Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FORMING OPEN AND ROBUST UNIVERSITY MINDS (FORUM) ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 148 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE MEASURES TO PROTECT EXPRESSIONS BY STUDENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN CERTAIN PLACES ON THE CAMPUSES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND TO PROVIDE MEANS OF REDRESS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATOR TRAINING, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE GOVERNOR'S TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO REVISE DUTIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-53-40, RELATING TO COLLEGE PARALLEL COURSES AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, SO AS TO REMOVE RELATED BUDGETARY REVIEW REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-40, RELATING TO THE CONVERSION FROM THE QUARTER CALENDAR SYSTEM TO THE SEMESTER CALENDAR SYSTEM BY THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING 59-143-10, RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN FUNDS FROM THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ENDOWMENT, SO AS TO REMOVE SPECIFIC TIMES FOR RELEASING THE FUNDS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-143-30, RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION FORMULA FOR CERTAIN FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO STUDENTS ATTENDING INDEPENDENT COLLEGES, SO AS TO REVISE THE FORMULA; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-355, RELATING TO EDUCATION LOTTERY APPROPRIATIONS AND USES, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-380, RELATING TO THE GRIEVANCE AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL PROCEDURE FOR ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO THE COMMISSION; BY REPEALING CHAPTER 51 OF TITLE 11 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE ACT; BY REPEALING SECTION 39-9-230 RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE WITH ASSISTANCE BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-54-20 RELATING TO THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-340 RELATING TO ALLOCATION OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR A CERTAIN INVESTMENT INITIATIVE; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-360 RELATING TO CERTAIN REVENUE FROM TAX ON CATALOG SALES CREDITABLE TO MAIL ORDER SALES TAX FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-50 RELATING TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF PRIVATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-120 RELATING TO THE ACCREDITATION AND CHARTERING OF CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGES; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-103-162 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-210 RELATING TO THE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-230 RELATING TO THE ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS PROGRAM; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-410 RELATING TO THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-420 RELATING TO CRITERIA FOR RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND USES; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-430 RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS FOR THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND TO BE MADE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-104-440 RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT FUND; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-105-60 RELATING TO THE MODEL SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY CREATED BY THE CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT INFORMATION ACT; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-111-75 RELATING TO THE COLLEGE LOAN PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-121-15 RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITADEL TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE INSTITUTION; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-127-75 RELATING TO THE FELTON-LABORATORY SCHOOL AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-150-380 RELATING TO THE EDUCATION LOTTERY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-67 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHES, TO ESTABLISH CERTIFICATION STANDARDS, REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT, AND ESTABLISH OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-46-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOUTH CAROLINA PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE FOR AN APPLICATION PROCESS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL DESIGNATION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-111-35 SO AS TO CREATE THE "ATHLETIC TRAINERS' LOAN ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM" FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS STATE GRANTS TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAYMENT OF SUBSIDIZED OR UNSUBSIDIZED FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS INCURRED IN OBTAINING EDUCATION REQUIRED FOR THEIR CERTIFICATION, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRANTS AND GRANT RECIPIENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND ATHLETIC TRAINERS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-110, RELATING TO EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO FURTHER DEFINE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES TO INCLUDE EDUCATION CLASSES DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT A STUDENT'S LEARNING PROGRAM PROVIDED BY AN ELIGIBLE SCHOOL AND TO FURTHER REMOVE ANY OTHER EDUCATION EXPENSES APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ENABLE PERSONALIZED LEARNING; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-115, RELATING TO THE STANDARD APPLICATION PROCESS, SO AS TO REQUIRE A PARENT TO CERTIFY THAT AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN A HOME BASED PERSONALIZED LEARNING PROGRAM NOT SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 59-65-10 AND TO DELETE A PROVISION ALLOWING A PARENT'S SIGNATURE TO SATISFY THE STATE'S COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-250, RELATING TO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR TAXPAYERS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND OVER OR THOSE TOTALLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED OR LEGALLY BLIND, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO CERTAIN MILLAGE IMPOSED FOR SERVICING THE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-610, RELATING TO THE MANNER IN WHICH ANNUAL LEAVE IS COMPUTED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A DEPARTMENT HEAD MAY NOT ESTABLISH RESTRICTED LEAVE PERIODS DURING WHICH EMPLOYEES ARE PROHIBITED FROM TAKING ANNUAL LEAVE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-47, RELATING TO UNUSED LEAVE PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL MAY NOT ESTABLISH RESTRICTED LEAVE PERIODS DURING WHICH EMPLOYEES ARE PROHIBITED FROM TAKING ANNUAL LEAVE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-35 SO AS TO CREATE A MANDATORY ORIENTATION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD SECRETARY OF EACH INSTITUTION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "MERIT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 2026"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-680 SO AS TO ENSURE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF DEI STRUCTURES AND RACE-CONSCIOUS CONSIDERATIONS, ADMISSIONS, HIRING, PROMOTION, AND RETENTION DECISIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM ARE TRULY MERIT-BASED, TRANSPARENT, AND AUDITABLE.