H 3265 General Bill, By Harrison and Knotts
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO DELETE THE
 REQUIREMENT THAT THE 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE REQUIRED OF STUDENTS AT AN
 INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING TO ATTAIN OR RECEIVE A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP MUST BE
 CUMULATIVE.

   01/16/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-10
   01/16/01  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-10

TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE REQUIRED OF STUDENTS AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING TO ATTAIN OR RECEIVE A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP MUST BE CUMULATIVE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-149-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:

    "Section 59-149-50.    (A)    To be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, a student must be either a member of a class graduating from a high school located in this State on or after May, 1995, a home school student who has successfully completed a high school home school program in this State in the manner required by law on or after May, 1995, or a student graduating from a preparatory high school outside this State on or after May, 1995, while a dependent of a parent or guardian who is a legal resident of this State and has custody of the dependent, and these students must also meet the requirements of subsection (B). In addition, beginning with the 1998-99 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 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).

    (B)    Students receiving a LIFE Scholarship to retain it and students currently enrolled in an eligible institution to receive such a scholarship must earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale each year and earn at least thirty credit hours each year for the maximum of semesters permitted at that institution by Section 59-149-60.

    (C)    Students who were LIFE Scholarship recipients seeking a degree at such a public or independent institution of this State during their freshman or other year who failed to earn a cumulative 3.0 at the end of the term they attempted the requisite number of hours required by subsection (B) may regain eligibility if their cumulative grade average is a 3.0 at the end of the term they have attempted at least sixty hours if they are a sophomore or ninety hours if they are a junior."

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