Rural Physician Education Grants

2025-2026 Bill 5158: Rural Physician Education Grants - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Download
This Bill
in Microsoft Word Format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5158
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Burns, D. Mitchell, Chumley, Edgerton, Wickensimer, McCabe, Pedalino, Sessions, Davis and Guffey
Document Path: LC-0642WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 11, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Summary: Rural Physician Education Grants
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/11/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 42
)

2/11/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Ways and Means
(
House Journal-page 42
)

2/12/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
Sessions, Davis, Guffey

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/11/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE
8 TO CHAPTER 111, title 59 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE RURAL PHYSICIAN TUITION GRANT
PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY, TO PROVIDE TUITION
ASSISTANCE TO MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO COMMIT TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN RURAL AREAS
OF THIS STATE FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATION, SERVICE OBLIGATIONS, AND ENFORCEMENT; AND BY ADDING SECTION
59-150-385
SO AS TO ENABLE FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA
EDUCATION LOTTERY.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
C
hapter 111, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

A
rticle 8

R
ural Physician Tuition Grant Program

S
ection
59-111-610
.
(
A) There is
established the Rural Physician Tuition Grant Program, administered by the
Commission on Higher Education, for the purpose of increasing the number of
licensed physicians practicing medicine in rural areas of this State.

(
B)
For purposes of this article, "rural area" means a county or geographic area of
this State that meets the definition of a rural area as defined in Section
44-6-910
.

S
ection
59-111-620
.
(
A) The program shall
provide tuition grants, and not loans, to eligible students enrolled in an
accredited medical school who enter into a written service obligation agreement
with the State.

(
B)
A recipient shall agree to practice medicine on a full-time basis for a minimum
of five years in a rural area of South Carolina, as defined in Section
59-111-610
(B), following completion of the recipient's medical degree,
residency, internship, and any other required postgraduate training.

(
C)
Grants awarded pursuant to this article must be funded from revenues of the
South Carolina Education Lottery, pursuant to Section
59-150-350
, and may be
used only for the payment of tuition and mandatory academic fees.

S
ection
59-111-630
.
T
o be eligible for a grant under this
article, an applicant must:

(
1)
be a legal resident of South Carolina at the time of application;

(
2)
be accepted for enrollment or enrolled in an accredited allopathic or
osteopathic medical school approved by the Commission on Higher Education;

(
3)
agree to complete all academic and clinical requirements necessary for
licensure to practice medicine in South Carolina; and

(
4)
execute a service obligation agreement as required by Section
59-111-620
.

S
ection
59-111-640
. In awarding grants, the commission may give priority
consideration, but not exclusive preference, to applicants who intend to
practice in medical specialties commonly needed in rural areas of the State.

S
ection
59-111-650
.
(
A) The Commission on
Higher Education shall administer the program and promulgate regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.

(
B)
Regulations must include, but are not limited to:

(
1)
the maximum annual grant amount per recipient;

(
2)
the maximum cumulative grant award per recipient;

(
3)
the maximum number of grants awarded in any fiscal year;

(
4)
application procedures and selection criteria;

(
5)
standards for approval of service locations within rural areas of the State;
and

(
6)
procedures for monitoring compliance with service obligations.

S
ection
59-111-660
.
(
A) The service
obligation period begins upon the recipient's initial licensure to practice
medicine in South Carolina after completion of all required postgraduate
training.

(
B)
The service obligation must be fulfilled on a continuous basis unless the
commission approves an interruption for good cause shown.

S
ection
59-111-670
.
(
A) A recipient who
fails to satisfy the service obligation required by this article, other than
due to permanent disability or death, is in material breach of the service
obligation agreement.

(
B)
Upon breach, the recipient is subject to the following remedies:

(
1)
repayment to the State of South Carolina of an amount equal to one hundred
fifty percent of the total grant funds received, plus interest at the legal
rate, as liquidated damages;

(
2)
ineligibility for issuance or renewal of a license to practice medicine in
South Carolina until all amounts owed pursuant to item (1) are paid in full;
and

(
3)
referral to appropriate licensing authorities for enforcement consistent with
state law.

(
C)
The remedies provided in this section are cumulative and in addition to any
other remedies available at law or in equity.

S
ection
59-111-680
. The commission may grant a deferral or partial waiver of the
service obligation upon a showing of extreme hardship, serious illness, or
other circumstances beyond the control of the recipient, pursuant to
regulation.

S
ection
59-111-690
.
T
he Commission on Higher Education
shall submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives detailing:

(
1)
the number of grants awarded;

(
2)
the total amount of funds disbursed;

(
3)
the number of recipients practicing in rural areas of the State;

(
4)
the medical specialties of participating recipients; and

(
5)
enforcement actions taken pursuant to this article.

S
ECTION 2.
C
hapter 150, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

S
ection
59-150-385
. Education Lottery funds may be used to support the Rural Physician
Tuition Grant Program established pursuant to Article 8, Chapter 111, Title 59.

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 1:40 PM