S.C. Code Regs. § § 63-715

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024

Section 63-715 - Continuing Education Requirements

A. All DBEs participating in the State DBE Program must be represented by a company officer in at least twenty hours of continuing education each year.

B. For purposes of this section, company officer shall mean any of the following:

(1) If a corporation, one or more of the elected corporate officers;

(2) If a partnership, one or more of the partners;

(3) If a sole proprietorship, the sole proprietor or owner.

C. The Department will determine how many credit hours can be earned by a DBE for attendance at a continuing education activity. Generally, one hour of instructional time will equal one hour of credit, provided that the instruction relates to highway or building construction or business development in these industries.

D. Hours of credit for continuing education must be earned through attendance at an educational program sponsored, co-sponsored or approved by the Department. Successful completion of a course given by a college, university or technical school may also qualify for credit hours, if approved by the Department.

E. The Department will provide for reasonable notice to be given to all certified DBEs regarding prospective continuing education activities which have been approved by the Department or which will be sponsored by the Department. The notice shall also state the number of credit hours approved for each activity. The Department will publish within the first quarter of each calendar year a list of the continuing education opportunities to be provided by the Department in that calendar year.

F. A sponsor wishing to apply for approval of continuing educational activities shall submit to the Department's Office of DBE Program Development:

(1) An application for status as an approved sponsor on forms provided by the Department;

(2) Copies of written materials described in the application form;

(3) Such further information as the Department may require. Sponsor approval must be renewed every five years; provided, however, that sponsor approval may be withdrawn for cause at any time after sixty days notice to the sponsor.

G. Educational events, courses or activities presented by a sponsor which have not been granted Department approval will be considered for approval on an individual basis. An application for approval of a program may be submitted to the Department's Office of DBE Program Development on forms provided by the Department by the sponsor or the DBE who desires credit for attending the program. The Department will consider applications for the retroactive as well as prospective approval of programs.

H. The Department may provide scholarships to certified DBEs who attend construction-related continuing education activities approved by the Department. Scholarships shall be limited to Two Hundred and No/100 ($200.00) Dollars per firm annually.

I. At the time a certified firm requests recertification, the firm shall submit to the Department's Office of DBE Program Development a report of all continuing education activities that the firm completed in the preceding year. Any firm that fails to fulfill the annual continuing education requirement shall be ineligible for participation in the State DBE Program.

S.C. Code Regs. § 63-715

Added by State Register Volume 16, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 1992. Amended by State Register Volume 24, Issue No. 4, eff April 28, 2000.