Veterans' Children Tuition Assistance, the official text

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

(A135, R174, H3453)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-111-20, RELATING TO FREE TUITION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR FREE TUITION IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA.

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

Veterans' children tuition assistance

SECTION 1. Section 59-111-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 59-111-20. (A) A child of a wartime veteran, upon application to and approval by the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs, may be admitted to any state-supported college, university, or post high school technical education institution free of tuition so long as his work and conduct is satisfactory to the governing body of the institution and if one of the following is met:

(1) the veteran was a resident of this State at the time of entry into service and during service;

(2) the veteran has been a resident of this State for at least one year and still resides in this State;

(3) the veteran is deceased and resided in this State for one year before his death; or

(4) the veteran's child has been a resident of this State since birth.

(B) Additionally, the veteran must have served honorably in a branch of the military service of the United States during a war period, as those periods are defined by Section 101 of Title 38 of the United States Code and:

(1) was killed in action;

(2) died from other causes while in the service;

(3) died of disease or disability resulting from service;

(4) was a prisoner of war as defined by Congress or Presidential proclamation during such war period;

(5) is permanently and totally disabled, as determined by the Veterans Administration from any cause;

(6) has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor;

(7) is missing in action;

(8) the applicant is the child of a deceased veteran who qualified under items (4) and (5); or

(9) has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

(C) The provisions of this section apply to a child of a veteran who meets the residency requirements of Chapter 112 of this title, is twenty-six years of age or younger, and is pursuing any type of undergraduate degree.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2026.

Approved the 15th day of May, 2026.

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