H 3365 General Bill, By Cotty and Howard
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-80, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO REQUIRED COURSES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
 OF THIS STATE AND EXCEPTIONS FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A ROTC PROGRAM, SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THAT TWO YEARS OF ROTC FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO
 BE EQUIVALENT TO THE REQUIRED PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION, AND TO PROVIDE
 THAT TWO YEARS' PARTICIPATION BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CERTAIN OTHER
 ACTIVITIES SHALL ALSO BE DEEMED TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE REQUIRED PHYSICAL
 EDUCATION INSTRUCTION.

   02/05/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-11
   02/05/97  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-11

TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-80, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REQUIRED COURSES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS STATE AND EXCEPTIONS FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A ROTC PROGRAM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TWO YEARS OF ROTC FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE REQUIRED PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT TWO YEARS' PARTICIPATION BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CERTAIN OTHER ACTIVITIES SHALL ALSO BE DEEMED TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE REQUIRED PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-29-80(A) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 368 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(A) There shall be is established and provided in all the public schools of this State physical education, training and instruction of pupils of both sexes, and every pupil attending any school, in so far as he is physically fit and able to do so, shall take the course or courses provided by this section. Suitable modified courses shall be are provided for students physically or mentally unable or unfit to take the course or courses prescribed for normal pupils. However, in any public high school which offers a military or naval ROTC program sponsored by one of the military services of the United States, two years' training in such a program may be deemed is considered equivalent to physical education instruction, and may must be accepted in lieu of such instruction for all purposes, academic or nonacademic, as may hereinafter be provided.

In addition and for high school students, attainment of two letters in any varsity sport, two years of successful participation in band including marching band activities, or two years' participation in other activities approved by the State Board which requires physical exercise such as dance or a club activity which is not a letter sport is considered equivalent to physical education instruction and must be accepted in lieu of such instruction for all purposes, academic or nonacademic."

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