SC panel advances bill to drop wait for vet instate tuition

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Senate panel has approved a bill dropping the one-year wait time required before out-of-state veterans can get instate tuition rates at state colleges and universities.

The higher education subcommittee approved the measure Thursday, sending it to the full Senate Education Committee.

A similar measure fell just short of gaining lawmakers’ approval last year.

Backers of the proposal say it will bring more military retirees to the state and boost the quality of South Carolina’s workforce. They also argue it makes the state more “military friendly” and will blunt Pentagon moves to close or reduce the size of the state’s military installations.

However, representatives from The Citadel told senators that while they want to help veterans, the change will cost them nearly $2 million in lost tuition.