(A) SC HOPE Scholarships are hereby established and are provided by the State. These scholarships are authorized in an amount of up to two thousand five hundred dollars, plus a three hundred dollar book allowance to cover the cost of attendance, as defined by the Commission on Higher Education by regulation, during the first year of attendance only, to an eligible student attending a four-year public or independent institution as defined in subsection (B) who does not also qualify for a LIFE Scholarship or a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.
(B) For purposes of this chapter, a "public or independent institution" that a student may attend to receive a SC HOPE Scholarship includes the following:
(1) a South Carolina four-year public institution as defined in Section 59-103-5 and a four-year independent institution as defined in Section 59-113-50;
(2) a public or independent bachelor's level institution chartered before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina; or an independent bachelor's level institution which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; or an independent bachelor's level institution which is accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools. Institutions whose sole purpose is religious or theological training, or the granting of professional degrees do not meet the definition of "public or independent institution" for purposes of this chapter.
(C) A student is eligible to receive a SC HOPE Scholarship if he meets the criteria for receiving and maintaining the Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship except that a minimum Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT score and requisite class rank are not required for eligibility for the SC HOPE Scholarship. These SC HOPE Scholarships must be granted and awarded as provided in this section.
(D) These SC HOPE Scholarships in combination with all other grants and scholarships must not exceed the cost of attendance at the particular institutions referenced in subsection (B).
(E) The Commission on Higher Education must promulgate regulations and establish procedures to administer the provisions of this section.
(F) All institutions participating in the SC HOPE Scholarship Program must report their enrollment and other relevant data as solicited by the Commission on Higher Education which may audit these institutions to ensure compliance with this provision.
HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 59, Section 2; 2002 Act No. 356, Section 3F; 2007 Act No. 115 (S.656), Section 7.C, eff June 29, 2007.
Effect of Amendment
The 2007 amendment, in subsection (A), substituted "three hundred" for "one hundred fifty" dollars.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 150 - South Carolina Education Lottery Act
Section 59-150-10. Short title.
Section 59-150-20. Definitions.
Section 59-150-30. Lottery Commission created; management performance audit.
Section 59-150-50. Duties of the board.
Section 59-150-60. Powers of the commission.
Section 59-150-80. Executive director; internal auditor.
Section 59-150-90. Executive director, duties, and powers; prohibited campaign activities.
Section 59-150-110. Lottery Retailer Advisory Board.
Section 59-150-120. Assistance to small and minority businesses; annual report.
Section 59-150-165. State and national criminal background investigation.
Section 59-150-200. Lottery retailer rental payments.
Section 59-150-210. Sales restrictions.
Section 59-150-220. Instant tickets; theft, loss, or damage.
Section 59-150-230. Lottery prizes.
Section 59-150-270. False statements to commission, false entries in records.
Section 59-150-290. Compliance with Consolidated Procurement Code.
Section 59-150-300. Review board actions.
Section 59-150-320. Lottery finances.
Section 59-150-325. Education Lottery Oversight Committee.
Section 59-150-330. Set off of certain debts against prizes; definitions; remedies.
Section 59-150-340. Education Lottery Account.
Section 59-150-350. Education Lottery Account management.
Section 59-150-355. Education lottery appropriations and uses.
Section 59-150-356. Use of Education Lottery funds for technology.
Section 59-150-365. South Carolina Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship.
Section 59-150-370. HOPE Scholarships; eligibility; administration; reporting requirement.
Section 59-150-375. Scholarships for visual or hearing impaired or multi-handicapped students.
Section 59-150-380. Educational Lottery Teaching Scholarship Grants Program.
Section 59-150-390. Primary and secondary technology funding.