Bill Text: SC H5277 | 2015-2016 | 121st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Public college tuition waivers
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-26 - Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works [H5277 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2015-H5277-Introduced.html
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 59-111-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION WAIVERS FOR THE CHILDREN OF CERTAIN VETERANS, SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION WAIVERS TO CERTAIN WARTIME VETERANS, SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDY USE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-111-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-111-20. (A)(1) A child of a wartime veteran, upon application to and approval by the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, may be admitted to any state-supported college, university, or post high school technical education institution free of tuition so long as his work and conduct is satisfactory to the governing body of the institution, if the veteran was a resident of this State at the time of entry into service and during service or has been a resident of this State for at least one year and still resides in this State or, if the veteran is deceased, resided in this State for one year before his death, and provided the veteran served honorably in a branch of the military service of the United States during a war period, as those periods are defined by Section 101 of Title 38 of the United States Code and:
(1a) was killed in action;
(2b) died from other causes while in the service;
(3c) died of disease or disability resulting from service;
(4d) was a prisoner of war as defined by Congress or Presidential proclamation during such war period;
(5e) is permanently and totally disabled, as determined by the Veterans Administration from any cause;
(6f) has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor;
(7g) is missing in action;
(8h) the applicant is the child of a deceased veteran who qualified under items subitems (4d) and (5e); or
(9i) has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat."
(B2) The provisions of this section subsection apply to a child of a veteran who meets the residency requirements of Chapter 112 of this title, is twenty-six years of age or younger, and is pursuing any type of undergraduate degree.
(B)(1) A wartime veteran, upon application to and approval by the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, may be admitted to any state-supported college, university, or post high school technical education institution free of tuition if his work and conduct are satisfactory to the governing body of the institution, if the veteran was a resident of this State at the time of entry into service and during service or has been a resident of this State for at least one year and still resides in this State and provided the veteran served honorably in a branch of the military service of the United States during a war period, as those periods are defined by Section 101, Title 38 of the United States Code, has exhausted educational assistance under Chapter 30 and Chapter 33, Title 38 of the United States Code and:
(a) was a prisoner of war as defined by Congress or Presidential proclamation during such war period;
(b) is permanently and totally disabled, as determined by the Veterans Administration from any cause;
(c) has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; or
(d) has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.
(2) The tuition waiver provided in this subsection only may be used for pursuit of a:
(a) undergraduate degree; or
(b) postgraduate degree if undergraduate degree is obtained without tuition waiver under Section 59-111-20."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
