Education Scholarship Trust Fund

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-110, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND PROGRAM, SO AS TO REVISE SEVERAL DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-115, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL APPLICATION PROCESSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-120, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST FUND, SO AS TO PROVIDE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN RELATED INFORMATION, TO REVISE THE FUNDING FORMULA, AND TO REVISE RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-125, RELATING TO FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM, SO AS TO REVISE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, AND TO REMOVE PROVISIONS ALLOWING THE USE OF QUALIFIED THIRD PARTIES TO MANAGE ACCOUNTS AND ADMINISTER RELATED FUNCTIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-130, RELATING TO REVERSION OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS UPON TERMINATION OF A SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE RETURN OF REVERTED FUNDS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-135, RELATING TO LIMITATIONS ON SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO REVISE THE LIMITATIONS, REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL BUDGET REQUEST BASED ON CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIP DEMAND AND USE INFORMATION, AND TO REMOVE OBSOLETE REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-140, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER APPLICATION REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESSES, SO AS TO REVISE CERTIFICATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-145, RELATING TO THE STUDENT ELIGIBILITY NOTIFICATION PROCESS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT MAY DECLARE A STUDENT INSTEAD OF A PARENT INELIGIBLE, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-150, RELATING TO EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE PROVIDERS GIVE PARENTS SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION FOR QUALIFIED GOODS AND SERVICES ACQUIRED, TO PROVIDE SURETY BOND REQUIREMENTS, AND TO REVISE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE REQUIREMENTS.