South Carolina General Assembly
113th Session, 1999-2000

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Bill 4650


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      4650
Ratification Number:              318
Act Number:                       289
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20000217
Primary Sponsor:                  Hamilton
All Sponsors:                     Hamilton, W. McLeod, Easterday, Leach and 
                                  F. Smith
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\skb\18161som00.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20000503
Date of Last Amendment:           20000425
Governor's Action:                S
Date of Governor's Action:        20000519
Subject:                          LIFE Scholarships, STAR Diploma Program 
                                  repealed; Colleges, Tuition, School Districts, 
                                  Grants, Palmetto Fellows, Academic


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
------  20000606  Act No. A289
------  20000519  Signed by Governor
------  20000516  Ratified R318
House   20000503  Concurred in Senate amendment, 
                  enrolled for ratification
House   20000427  Debate adjourned until
                  Tuesday, 20000502
------  20000426  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000425  Amended, read third time, 
                  returned to House with amendment
Senate  20000420  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  20000419  Committee report: Favorable            04 SED
Senate  20000330  Introduced, read first time,           04 SED
                  referred to Committee
House   20000329  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   20000328  Amended, read second time
House   20000323  Debate adjourned until
                  Tuesday, 20000328
House   20000314  Committee report: Favorable with       21 HEPW
                  amendment
House   20000217  Introduced, read first time,           21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill
Revised on March 14, 2000 - Word format
Revised on March 28, 2000 - Word format
Revised on April 19, 2000 - Word format
Revised on April 25, 2000 - Word format
Revised on April 26, 2000 - Word format

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


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

(A289, R318, H4650)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT STUDENTS MUST PASS ALL COURSES REQUIRED FOR A STAR DIPLOMA; TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-90, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE STUDENTS OTHERWISE QUALIFIED WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT, OR CONVICTED OF, OR PLED GUILTY TO ALCOHOL OR DRUG-RELATED MISDEMEANORS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF ONE ACADEMIC YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE ADJUDICATION, CONVICTION, OR PLEA, AND TO STRIKE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUE CERTIFICATES TO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-104-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, SECTION 59-113-20, RELATING TO TUITION GRANTS, SECTION 59-142-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO NEED-BASED GRANTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION AT STATE INSTITUTIONS, ALL SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT, BEEN CONVICTED OF, OR PLED GUILTY TO ANY FELONIES OR ALCOHOL OR DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THESE GRANTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS, EXCEPT THAT HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE STUDENTS OTHERWISE QUALIFIED WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT OR CONVICTED OF, OR PLED GUILTY TO ALCOHOL OR DRUG-RELATED MISDEMEANORS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE OR CONTINUE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH GRANTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF ONE ACADEMIC YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE ADJUDICATION, CONVICTION, OR PLEA; TO AMEND SECTION 59-118-30, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE ACADEMIC ENDOWMENT INCENTIVE ACT, SO AS TO ADD TO THE DEFINITION OF "QUALIFYING COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY" A REGIONAL CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-39-105 AND 59-39-190 RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS FOR THE STAR DIPLOMA; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-103-175, RELATING TO INCLUDING STAR DIPLOMA INFORMATION IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGHER EDUCATION AWARENESS COUNSELING, ALL SO AS TO REPEAL THE STAR DIPLOMA PROGRAM.

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

Delete requirement of passing STAR Diploma courses

SECTION 1. Section 59-149-50 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 418 of 1998, is amended to read:

"Section 59-149-50. (A) To be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, a student must be either a member of a class graduating from a high school located in this State on or after May, 1995, a home school student who has successfully completed a high school home school program in this State in the manner required by law on or after May, 1995, or a student graduating from a preparatory high school outside this State on or after May, 1995, while a dependent of a parent or guardian who is a legal resident of this State and has custody of the dependent, and these students must also meet the requirements of subsection (B). In addition, beginning with the 1998-99 school year for those students who graduate from high school on or after May, 1998, the student must have graduated from high school with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade average on a 4.0 scale, and have scored 1000 or better on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or have the equivalent ACT score, 1050 or better beginning with school year 2000-2001, and 1100 or better beginning with school year 2002-2003; provided that if the student is to attend such a public or independent two-year college or university in this State, including a technical college, the SAT requirement does not apply. If a student chooses to attend such a public or independent institution of this State and does not make the required SAT score or the required high school grade point average, as applicable, the student may earn a LIFE Scholarship after his freshman year if he meets the grade point average and semester credit hour requirements of subsection (B).

