South Carolina H 4984: Prescription Drugs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4984 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 20, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4984

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE 
"SOUTH CAROLINA DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITY ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 60 TO TITLE 
59 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STATEWIDE POLICY FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT, TO DEFINE NECESSARY 
TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POLICY, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND TO 
REPEAL SECTION 59-59-210 RELATING TO ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SCHOOL 
DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity 
Act."

SECTION 2. Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

CHAPTER 60

South Carolina Dual Enrollment Opportunity Act

 Section 
59-60-110. For the purposes of this chapter:

 (1) 
"Dual enrollment" means the participation of eligible high school students, 
including those attending public, charter, private, and home schools, in 
college-level courses that simultaneously fulfill requirements for high school 
graduation and contribute toward a postsecondary credential such as a degree, 
certificate, or diploma. A dual enrollment program should ease students' 
transition from high school to college by exposing them to college-level 
expectations, rigor, and support systems.

 (2) 
"Industry-recognized credentials" means certifications, licenses, or 
certificates that:

 (a) 
verify an individual's knowledge and skills in a specific career field that is 
widely valued by employers, recognized in the labor market, and portable across 
state borders; and

 (b) 
serve as a valid assessment of such student knowledge and skills. The 
Coordinating Council on Workforce Development shall compile and maintain a list 
of such credentials.

 (3) 
"Early college" means a high school that partners with a college to provide 
students with the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and college 
credit or an associate degree simultaneously.

 (4) 
"Middle college" means a high school program that takes place on a technical or 
community college campus where students may simultaneously earn high school and 
college credit.

 (5) 
"Mixed enrollment" occurs where students are concurrently enrolled in a 
college-level course with high school students who are not enrolled as dual 
enrollment students.

 (6) 
"Baccalaureate track or pathway" means dual enrollment courses that lead to the 
completion of a bachelor's degree at a South Carolina college or university.

 (7) 
"Career track or pathway" means dual enrollment courses that lead to the 
completion of a technical certificate, diploma, or Associates in Applied Science 
degree.

 (8) 
"Developmental course" means a sub-collegiate level preparatory course in 
English, mathematics, reading, science, basic skills, and second language 
learning.

 Section 
59-60-120. Beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, all courses eligible for 
dual enrollment status must be approved by the Education Oversight Committee. 
The committee shall consult with the State Department of Education, the 
Commission on Higher Education, and the State Board for Technical and 
Comprehensive Education in making its determination on course eligibility. 
Approved courses may be used to lead to a diploma, certificate, or 
industry-recognized credential.

 Section 
59-60-130. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, 
the State Board of Education, State Board for Technical and Comprehensive 
Education, and Commission on Higher Education shall adopt a statewide policy 
governing dual enrollment. The policy shall include, at a minimum, the 
following:

 (1) 
courses are limited to students in the eleventh and twelfth grade unless the 
student is in at least the ninth grade and is enrolled in an early college or 
middle college. Additional exceptions may be made for high school students 
enrolled prior to the eleventh grade if the parent or guardian, student, high 
school principal, and designated college representative approve students on a 
case-by-case basis, and a signed acknowledgement is executed by all parties;

 (2) 
a requirement that home school students must comply with the course 
registration requirements of the higher education institution;

 (3) 
an allowance for high school students who have completed all requirements for 
high school graduation, but have not received a diploma;

 (4) 
a requirement that baccalaureate track students must have an unweighted grade 
point average of 3.0 or higher and meet all program and course prerequisites 
for enrollment as defined by the higher education institution offering the 
coursework;

 (5) 
a requirement that career and technical education track