South Carolina H 3936: Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

Bill Text

South Carolina General Assembly

123rd Session, 2019-2020



H. 3936



STATUS INFORMATION



General Bill

Sponsors: Reps. Davis, Daning, Chellis, Thigpen, Pendarvis, Erickson, Jefferson, R. Williams and Brown

Document Path: l:\council\bills\rt\17548wab19.docx



Introduced in the House on February 12, 2019

Introduced in the Senate on April 4, 2019

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Education



Summary: Palmetto Fellows Scholarship





HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS



	Date	Body	Action Description with journal page number	

	2/12/2019	House	Introduced and read first time (House Journal‑page 5)

	2/12/2019	House	Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works (House Journal‑page 5)

	2/20/2019	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Chellis

	2/21/2019	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pendarvis

	2/26/2019	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Thigpen

	3/7/2019	House	Committee report: Favorable Education and Public Works (House Journal‑page 46)

	3/8/2019		Scrivener's error corrected

	3/19/2019	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Erickson

	3/19/2019	House	Requests for debate‑Rep(s).  Stavrinakis, Stringer, Allison, Rose, Hart, Kirby, Jefferson, R. Williams, McCoy, Garvin, S. Williams (House Journal‑page 12)

	3/20/2019	House	Debate adjourned until  Thur., 3‑21‑19 (House Journal‑page 43)

	3/26/2019	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Jefferson, R.Williams

	3/27/2019	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brown

	4/3/2019	House	Read second time (House Journal‑page 62)

	4/3/2019	House	Roll call Yeas‑109  Nays‑2 (House Journal‑page 63)

	4/4/2019	House	Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal‑page 40)

	4/4/2019	Senate	Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal‑page 3)

	4/4/2019	Senate	Referred to Committee on Education (Senate Journal‑page 3)



View the latest legislative information at the website





VERSIONS OF THIS BILL



2/12/2019

3/7/2019

3/8/2019





Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter



COMMITTEE REPORT

March 7, 2019



	H. 3936



Introduced by Reps. Davis, Daning, Chellis, Pendarvis and Thigpen



S. Printed 3/7/19--H.	[SEC 3/8/19 1:06 PM]

Read the first time February 12, 2019.

            



THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

	To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3936) to amend Section 59‑104‑20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to eligibility for Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

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



MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.

            



STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

Introduced on February 12, 2019 

State Expenditure

	This bill includes two-year institutions of higher learning and technical schools among the category of institutions whose students may be eligible for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.   Currently, only students attending eligible four-year institutions may utilize the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.  Recipients of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship who chose to attend a two-year institution must forfeit their award.  Furthermore, such a student may not reapply for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship if he later transfers to an eligible four-year institution.  Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipients may receive up to $6,700 for the first academic year and up to $10,000 beginning their second academic year.  The actual award is limited to the cost of attendance minus all other scholarships and grants received by the student.  

	Presently, a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipient who chooses to attend a two-year institution must forfeit their award, but such a student will automatically qualify for the LIFE Scholarship.  LIFE Scholarship recipients may receive up to $5,000 their first academic year and up to $7,500 beginning their second academic year.  The actual award amount is limited to the cost of attendance minus all other scholarships and grants received by the student.  

	Adjusting for student population, the weighted average cost of attendance at a two-year in-state institution in FY 2017-18 was approximately $4,600.  The average LIFE scholarship award for recipients attending a two-year institution was $4,200 in FY 2017-18.  All other scholarships and grants are applied to a student’s cost of attendance before determining the amount of his LIFE Scholarship award.  Therefore, the difference between the average cost of attendance and average scholarship amount awarded may be attributed to other scholarships and grants received by the student.  The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship award amount is calculated in the same manner as the LIFE Scholarship.  Hence, a student attending a two-year institution would receive, on average, the same amount for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship as he would for the LIFE Scholarship.  Therefore, this bill will have no net impact on scholarship disbursement during th