Education (Student Financial Aid)

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PALMETTO ACCESS TO HIGHERED (PATH) ACT"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-149-17 SO AS TO ESTABLISH PATH SCHOLARSHIPS, TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS, TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMINOLOGY.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP AND IS ENROLLED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STUDENT SHALL COMMIT TO TEACH IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR SEVEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF A STUDENT DOES NOT TEACH IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, THE STUDENT SHALL RETURN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-440 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STUDENT MUST BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING OUT-OF-STATE TUITION AT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE IF HE ATTENDED A HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STATE FOR THREE OR MORE YEARS, GRADUATED FROM A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE OR RECEIVED THE EQUIVALENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN THIS STATE, REGISTERS AS AN ENTERING STUDENT OR IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION NO EARLIER THAN THE FALL SEMESTER OF THE 2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR, AND, IF LACKING LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS, FILES AN AFFIDAVIT WITH THE INSTITUTION STATING HE HAS FILED AN APPLICATION TO LEGALIZE HIS IMMIGRATION OR WILL FILE AN APPLICATION WHEN ELIGIBLE; TO PROVIDE A STUDENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT ALSO MUST MEET OTHER QUALIFICATIONS OF THE STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE; TO PROVIDE STUDENT INFORMATION OBTAINED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT MUST BE CONFIDENTIAL; AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3791 SO AS TO ALLOW AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES GRANTS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND CERTAIN INDEPENDENT AND HOME SCHOOLS, TO SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CREDIT IS CLAIMED, TO SPECIFY THE PROCESS BY WHICH CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS BECOME ELIGIBLE, TO SPECIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION WHICH MUST BE MADE PUBLIC, AND TO ALLOW THE STATE TREASURER AND DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CREDIT; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 12-6-3790 RELATING TO THE EDUCATIONAL CREDIT FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILDREN'S FUND.