South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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Bill 204

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Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

January 26, 2005

S. 204

Introduced by Senator J. Verne Smith

S. Printed 1/26/05--S.

Read the first time January 12, 2005.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 204) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-150-375 so as to provide that certain visual or hearing impaired students may receive, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, page 1, by striking lines 29 and 30 and inserting:

/                certifies the student's impairment and that no in-state institution exists to specifically meet the student's need."    /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

HUGH K. LEATHERMAN, SR. for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

See Below

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES:

See Below

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

The HOPE, Lottery Tuition Assistance Program at the two-year Technical Colleges, and the Palmetto Fellows scholarship programs are funded from various sources. These sources include the state general fund, Education Lottery account and from Commercial Nuclear Waste Tax revenue. Both the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program and HOPE scholarships operate with a finite annual appropriation with the funds being distributed among eligible students. However, the Palmetto Fellows scholarship appropriation is "open-ended". Although CHE indicates the number of additional qualifying students is unknown, if five additional students were to receive a Palmetto Fellows scholarship upon enactment of this bill the impact on the General Fund of the State and/or the Education Lottery account would be $33,500 (max award amount $6,700 X 5). Based on evaluating five students per year, CHE estimates $10,000 in administrative costs to make the evaluation and monitor and track student performance. However, CHE anticipates additional administrative costs if the number of students who qualify is significantly higher.

The impact on the general fund is at the General Assembly's discretion. This initiative could be funded with state general funds and/or Education Lottery proceeds.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-150-375 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN VISUAL OR HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS MAY RECEIVE STATE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO ATTEND CERTAIN OUT-OF-STATE INSTITUTIONS.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 15, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-150-375.    A visual or hearing impaired student who qualifies for state scholarship funds pursuant to Chapter 149 of Title 59, Section 59-104-20, Section 59-150-360, or Section 59-150-370 may receive state scholarship funds to attend an out-of-state institution that specializes in educating visual or hearing impaired students if the Commission on Higher Education recommends that the out-of-state institution will benefit the student more than an in-state institution."

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

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