Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1181 Primary Sponsor:Hayes Committee Number:04 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:National Guard, free tuition Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Computer Document Number:GJK/20341SD.94 Introduced Date:19940215 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19940215 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Hayes Leventis Lander Wilson Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
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1181 Senate 19940215 Introduced, read first time, 04
referred to Committee
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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:
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.