(B) Students receiving a LIFE Scholarship to retain it and students currently enrolled in an eligible institution to receive such a scholarship must earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale each year and earn at least thirty credit hours each year for the maximum of semesters permitted at that institution by Section 59-149-60.

(C) Students who were LIFE Scholarship recipients seeking a degree at such a public or independent institution of this State during their freshman or other year who failed to earn a cumulative 3.0 at the end of the term they attempted the requisite number of hours required by subsection (B) may regain eligibility if their cumulative grade average is a 3.0 at the end of the term they have attempted at least sixty hours if they are a sophomore or ninety hours if they are a junior."

Delete Education Department certificate to scholarship recipients; students otherwise qualified eligible for scholarship one academic year after date of adjudication, conviction, or plea to alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor

SECTION 2. Section 59-149-90 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 418 of 1998, is amended to read:

"(A) Students must not have been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any alcohol or drug related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a LIFE Scholarship, except that a high school or college student otherwise qualified who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for such scholarships after the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea.

(B) Regardless of the number of hours attempted, once the student has earned a bachelor's degree, he is ineligible for a LIFE Scholarship to seek another degree."

Ineligible for scholarship or grant if convicted of felony or alcohol or drug-related offenses; exceptions

SECTION 3. A. Section 59-104-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 458 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-104-20. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program is established to foster scholarship among the state's post-secondary students and retain outstanding South Carolina high school graduates in the State through awards based on scholarship and achievement. Measures must be taken to ensure equitable minority participation in this program. Recipients of these scholarships are designated Palmetto Fellows. Each Palmetto Fellow shall receive a scholarship in an amount designated by the Commission on Higher Education. The commission shall promulgate regulations and establish procedures to administer the program and request annual state appropriations for the program.

Students, either new or continuing, must not have been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, except that a high school or college student otherwise qualified who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for such scholarships after the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea."

B. Section 59-113-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-113-20. The State of South Carolina shall grant an amount, as provided in this chapter, to any applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(a) has been a resident of South Carolina for at least one year;

(b) is of good moral character;

(c) has demonstrated qualities of academic merit and financial need;

(d) has been accepted by or is registered in a South Carolina independent institution of higher learning as a full-time student whose academic programs are not comprised solely of sectarian instruction;

(e) is not enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree in theology, divinity, or religious education; and

(f) has not been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a South Carolina tuition grant, except that a high school or college student otherwise qualified who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for such grants after the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea."

C. Section 59-142-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 155 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-142-10. (A) The State shall fund a need-based grant for a student who enrolls as an undergraduate in a public institution of higher learning in this State, who applies for the need-based grant, and who meets the following qualifications:

(1) meets domicile requirements, as defined in Section 59-112-20, with the additional requirement of at least twelve consecutive months of residency in the State of South Carolina immediately preceding enrollment;

(2) is accepted by and enrolled or registered in a state public institution of higher learning as a first degree full-time or part-time student in a certificate, or diploma of at least one year in length, or undergraduate degree program;

(3) is of good moral character;

(4) has not been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a South Carolina need-based grant, except that a high school or college student otherwise qualified who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for such grants after the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea; and

(5) is found to be in financial need according to federal Title IV regulations.

(B) To maintain continued eligibility for the state need-based grants, once enrolled a student shall:

(1) complete a minimum of twenty-four semester hours an academic year if a full-time student and twelve semester hours an academic year if a part-time student and make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree as determined by the institution;

(2) have not been adjudicated delinquent or been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States in order to be eligible for a South Carolina need-based grant, except that a high school or college student otherwise qualified who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense nevertheless shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for such grants after the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea; and

(3) be eligible for the need-based grants for a maximum of four academic years of two semesters."

D. This section takes effect upon approval by the Governor; however, students receiving Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, Tuition Grants or Need-based Grants adjudicated delinquent, convicted, or plead guilty to any alcohol or drug-related misdemeanors prior to July 1, 2000, shall not be penalized under this section.

Definition revised

SECTION 4. Section 59-118-30(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 419, Part II, Section 59A of 1998, is further amended to read:

"(1) 'Qualifying college or university' means a state-supported, post-secondary, four-year educational institution offering undergraduate, master, or doctoral degree programs, a technical college under the jurisdiction of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, and a regional campus of the University of South Carolina."

Repealed sections

SECTION 5. Sections 59-39-105, 59-39-190, and 59-103-175 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

Time effective

SECTION 6. Except as otherwise provided, this act takes effect July 1, 2000.

Ratified the 16th day of May, 2000.

Approved the 19th day of May, 2000.

__________


This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:30 A.M.