South Carolina General Assembly
125th Session, 2023-2024
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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 974
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Bennett
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4045
Document Path: LC-0468SA24.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 18, 2024
Introduced in the House on February 27, 2024
Last Amended on February 21, 2024
Currently residing in the Senate
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
---|---|---|
1/18/2024 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3) |
1/18/2024 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Education (Senate Journal-page 3) |
2/14/2024 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education (Senate Journal-page 10) |
2/21/2024 | Senate | Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 25) |
2/21/2024 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 25) |
2/21/2024 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 25) |
2/22/2024 | Senate | Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 10) |
2/27/2024 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 32) |
2/27/2024 | House | Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 32) |
5/1/2024 | House | Committee report: Favorable Education and Public Works |
5/7/2024 | House | Requests for debate-Rep(s). Erickson, Hiott, Carter, Hixon, Guffey, B Newton, Sessions, MM Smith, BL Cox, West, Long (House Journal-page 131) |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/18/2024
02/14/2024
02/14/2024-A
02/21/2024
05/01/2024
May 01, 2024
S. 974
Introduced by Senator Bennett
S. Printed 05/01/24--H.
Read the first time February 27, 2024
________
The committee on House Education and Public Works
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 974) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Sections 59-104-20, 59-149-10, and 59-150-370, all relating to the definition of "Public Or Independent Institution", etc., respectfully
Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
SHANNON ERICKSON for Committee.
statement of estimated fiscal impact
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
State Expenditure
This bill adds ACCSC accredited institutions to the definition of public or independent institutions for the purposes of extending Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and Hope Scholarship funding to qualifying students attending those institutions.
This bill may result in additional requirements for CHE in their facilitation of scholarship disbursements. CHE and the Tech System indicate that any additional responsibilities as a result of the bill will be managed with existing staff and resources. Therefore, this bill will have no impact on CHE or the Tech System.
As follows are the accredited institutions in the state whose students would qualify for scholarship funding under this bill:
Institution |
Location |
American College of the Building Arts |
Charleston |
Laurel Institute of Technology |
Fort Mill |
Miller-Motte Technical College |
Charleston |
Miller-Motte Technical College |
Conway |
Miller-Motte Technical College |
Summerville |
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics |
Myrtle Beach |
Southeastern College |
North Charleston |
Southeastern College |
Columbia |
Source: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
CHE is responsible for licensure and oversight of each ACCSC accredited institution. According to the agency, enrollment across all eight institutions totaled 895 students in the fall semester of 2023. CHE does not collect academic information from these institutions, and therefore, the current number of students who would qualify for the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, or Hope Scholarships is currently unknown. If all enrolled students qualified for the largest scholarship award available, Palmetto Fellows, in the amount of $6,700 per student per academic year, this could increase annual scholarship disbursements by at least $5,996,500. The maximum Palmetto Fellows scholarship award increases to $7,500 per student in their second academic year and each year thereafter, which could further increase the impact to scholarship disbursements. However, it is unlikely that every student attending ACCSC accredited institutions would qualify for the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, or Hope scholarships, and therefore, the impact on total scholarship disbursements would be lower.
For reference, the following table represents the possible impact on FY 2022-23 scholarship disbursements if students attending ACCSC accredited institutions had qualified for the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and Hope scholarships. These figures include the amount appropriated and actual disbursements for each scholarship in FY 2022-23 and are based on 895 additional students receiving the maximum first-year award for each category of scholarship.
Possible Impact of ACCSC Institutions on FY 2022-23 Scholarship Disbursements |
||||
|
Appropriations |
Disbursements |
Maximum Possible Increase in Disbursements to ACCSC Institutions |
|
Palmetto Fellows |
$72,139,864 |
$72,387,226 |
$5,996,500 |
8.3% |
LIFE |
$235,150,272 |
$205,884,137 |
$4,475,000 |
2.2% |
Hope |
$10,904,039 |
$12,563,028 |
$2,506,000 |
19.9% |
Source: Commission on Higher Education, FY 2022-23 Annual Appropriations Act
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
_______
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 59-104-20, 59-149-10, AND 59-150-370, ALL RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLIC OR INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION" FOR PURPOSES OF THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, THE LEGISLATIVE INCENTIVES FOR FUTURE EXCELLENCE (LIFE) SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THE SC HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS, RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO ADD AN INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION OF CAREER SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES TO THE DEFINITION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-104-20(F)(1) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
(c) not for profit institutions accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
SECTION 2. Section 59-149-10(B) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
(3) not for profit institutions accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
SECTION 3. Section 59-150-370(B) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
(3) not for profit institutions accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on May 1, 2024 at 10:09 PM