South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 4575


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-280, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON THE STUDENT USE OF PAGING DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO EXPAND THE PROHIBITION TO INCLUDE WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND TO LIMIT THE PROHIBITION TO SCHOOL HOURS; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 59-63-280 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-63-280.    (A)    For purposes of this section,:

(1)    'Paging device' means a telecommunications, to include mobile telephones, device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor.

(2)    'School hours' means those hours which encompass the period when classes normally are in session at the school and for which students are to be in attendance, as well as ancillary times that are part of the traditional school day, including, but not limited to, homeroom, study hall periods, lunch, and recess.

(3)    'Wireless electronic communication device' means an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, or a text-messaging device, which allows a person to wirelessly communicate with another person device.

(B)    The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt a policy that addresses prohibits student possession use of paging devices as defined in subsection (A) a wireless electronic communication device during school hours. This policy must be included in the district's written student conduct standards and must include appropriate disciplinary actions for violations. If the policy includes confiscation of a paging device, as defined in subsection (A) the wireless communication device, it should also should provide for the return of the device to the owner.

(C)    Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a student from possession a wireless communication device at school during school hours."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on December 10, 2015 at 3:33 PM