South Carolina General Assembly
122nd Session, 2017-2018

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 869

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Kimpson, Jackson, Hutto and McLeod
Document Path: l:\s-res\mek\031drea.dmr.mek.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3053

Introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2018
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Education

Summary: Tuition rates

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1/9/2018  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 85)
    1/9/2018  Senate  Referred to Committee on Education 
                        (Senate Journal-page 85)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/9/2018

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

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 112, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE DETERMINATION OF RATES OF TUITION AND FEES, BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-45, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO HAS A LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THIS STATE AND IS NOT PRECLUDED FROM ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW MAY ESTABLISH DOMICILE IN THIS STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING IN-STATE TUITION RATES AND FEES AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND FOR STATE-SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS, PROVIDED THAT OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE MET; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 1, TITLE 40, RELATING TO BOARD REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS, BY ADDING SECTION 40-1-35, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO HAS A LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THIS STATE AND IS NOT PRECLUDED FROM ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW MAY ESTABLISH RESIDENCY AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED THAT OTHER LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

Whereas, approximately 6,400 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, also known as "DREAMers," live in South Carolina; and

Whereas, in 2017, the Joint Legislative Committee for Children received public input in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Florence, wherein approximately thirty DREAMers testified and requested eligibility to receive in-state tuition, eligibility for state scholarships, and the ability to receive occupational licenses; and

Whereas, approximately one-third of DREAMers in South Carolina are in middle school, high school, or college;

Whereas, with federal legislation, South Carolina could have DREAMers in this State indefinitely, and even without federal legislation, South Carolina will have DREAMers with legal status in this State until March 2020. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    This act must be known and may be cited as the "South Carolina DREAMers Act of 2018."

SECTION    2.    Chapter 112, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-112-45.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has a lawful presence in this State and is not precluded from establishing residency under federal immigration law may establish domicile in this State for the purpose of receiving in-state tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education. A person eligible for in-state tuition rates pursuant to this section is eligible for state-supported scholarships and grants, provided that other eligibility requirements are met.

SECTION    3.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 40-1-35.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has a lawful presence in this State and is not precluded from establishing residency under federal immigration law may establish residency and be eligible for occupational or professional licensure under the provisions of this title, provided that other licensure requirements are met."

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----


This web page was last updated on February 15, 2018 at 12:38 PM