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COMMITTEE REPORT
April 19, 2000
H. 4650
Introduced by Reps. Hamilton, W. McLeod, Easterday, Leach and F. Smith
S. Printed 4/19/00--S.
Read the first time March 30, 2000.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4650), to amend Section 59-149-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the eligibility requirements for a LIFE Scholarship, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
NIKKI G. SETZLER, for Committee.
TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT STUDENTS MUST PASS ALL COURSES REQUIRED FOR A STAR DIPLOMA; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-39-105 AND 59-39-190 RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS FOR THE STAR DIPLOMA; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-103-175, RELATING TO INCLUDING STAR DIPLOMA INFORMATION IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGHER EDUCATION AWARENESS COUNSELING, ALL SO AS TO REPEAL THE STAR DIPLOMA PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-149-50 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 418 of 1998, is 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.
(D) By the year 2000, students graduating from high school to be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship must have passed all courses required for a STAR diploma."
SECTION 2. Section 59-149-90 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 418 of 1998, is amended to read:
"Section 59-149-90. (A) Students must not have been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any alcohol or drug related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, except that a student who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an alcohol or drug related misdemeanor offense is ineligible only for one calendar year after the adjudication, conviction, or plea occurred.
(B) Regardless of the number of hours attempted, once the student has earned a bachelor's degree, he is ineligible for a LIFE Scholarship to seek another degree.
(C) All students who earn a LIFE Scholarship under this chapter or the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship shall be recognized at graduation from high school with a certificate issued by the Department of Education."
SECTION 3. Sections 59-39-105, 59-39-190, and 59-103-175 of the 1976 Code are repealed.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2000.
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