A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-69-280 SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS MAY NOT USE FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR SCHOOL OPERATING PURPOSES TO DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAY OR OTHERWISE DEFRAY THE COSTS OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OR OTHER ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FEES OR DUES ON BEHALF OF ITS EMPLOYEES OR TRUSTEES, OR REIMBURSE ITS EMPLOYEES OR TRUSTEES FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUCH FEES OR DUES, and to provide school district employees who pay fees or dues for membership in an association directly related to their profession must receive an increase in salary in the amount of such fees or dues paid up to a total of one thousand dollars for each school year, upon providing the school district with documentation of the payment and its purpose.

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

SECTION 1.  Article 5, Chapter 69, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    Section 59-69-280. A school district and a charter school may not use funds appropriated for school operating purposes to directly or indirectly pay or otherwise defray the costs of professional association or other association membership fees or dues on behalf of its employees or trustees, or reimburse its employees or trustees for the payment of such fees or dues. A school district employee who pays fees or dues for membership in an association directly related to their profession must receive an increase in salary in the amount of such fees or dues paid, up to a total of one thousand dollars for each school year, upon providing the school district with documentation of the payment and its purpose.

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

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