Higher Ed. funding

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 7 TO CHAPTER 11, TITLE 11 SO AS TO PROVIDE INCREASED FUNDING TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS GENERAL FUND REVENUES INCREASE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE FUNDING, AND TO ESTABLISH THE HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES REPAIR AND RENOVATION FUND TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; BY ADDING SECTIONS 59-149-170, 59-149-180, 59-104-50, AND 59-104-60 SO AS TO NORMALIZE THE TEN-POINT GRADING SCALE FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-150-370, RELATING TO THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO NORMALIZE THE TEN-POINT GRADING SCALE FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY; BY ADDING SECTIONS 59-142-80 AND 59-143-40 SO AS TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE NEED-BASED GRANT PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FUTURE FUNDING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-104-25 AND 59-149-15, RELATING TO CERTAIN STEM STIPENDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STIPEND IS AVAILABLE WHEN THE STUDENT BECOMES A JUNIOR INSTEAD OF A SOPHOMORE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-142-90 SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THE FUNDING TO THE NEED-BASED TUITION GRANTS PROGRAM MUST BE THE SAME AS THE FUNDING TO THE NEED-BASED GRANTS; TO AMEND SECTION 2-47-40, RELATING TO THE JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN INFORMATION BE GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE; BY ADDING SECTION 2-47-65 SO AS TO INDEX FOR INFLATION PROJECT COSTS FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING IF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS; TO AMEND SECTION 2-47-55, RELATING TO A COMPREHENSIVE PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-110, RELATING TO APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-103-175 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SUBMIT POLICY STATEMENTS AND RULES AS REGULATIONS.