S 0923 General Bill, By Sheheen, Leventis, Lourie, Hayes and Elliott
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 10
 TO CHAPTER 111, TITLE 59 SO AS TO CREATE THE "SOUTH CAROLINA TUITION EXEMPTION
 FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2008", TO PROVIDE THAT A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES
 ARMED FORCES WHO IS A CITIZEN OF THIS STATE IS EXEMPT FROM CERTAIN PERCENTAGES
 OF TUITION BASED ON VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND MAY RECEIVE A BOOK ALLOWANCE AND
 PARTICIPATE IN A WORK STUDY PROGRAM FOR COMPENSATION IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE
 MET, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
 EDUCATION SHALL PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS AND ADMINISTER THE TUITION
 EXEMPTION PROGRAM, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A CREDIT HOUR GENERATED BY A VETERAN
 RECEIVING A TUITION EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE USED TO
 COMPUTE THE HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND MAY NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE
 LEVEL OF FUNDING AN INSTITUTION RECEIVES.

   12/12/07  Senate Prefiled
   12/12/07  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   01/08/08  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-64
   01/08/08  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-64

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 111, TITLE 59 SO AS TO CREATE THE "SOUTH CAROLINA TUITION EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2008", TO PROVIDE THAT A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO IS A CITIZEN OF THIS STATE IS EXEMPT FROM CERTAIN PERCENTAGES OF TUITION BASED ON VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND MAY RECEIVE A BOOK ALLOWANCE AND PARTICIPATE IN A WORK STUDY PROGRAM FOR COMPENSATION IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS AND ADMINISTER THE TUITION EXEMPTION PROGRAM, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A CREDIT HOUR GENERATED BY A VETERAN RECEIVING A TUITION EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE USED TO COMPUTE THE HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA AND MAY NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF FUNDING AN INSTITUTION RECEIVES.

Whereas, the proud and courageous men and women of the great State of South Carolina who volunteer to defend our individual freedoms and fight our country's battles return home to find a new adversary: an unfeeling and uncaring maze of rules and regulations standing between them and the care and benefits too many have earned through terrible personal sacrifice. Our veterans, however, receive no training, are issued no weapons, and have few resources to combat this insidious adversary. The tragic result of this one-sided battle is felt in far too many homes, workplaces, and communities in South Carolina and the nation. The General Assembly, as a legislative body, must recognize the great sacrifices of these citizens, value their once and future contributions to this State, and ensure that they receive the respect and assistance they need and deserve; and

Whereas, as one small effort in recognition of the sacrifices of our veteran citizens, this act establishes a comprehensive education assistance plan for our combat-experienced and disabled veterans. In addition to well-deserved recognition, this act intends to help the State retain many South Carolinians who may otherwise be forced to pursue their education elsewhere. As much as they need us now, South Carolina needs these future leaders to remain in their communities and to use the strength and courage they have so admirably demonstrated for the benefit of all of our citizens. This act is more than just an education plan for our veterans; it is a means for our State to tap into an invaluable resource. Now, therefore,

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:

Section 59-111-800.    This article may be cited as the 'South Carolina Tuition Exemption For Veterans Act of 2008'.

Section 59-111-810.    As used in this article:

(1)    'State school' means a state-supported technical college or other institution of higher learning in this State as enumerated in Section 59-111-340.

(2)    'Tuition' means the amount of money a state school charges a student to register for a credit hour of instruction, and does not include another fee, charge, or related educational expense.

(3)    'Veteran' means an individual who has received an honorable or general discharge from the armed forces of United States, including a reserve or national guard unit who is a resident of this State.

(4)    'Disability rating' refers to a rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense; for the purposes of this act, the veteran may use whichever is higher.

Section 59-111-820.    A veteran enrolled in a state school is exempt from:

(1)    twenty-five percent of his state school tuition if he has combat experience;

(2)    fifty percent of his state school tuition if he has a disability rating of at least thirty percent but less than fifty percent; or

(3)    one hundred percent of his tuition if he:

(a)    has a disability rating of fifty percent or more;

(b)    is the recipient of the bronze star or a higher military award;

(c)    became an amputee as a result of his military service; or

(d)    is a combat veteran with a thirty percent or greater disability rating.

Section 59-111-830.    A veteran enrolled in a state school may elect to:

(1)    receive a textbook allowance of three hundred dollars for a semester in which he is enrolled if he:

(a)    has a disability rating of fifty percent or more;

(b)    is the recipient of the bronze star or a higher military award;

(c)    became an amputee as a result of his military service; or

(d)    is a combat veteran with a thirty percent or greater disability rating; and

(2)    participate in a work-study program for ten hours weekly during a fall or spring semester in which he is enrolled.

Section 59-111-840.    The State Commission on Higher Education shall:

(1)    promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this article; and

(2)    administer the provisions of this section and has the authority to issue a textbook allowance and an exemption for the tuition to a student based on his qualifications.

Section 59-111-850.    A credit hour generated by a veteran receiving a tuition exemption pursuant to this article may not be used to compute the higher education funding formula and may not have an impact on the level of funding an institution receives.

Section 59-111-860.    The tuition exemptions, textbook allowances and other education benefits provided by this article are in addition to all other benefits provided by state or federal law."

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