South Carolina S 824: Kenny Craven Shriners

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 824 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 824

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 SO AS TO ENACT 
THE "SOUTH CAROLINA FOSTERING FUTURES ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 111, 
TITLE 59, so as TO REQUIRE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO WAIVE 
TUITION AND FEES FOR CERTAIN CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH; TO PROVIDE 
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND LIMITS; AND TO REQUIRE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND 
REPORTING.

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Fostering Futures Act."

SECTION 2. Chapter 111, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 11

Free Tuition for Certain Current and Former Foster 
Youth

 Section 
59-111-910. (A) All 
state-supported colleges and universities, as defined in Section 59-103-5, 
shall waive the payment of tuition and fees for certain current and former 
foster youth who are enrolled in a program of study for an undergraduate 
certificate, diploma, or first bachelor's degree.

 (B) 
For purposes of this section, "certain current and former foster youth" means 
an individual who is not older than twenty-five years of age and:

 (1) 
was in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services (DSS) on the day 
of the individual's eighteenth birthday before exiting foster care;

 (2) 
is currently in the legal custody of DSS under extended foster care;

 (3) 
was adopted from DSS foster care at age thirteen or later; or

 (4) 
was in the legal custody of DSS foster care for three or more cumulative years.

 (C) 
Eligibility for the waiver under this section may continue through completion 
of the first bachelor's degree or until the eligible student reaches the age of 
twenty-six, whichever comes first. A double major completed within a single 
bachelor's degree awarded must be treated as one degree for purposes of this 
section. A student is not required to maintain continuous enrollment to retain 
eligibility. The waiver must remain available upon transfer between public 
institutions if the student remains otherwise eligible.

 (D) 
The tuition waiver required by this section must apply to:

 (1) 
tuition and fees only, and may not be construed to compel the waiver of room, 
board, books, or nonmandatory course-specific fees;

 (2) 
tuition for summer terms, winter, or other shortened academic terms; and

 (3) 
tuition for institutionally sponsored, for-credit study abroad programs.

 (E) 
A public institution of higher education may require documentation necessary to 
confirm eligibility under this section, including verification of DSS custody 
or adoption status. An institution only may ask for this verification once for 
each student seeking eligibility confirmation.

 (F) 
Each public institution of higher education that offers student housing shall 
provide students eligible under this section with mandatory first priority 
status to register for university-owned or university-affiliated housing. 
Institutions must offer housing to students eligible under this section during 
academic or holiday breaks, and over the summer if it is available to any 
student population. The priority status required in this subsection must 
continue for each term of enrollment through credential or degree completion if 
the student remains otherwise eligible.

 (G) 
Each public institution of higher education shall provide priority access to 
federal work-study positions, and any campus-based student employment programs 
administered by the institution, for students eligible under this section. The 
priority status required in this subsection must continue for each term of 
enrollment through credential or degree completion if the student remains 
otherwise eligible.

 (H) 
Each public institution of higher education shall designate at least one staff 
member to serve as an institutional liaison for students eligible under this 
section. The liaison must provide support and guidance related to college entry 
processes, financial aid, the long-term responsibilities of student loans, 
campus-based supports and services, and career exploration and planning. Each 
institution shall publicly identify its liaisons and make contact information 
for the liaisons readily accessible on the official website of the institution.

 (I) 
Each public institution of higher education shall report annually before July 
first to DSS deidentified, aggregate summary data regarding students eligible 
under this section. The annual report must include, at a minimum:

 (1) 
the number of eligible students enrolled;

 (2) 
the academic programs or majors in which such students are enrolled; and

 (3) 
academic progress of eligible studen