SC H3453

Expands eligibility for free tuition at South Carolina state-supported colleges, universities, and technical institutions to children of wartime veterans who have been South Carolina residents since birth, even if the veteran parent did not meet the standard state residency requirements.

Qualifying veterans must have served honorably during a war period and meet one of several criteria: killed in action, died in service, died from service-related disability, was a POW, is permanently and totally disabled, received the Congressional Medal of Honor, is missing in action, or received a Purple Heart.

Eligible students must be 26 years of age or younger and pursuing an undergraduate degree.

The Senate Education Committee recommended passage with an amendment deleting SECTION 2, which would have expanded in-state tuition eligibility for retired military personnel and honorably discharged veterans regardless of residency requirements.