South Carolina H 3197: Workforce readiness

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3197 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 31, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3197

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

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Committee Report

March 26, 2026

H. 3197

Introduced by Reps. Erickson, G. M. Smith, 
Wooten, Pope, Martin, W. Newton, Grant, Robbins, Vaughan and Alexander 

S. Printed 3/26/26--H. [SEC 
3/31/2026 10:44 AM]

Read the first time January 14, 2025

________

The committee on House Education and 
Public Works

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3197) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 59-1-485 so as to establish a 
statewide workforce readiness goal; by adding Section 59-29-245 so as to, etc., 
respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

 Amend the bill, 
as and if amended, SECTION 1, Section 59-1-485, by striking the undesignated 
paragraph before item (1) and inserting:

 Recognizing that a vibrant workforce is critical 
to sustaining and growing the economy of this State by servicing existing 
industry and attracting new industry, the State of South Carolina must endeavor 
to increase the number of South Carolinians who are ready and able to fill jobs 
demanded by a dynamic and evolving economy to promote a statewide culture of 
excellence in education. To achieve this purpose, the State of South Carolina 
establishes a minimum overall statewide workforce readiness goal of at least 
sixty percent of all working-aged South Carolinians having a high-quality 
postsecondary degree or recognized industry credentials before the year 2032 
unless a higher goal is established in the comprehensive statewide education 
and workforce development plan. This goal is consistent with all students 
graduating and having the knowledge, skills, and characteristics contained in 
the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. To further 
achieve this purpose, the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, 
the Commission on Higher Education, the State Department of Education, and the 
Education Oversight Committee shall jointly develop a report regarding the 
process by which institutions of higher learning shall recognize and award 
credit to students who obtain a Tier Three credential while in high school. The 
General Assembly is encouraged to reexamine and revise this goal on an ongoing 
basis as needed. The Commission on Higher Education must establish strategic 
timelines and milestones in the Commission's Public Agenda to:

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 59-29-245(A) and inserting:

 (A) The State Department of Education is directed 
to ensure that all public high schools, including charter high schools, provide 
academic remediation courses in high school literacy and mathematics for 
students in the senior year of high school who desire to pursue a postsecondary 
education but are not academically prepared for college-level course work. Student eligibility for enrollment in remedial courses 
should be prioritized on earning a final grade of "C" or lower in two or more 
prior high school credit courses in either English or mathematics. Credits 
earned in these remedial courses may be used only to satisfy high school diploma elective credit 
requirements. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations 
directing when the courses may be offered, 
certification requirements for teachers assigned to the course, and when 
they may be used to satisfy high school diploma elective credit requirements.

Amend the bill 
further, SECTION 3.A., by striking Section 59-39-105(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), 
and (F) and inserting:

 (A) In addition to completing the units or 
credits of instruction required for graduation, each high school senior shall 
complete and submit a free application for federal student aid ("FAFSA" or 
"application") before graduating from high school, except as provided in 
subsection (B)(C).

 (B) Students must be provided 
information regarding FASFA and the exemptions established in this section at 
their annual Individual Graduation Plan meeting beginning their freshman year 
of high school. 

 (B)(C) A student is exempt from the requirements of 
subsection (A) if:

 (1) the parent or legal guardian of the 
student signs and submits the form provided in subsection (C)(D) to authorize 
the student to decline to complete and submit the application;

 (2) the student signs and submits the form 
provided in subsection (C)(D) on his own behalf, if the student is at least 
eighteen years of age and declineshe to complete and submit the application; 
or

 (3) a school counselor signs and submits the 
form provided in subsection (C)(D) to authorize the student to decline to complete 
and submit the applicat