Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-17-45(A)(1) and inserting:
/ "Section 59-17-45. (A)(1) On or before August 1, 2022, any local school district meeting the following characteristics shall be eligible to receive appropriated funds for the purpose of consolidating with other districts within its county:
(a)(i) based on the most recent student count received by the Department of Education, maintains an average daily membership that is less than one thousand five hundred; and
(ii) is located within a county ranked as Tier IV pursuant to Section 12-6-3360(B); or
(b) is a school district located in Lexington County. For Lexington-Richland District 5, the portion of the district located in Lexington County shall be consolidated with districts in Lexington County. The Richland County portion of the district may become a single district or may consolidate with a district with which it shares a boundary within Richland County. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.