South Carolina H 3863: South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3863 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3863

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Amendment Adopted

May 6, 2026

H. 3863

Introduced by Reps. Davis, M. M. Smith, Rivers, 
Henderson-Myers, Waters and Pope 

S. Printed 5/6/26--S.

Read the first time April 9, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE 
"SOUTH CAROLINA STEM OPPORTUNITY ACT" by adding article 17 to chapter 1, title 
13, so as to ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
MATHEMATICS (STEM) COALITION, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION FUND WITHIN THE STATE TREASURY, 
AND THE SC STEM COALITION ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND TO PROVIDE THEIR RESPECTIVE 
PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

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

SECTION 2. Chapter 1, Title 13 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 17

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
(STEM) Coalition

 Section 
13-1-2210. The South Carolina Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
(STEM) Coalition (Coalition) is established from the existing South Carolina's 
Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS) and S2TEM Centers SC. The 
purpose of the coalition is to build public/private partnerships among state 
agencies, state-funded entities, not for profits, private businesses, entities, 
organizations, and industries with the goal of building a technology-ready STEM 
workforce and ensuring South Carolina students are prepared for STEM career 
opportunities within this State.

 Section 
13-1-2220. (A) There is created in 
the State Treasury the "South Carolina Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics (STEM) Education Fund" (Fund). The fund is separate and distinct 
from the general fund of the State and all other funds. The fund shall consist 
of appropriations and donations, contributions, bequests, or other gifts. 
Earnings and interest on the fund must be credited to it and any balance in 
this fund at the end of the fiscal year carries forward in the fund in the 
succeeding fiscal year.

 (B) 
Monies in the fund must be expended solely to support the programs and 
priorities of the State in the advancement of science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics for the purposes provided in this article.

 (C) The 
coalition may accept funds from other public entities and may accept private 
donations, contributions, bequests, or other gifts. Such monies not designated 
for specific purposes must be deposited into the fund. Grants or gifts 
designated for specific purposes within the coalition's scope of work may be 
managed by Clemson University or the Clemson University Foundation.

 Section 
13-1-2230. (A) There is created the 
"SC STEM Coalition Advisory Council" (advisory council) whose purpose is to:

 (1) 
approve all expenditures from the STEM Education Fund;

 (2) 
identify appropriate outcomes and measures of the coalition's impact;

 (3) 
ensure equitable, statewide application of coalition resources;

 (4) 
identify opportunities aligned with the mission of the coalition; and

 (5) 
promote activities of the coalition among peer organizations, both within and 
outside this State.

 (B)(1) The advisory council consists of 
eleven members consisting of:

 (a) 
the Executive Director of the Department of Employment and Workforce or his 
designee, who shall serve as chair of the advisory council;

 (b) 
the State Superintendent of Education or his designee, who shall serve 
conterminously with the appointing superintendent;

 (c) 
one STEM educator appointed by the State Superintendent of Education who shall 
serve conterminously with the appointing superintendent;

 (d) 
one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall 
serve a term of four years or until his successor is appointed and qualifies;

 (e) 
one member appointed by the President of the Senate who shall serve a term of 
four years or until his successor is appointed and qualifies;

 (f) 
two members appointed by the Governor to represent STEM-related business and 
industry in this State who shall serve terms of four years and until their 
successors are appointed and qualify;

 (g) 
one member appointed by the President of the Technical College System to 
represent the public technical colleges in this State, who shall serve a term 
of four years and until his successor is appointed and qualifies.

 (h) 
one member appointed by the President of the Commission on Higher Education to 
represent public higher education institutions in this St