South Carolina H 4753: Chapin HS cheer champs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4753 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4753

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 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.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 111, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-111-35. (A) For the purposes of 
this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

 (1) 
"Athletic trainer" has the same meaning as in Section 40-47-1710(1).

 (2) 
"Athletic Trainers' Advisory Committee" or "Committee" means the committee 
established pursuant to Section 40-47-1720.

 (3) 
"Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer or Board of Certification, 
Inc." or "BOC" means the organization for certified athletic trainers as 
provided in Section 40-47-1710(4).

 (4) 
"Board of Medical Examiners" means the board established pursuant to Section 
40-47-10.

 (5) 
"Commission on Higher Education" or "Commission" means the commission 
established pursuant to Chapter 103.

 (B)(1) This section must be administered 
by the Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the Athletic 
Trainers' Advisory Committee.

 (2) 
A percentage not to exceed ten percent of any annual appropriations received by 
the program may be expended for the operation and administrative requirements 
provided in this section.

 (3) 
The requirements of this section are contingent upon available funding for the 
program.

 (4) 
The commission, in consultation with the committee, may adopt rules for the 
administration and implementation of this section. 

 (C)(1) The Commission on Higher 
Education, in consultation with the State Department of Education and Board of 
Medical Examiners, shall develop an "Athletic Trainers' Loan Assistance Grants 
Program" to provide certified athletic trainers in the public schools of this 
State grants not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars per year worked 
or three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars per semester worked, for a 
maximum of four consecutive years. The purpose of the grants is to help 
recipients with the repayment of subsidized or unsubsidized federal student 
loans incurred in obtaining education required for licensure as a certified 
athletic trainer. If there are insufficient funds in the Education Lottery 
Account to provide the grant to each eligible recipient for a particular year, 
priority must be given to those athletic trainers who serve geographic areas of 
critical need as determined by the State Department of Education.

 (2) 
The commission may award loan assistance from the program to eligible 
applicants. To be eligible for loan assistance, an applicant must:

 (a) 
be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States;

 (b) 
hold an approved degree from an approved institution, each of which must have 
been approved by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer or Board 
of Certification, Inc. for the purpose of satisfying the BOC's requirements to 
become a certified athletic trainer;

 (c) 
be licensed and in good standing with the Board of Medical Examiners pursuant 
to Article 11, Chapter 47, Title 40;

 (d) 
provide an average of at least twenty hours of athletic training services per 
week at qualifying institutions throughout the year in this State;

 (e) 
have outstanding subsidized or unsubsidized federal student loans; and

 (f) 
satisfy additional continuing eligibility criteria established by the 
commission in consultation with the Athletic Trainers' Advisory Committee.

 (3) 
Loan assistance awards must be distributed directly to eligible applicants in 
two disbursements during the applicable year with one disbursement being made 
after January first and the second disbursement being made after June first.

 (4) 
An eligible applicant must notify the commission in writing of any change in 
status within thirty days after the change. Failure to notify the commission of 
a change in status must affect future eligibility. A change in status includes 
a change in:

 (a) 
name; 

 (b) 
residence; or

 (c) 
employment status.

 (5) 
The commission shall inform an eligible applicant awarded loan