Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

April 28, 2026

 

S. 863

 

Introduced by Senators Grooms, Cromer, Martin, Bennett, Rankin, Tedder, Sutton and Matthews

 

S. Printed 4/28/26--H.                                                                         [SEC 4/29/2026 10:58 AM]

Read the first time April 2, 2026

 

________

 

The committee on House Ways and Means

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 863) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-103-15, relating to the state's mission and goals for higher education, so as to provide for an Applied, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

 

B.W. BANNISTER for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill authorizes an Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management within the state technical and comprehensive education system provided that the program is first approved by the Tech Board and then CHE. The Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree program is only allowed under the bill so long as new General Funds are not appropriated for the operations of the degree program.

The Tech Board anticipates a minimal expenditure impact to establish the Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree program and indicates that any expenses incurred will be managed by existing institutional resources as well as future tuition and fee revenue generated by the degree program.

CHE indicates that the approval of the degree program will be managed with existing staff and resources will therefore have no expenditure impact on the agency.

 

State Revenue

This bill will result in an undetermined increase in Other Funds revenue for state technical colleges from tuition and fees generated by the Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree program. The actual revenue increase will depend on tuition rates set by the Tech Board and the number of students who enter the degree program and is currently unknown. The Tech Board indicates that this revenue will be used for educational and administrative expenses related to the degree program.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-103-15, RELATING TO THE STATE'S MISSION AND GOALS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN CULINARY ARTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE FROM INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE STATE TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-103-15, RELATING TO FUNDING FOR CERTAIN DEGREES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN CULINARY ARTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAMS ARE ONLY ALLOWED IF STATE FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED TO FUND THE PROGRAMS.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 59-103-15(B)(5)(e) and (f) of the S.C. Code are amended to read:

 

    (e) continue to remain technical, vocational, or occupational colleges with a mission as stated in item (4) and primarily focused on technical education and the economic development of the State;  and

    (f) subject to subsection (C), an Applied Baccalaureate in Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher Education.; and

    (g) subject to subsection (C), an Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher Education.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 59-103-15(C) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (C) Notwithstanding subsection (B), the degrees set forth in subsection (B)(3)(e), (f), (g), and (h), and subsection (B)(5)(f) and (g) are only allowed so long as new state general funds are not appropriated for the operations of the degree program.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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