South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 1209


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS ON STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND LOANS BY TEMPORARILY WAIVING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF SECTION 59-104-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MINIMUM TEST SCORES FOR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO MINIMUM TEST SCORES FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND RELATED REGULATIONS, ALL SO AS TO ALLOW GRADUATING SENIORS WHO EARN A QUALIFYING ACT SCORE THROUGH JULY OF 2020 TO MEET INITIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, BY TEMPORARILY WAIVING CERTAIN REGULATORY PROVISIONS CONCERNING CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS SO AS TO ALLOW ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO POSTPONE ENROLLMENT UNTIL SPRING 2021, AND BY WAIVING CERTAIN REGULATIONS CONCERNING SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHER LOAN PROGRAM STANDARDIZED TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS FOR FRESHMEN DURING THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR.

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

SECTION    1.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-104-20(G), Section 59-149-50(A), R. 62-320(D)(1) and (2), or another provision of law, students who earn a qualifying ACT score through July 2020 meet initial eligibility criteria concerning the ACT test for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the LIFE Scholarship.

SECTION    2.    Notwithstanding the provisions of R. 63-310, R. 63-315, R. 63-335, or another provision of law concerning continuous enrollment requirements for Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, and notwithstanding the provisions of R. 63-1200.5, R. 63-1200.10, R. 63-1200.15, or another provision law concerning continuous enrollment requirements for LIFE Scholarships, eligible students may choose to postpone enrollment and wait to enroll until Spring 2021 rather than enroll for the Fall 2020 semester without violating such continuous enrollment requirements.

SECTION    3.    Notwithstanding the provisions of R. 62-120(A)(6) or another provision of law concerning undergraduate freshmen eligibility for loans from the South Carolina Teachers Loan Program, an SAT score or ACT score is not required for an undergraduate freshman to be eligible for a loan from the South Carolina Teachers Loan Program during the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

SECTION    4.    The provisions of this joint resolution expire July 1, 2021.

SECTION    5.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval of the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on May 12, 2020 at 5:39 PM