The decision leaves standing parts of the measure that began as a research and economic development tool.

It struck most provisions that dealt with education matters.

Gov. Mark Sanford had vetoed the legislation and threatened to take the Legislature to court over its contents but later backed off.

Government watchdog Edward Sloan Jr. of Greenville sued on his own behalf, saying the entire act was unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court allowed part of the law to stand but struck down other sections that were deemed to have violated the requirement that legislation deal with basically one subject.

WHAT THE COURT STRUCK:

• Letting Trident Technical College to establish a four-year culinary curriculum program.

• Authorizing the USC Sumter to offer four-year degree programs.

• Requiring prior authorization for any USC campus to close any of its campuses.

• Requiring public colleges to annually report the number of out-of-state undergraduate students in attendance at the university for each semester.

• Certain new eligibility requirements for LIFE scholarship recipients.

• Rules defining institutions at which students are eligible to receive a LIFE Scholarship and establishing the requisite grade point averages for recipients.

• Establishing a committee to study the feasibility and need for a School of Law at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.