeting the required minimum level of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses during a student's freshman year, advanced placement courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences taken in high school on which the student scored high enough on the advanced placement test to receive credit at his institution and for which he received credit count toward the fulfillment of this minimum requirement.

(B)    The Commission on Higher Education by regulation shall define what constitutes a science or mathematics major but at minimum shall include majors in science or mathematics disciplines, computer science or informational technology, engineering, science education, math education, and health care and related disciplines including medicine and dentistry; provided, that nothing herein prevents a student from changing majors within acceptable science or mathematics disciplines. Additionally, the Commission on Higher Education shall annually communicate with high school guidance counselors regarding the list of qualifying majors.

(C)    This additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend if lost may be regained in the same manner the underlying Palmetto Fellows Scholarship if lost may be regained.

(D)    In addition, the amount of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for recipients who do not receive the enhanced stipend provided by this section beginning with the 2007 academic year shall be increased to an amount equal to that received by a LIFE scholarship recipient also receiving the enhanced stipend provided by Section 59-149-15."

B.        Chapter 149, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-149-15.    (A)    A resident student who is at least a sophomore attending a four-year public or private institution of higher learning in this State majoring in science or mathematics as defined below and who is receiving a LIFE Scholarship for his current year shall receive an additional LIFE Scholarship stipend equal to the cost of attendance after applying all other scholarships or grants not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars each year for not more than three additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a four-year degree program or for not more than four additional years of instruction including his sophomore year if enrolled in a five-year degree program or enrolled in a 3 plus 2 program. In addition, during his freshman year, the student is required to have successfully completed a total of at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics and life science courses with a minimum of six hours in mathematics and a minimum of six hours in science including one laboratory course. A year is defined as thirty credit hours of instruction or its equivalent each year. To receive the additional LIFE Scholarship stipend each year, the student must receive the underlying LIFE Scholarship for that year and must be making acceptable progress each year toward receiving a degree in his science or mathematics major. For purposes of meeting the required minimum level of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses during a student's freshman year, advanced placement courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences taken in high school on which the student scored high enough on the advanced placement test to receive credit at his institution and for which he received credit count toward the fulfillment of this minimum requirement.

(B)    The Commission on Higher Education by regulation shall define what constitutes a science or mathematics major but at a minimum shall include majors in science or mathematics disciplines, computer science or informational technology, engineering, science education, math education, and health care and related disciplines including medicine and dentistry; provided, that nothing herein prevents a student from changing majors within acceptable science or mathematics disciplines. Additionally, the Commission on Higher Education shall annually communicate with high school guidance counselors regarding the list of qualifying majors.

(C)    This additional LIFE Scholarship stipend if lost may be regained in the same manner the underlying LIFE Scholarship if lost may be regained."

C.        Section 59-150-370 (A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-150-370.    (A)    SC HOPE Scholarships are hereby established and are provided by the State. These scholarships are authorized in an amount of up to two thousand five hundred dollars, plus a one hundred fifty three hundred dollar book allowance to cover the cost of attendance, as defined by the Commission on Higher Education by regulation, during the first year of attendance only, to an eligible student attending a four-year public or independent institution as defined in subsection (B) who does not also qualify for a LIFE Scholarship or a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship."

SECTION    3.    This Act take effect upon approval by the Governor, and applies beginning with the academic year beginning in the fall of 2007.