The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education shall have within its jurisdiction, in accordance with the provisions of this article, all state-supported technical institutions and their programs that are presently operating and any created in the future.

The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education shall have approval or disapproval authority over all post-secondary vocational, technical, and occupational diploma and associate degree programs financed in whole or in part by the State that lead directly to employment. Excepted are programs presently being offered by other state-supported institutions of higher learning which shall continue their present programs under the direction of their respective institutions. The Board shall continue major emphasis on the special schools program, which provides training for prospective employees for new and expanding industry, these programs to be closely coordinated with the state's economic development efforts.

The State Board of Education shall continue jurisdiction over currently operating licensed practical nurse (LPN) programs and twelve-month vocational agriculture programs which include adult training in agriculture in the public schools and these programs are subject to the requirements of Sections 59-54-40, 59-54-50, and 59-54-60.

All courses, programs, and institutions within the jurisdiction of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education must be identified and administered as the South Carolina Technical Education System.

The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education shall have the responsibility for developing and maintaining short and long-range plans for providing up-to-date and appropriate occupational and technical training for adults and shall coordinate its planning activities with the Economic Development Coordinating Council, the State Council on Vocational-Technical Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the State Department of Education, the Department of Employment and Workforce, and other state agencies, institutions, and departments.

All personnel employed in the institutions and programs within the jurisdiction and control of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education are designated state employees whether paid in whole or in part by state funds and are subject to the regulations, guidelines, and policies of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, the Department of Administration, and the state personnel system. There may be no local supplements to any salaries. The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education shall establish salary ranges for unclassified institutional employees based upon minimum standard systemwide qualification criteria. Area commissions will fill all positions with qualified personnel.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-704.12; 1972 (57) 2469; 1976 Act No. 654 Section 2; 1976 Act No. 709, Part II, Section 3; 1986 Act No. 394, Section 7.