H 3679 General Bill, By T. Brown

Similar(H 3557)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 43-5-80 SO AS TO REQUIRE A WELFARE RECIPIENT TO MEET FOR ONE HOUR EACH
 SEMESTER WITH AT LEAST ONE TEACHER OF EACH OF THE RECIPIENT'S CHILDREN; TO
 REQUIRE THE PARENT AND SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO SIGN A FORM IN DUPLICATE AT THE
 TIME OF THE PARENT AND TEACHER VISIT; TO TERMINATE WELFARE FOR ONE MONTH IF A
 RECIPIENT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION; TO AUTHORIZE A WAIVER UNDER
 CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR A HEARING IF TERMINATION IS
 CONTESTED.

   03/04/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-30
   03/04/99  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-31

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 43-5-80 SO AS TO REQUIRE A WELFARE RECIPIENT TO SCHEDULE ONE MEETING EACH SEMESTER WITH AT LEAST ONE TEACHER OF EACH OF THE RECIPIENT'S CHILDREN; TO REQUIRE THE PARENT AND SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO SIGN A FORM IN DUPLICATE AT THE TIME OF THE PARENT AND TEACHER VISIT; TO TERMINATE WELFARE FOR ONE MONTH IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION; TO AUTHORIZE A WAIVER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR A HEARING IF TERMINATION IS CONTESTED.

Whereas, success in school increases opportunities for and the likelihood of students becoming contributing members of society and enhancing their own quality of life; and

Whereas, parental involvement is critical in providing encouragement and in helping children achieve and succeed in school; and

Whereas, parents keeping abreast of their children's school performance and progress aids parents in helping their children at home; and

Whereas, parent and teacher conferences increase parental involvement and thereby may advance and promote a child's school performance, especially children at risk for low school achievement. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 43-5-80. (A) A welfare recipient shall attend one scheduled meeting each semester with at least one teacher of each of the recipient's children at the school in the regular attendance zone of the child's local school district. For children with a student academic plan school visits made in accordance with this section must also serve as the visits required under the academic plan if all visit requirements of the plan are met.

(B) The Department of Social Services shall develop, in consultation with the Department of Education, and provide each public school with forms to be completed and signed in original duplicates by the principal and parent following the parent and teacher meeting. The principal shall file the form in the child's school record for the duration of the school year, and the other form must be submitted by the parent to the parent's caseworker at the department.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if at the end of a school semester the welfare recipient has failed to submit the form to the recipient's caseworker as required by subsection (B), upon notice to the recipient and an opportunity to be heard, as provided for in subsection (E) the recipient's welfare payments must be terminated for one month.

(D) If a recipient has ongoing circumstances that cause an undue hardship in complying with the parent and teacher meetings required by this section, the recipient may apply to the department for a waiver from this requirement.

(E) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except subsection (D), upon notice and an opportunity to be heard, as provided for in subsection (F), the department shall terminate a welfare recipient's payments for one month if the recipient has not complied with subsections (A) and (B).

(F) The department shall notify the recipient by registered mail that the welfare payments are to be terminated, as provided for in this section. A recipient has ten days to file an appeal with the department which stays the termination of the benefits; however, the grounds for stopping the termination of payments are limited to a dispute concerning the identity of the recipient, the existence of a waiver, as provided for in subsection (D), or production of a certified copy of the signed form from the school demonstrating that the visit was made.

(G) For purposes of this section, welfare payments are cash payments paid to the recipient pursuant to Aid to Families with Dependent Children."

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