S*0933(Rat #0229, Act #0207 of 2016)  General Bill, By Johnson
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR OBTAINING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS BY FORMER
 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FAILED TO GRADUATE SOLELY FOR NOT MEETING EXIT
 EXAM REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO ELIMINATE A DEADLINE FOR FILING THESE PETITIONS,
 TO EXTEND THE DATE BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REPORT RELATED
 INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE
 DEPARTMENT ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE PETITIONS AFTER DECEMBER 31,
 2017. - ratified title

   12/02/15  Senate Prefiled
   12/02/15  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   01/13/16  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 36)
   01/13/16  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 36)
   01/28/16  Senate Committee report: Favorable Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 14)
   02/09/16  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 11)
   02/09/16  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 11)
   02/09/16  Senate Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 11)
   02/10/16         Scrivener's error corrected
   02/10/16  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 11)
   02/11/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 96)
   02/11/16  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 96)
   05/19/16  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 6)
   05/24/16  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 40)
   05/24/16  House  Roll call Yeas-94  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 40)
   05/25/16  House  Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 13)
   06/02/16         Ratified R 229
   06/03/16         Signed By Governor
   06/09/16         Effective date 06/03/16
   06/09/16         Act No. 207

(A207, R229, S933)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR OBTAINING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS BY FORMER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FAILED TO GRADUATE SOLELY FOR NOT MEETING EXIT EXAM REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO ELIMINATE A DEADLINE FOR FILING THESE PETITIONS, TO EXTEND THE DATE BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REPORT RELATED INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE PETITIONS AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2017.

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

Petition deadline eliminated, reporting deadline extended, advertising requirement revised

SECTION    1.    Section 59-18-310(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 155 of 2014, is further amended to read:

"(2)    A person who is no longer enrolled in a public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam requirements pursuant to this section and State Regulation may petition the local school board to determine the student's eligibility to receive a high school diploma pursuant to this chapter. The local school board will transmit diploma requests to the South Carolina Department of Education in accordance with department procedures. Petitions under this section must be submitted to the local school district. Students receiving diplomas in accordance with this section shall not be counted as graduates in the graduation rate calculations for affected schools and districts, either retroactively or in current or future calculations. On or before January 31, 2019, the South Carolina Department of Education shall report to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly the number of diplomas granted, by school district, under the provision. The State Board of Education shall remove any conflicting requirement and promulgate conforming changes in its applicable regulations. The department shall advertise the provisions of this item in at least one daily newspaper of general circulation in the area of each school district within forty-five days after this enactment. After enactment, the department may continue to advertise the provisions of this item, but it shall not be required to advertise after December 31, 2017. At a minimum, this notice must consist of two columns measuring at least ten inches in length and measuring at least four and one-half inches combined width, and include:

(a)    a headline printed in at least a twenty-four point font that is boldfaced;

(b)    an explanation of who qualifies for the petitioning option;

(c)    an explanation of the petition process;

(d)    a contact name and phone number; and

(e)    the deadline for submitting a petition."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 2nd day of June, 2016.

Approved the 3rd day of June, 2016.