H*4084(Rat #0122, Act #0083 of 2015)  General Bill, By Stringer
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS
 APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND
 ADMISSIONS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL LEADERS TO BE HIRED
 TO ASSIST WITH THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE THAT
 EMPLOYEES, BOARD MEMBERS, AND STAFF OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE SUBJECT TO THE
 ETHICS AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC MEMBERS
 AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, AND TO PROVIDE CHARTER CONTRACTS MUST CONTAIN STATEMENTS
 OF ASSURANCE OF ETHICAL COMPLIANCE ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOLS. - ratified title

   04/29/15  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 3)
   04/29/15  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 3)
   05/14/15  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 5)
   05/20/15  House  Amended (House Journal-page 23)
   05/20/15  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 23)
   05/20/15  House  Roll call Yeas-92  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 24)
   05/21/15  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 13)
   05/21/15  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
   05/21/15  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 5)
   06/02/15  Senate Recalled from Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 7)
   06/03/15  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 51)
   06/03/15  Senate Roll call Ayes-36  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 51)
   06/04/15  Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 46)
   06/08/15         Ratified R 122
   06/11/15         Signed By Governor
   06/17/15         Effective date 06/11/15
   06/18/15         Act No. 83

(A83, R122, H4084)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND ADMISSIONS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL LEADERS TO BE HIRED TO ASSIST WITH THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE THAT EMPLOYEES, BOARD MEMBERS, AND STAFF OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE SUBJECT TO THE ETHICS AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC MEMBERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, AND TO PROVIDE CHARTER CONTRACTS MUST CONTAIN STATEMENTS OF ASSURANCE OF ETHICAL COMPLIANCE ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOLS.

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

Use of school leaders to oversee daily operations

SECTION    1.A.    Section 59-40-50(B)(6) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 164 of 2012, is further amended to read:

"(6)    hire or contract for, in its discretion, administrative staff, including a school leader, to oversee the daily operation of the school. At least one of the administrative staff must be certified or experienced in the field of school administration;"

Ethics and accountability requirements

B.    Section 59-40-50(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 29 of 2013, is further amended by adding a new item at the end to read:

"(11)    be subject to the ethics and government accountability requirements for public members and public employees as contained in Chapter 13, Title 8. For purposes of this subsection, employees of the charter school board are considered public employees. The charter contract in accordance with Section 59-40-60(B) must contain a statement of assurance of ethical compliance on behalf of the school."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 8th day of June, 2015.

Approved the 11th day of June, 2015.