A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-10, RELATING TO INSTITUTIONS THAT STUDENTS MAY ATTEND TO RECEIVE A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO INCLUDE OUT-OF-STATE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO USE FOR A PROGRAM OF STUDY OFFERED BY THE INSTITUTION BUT NOT OFFERED BY AN INSTITUTION IN THIS STATE.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 59-149-10(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (B) For purposes of this chapter, a "public or independent institution" which a student may attend to receive a LIFE Scholarship includes the following:

       (1) a South Carolina public institution defined in Section 59-103-5 and an independent institution as defined in Section 59-113-50.;

       (2) a public or independent bachelor's level institution chartered before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina; or an independent bachelor's level institution which was incorporated in its original charter in 1962, was granted a license to operate in 1997 by the Commission on Higher Education, has continued to maintain a campus in South Carolina, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.  Institutions whose sole purpose is religious or theological training, or the granting of professional degrees do not meet the definition of "public or independent institution" for purposes of this chapter.; and

       (3) an out-of-state public or independent institution of higher learning that offers a program of study not offered by an institution defined in item (1) or (2), provided the student only may use the LIFE Scholarship for such a program.

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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