South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 63 - DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Article 8 - DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES PROGRAM
Section 63-715 - Continuing Education Requirements
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
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:
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:
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.