H 4378 General Bill, By Simrill, Bailey and H.G. Hutson
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 20-7-436 so as to provide that a child may be considered neglected as to
 proper education for the purposes of the jurisdiction of the Family Court if
 his parents or guardians after two requests fail to attend a meeting called by
 the principal of the school in which the child is enrolled to address academic
 or behavioral problems concerning the child and to authorize the school
 principal to institute neglect proceedings in the Family Court regarding this
 child for his parent's or guardian's failure to comply with the provisions of
 this Section.

   12/20/95  House  Prefiled
   12/20/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/09/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-71
   01/09/96  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-71

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-436 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CHILD MAY BE CONSIDERED NEGLECTED AS TO PROPER EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE FAMILY COURT IF HIS PARENTS OR GUARDIANS AFTER TWO REQUESTS FAIL TO ATTEND A MEETING CALLED BY THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL IN WHICH THE CHILD IS ENROLLED TO ADDRESS ACADEMIC OR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CHILD AND TO AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO INSTITUTE NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS IN THE FAMILY COURT REGARDING THIS CHILD FOR HIS PARENT'S OR GUARDIAN'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-7-436. A child may be considered neglected as to proper education within the meaning of Section 20-7-400(A)(1)(a) if his parents or guardians after two written requests fail to attend a meeting called by the principal of the public school in which the child is enrolled to address academic or behavioral problems concerning the child.

The date and time of the meeting shall be scheduled by the principal before or after school hours in a manner convenient to the parents or guardians if such a convenient date and time can be ascertained. A parent or guardian, before the scheduled meeting, may request that it be rescheduled or postponed but a failure to request a rescheduling or postponement before the meeting shall be considered a failure to attend such meeting for purposes of this section.

The school principal is further deemed a person within the meaning of Section 20-7-435 who may institute neglect proceedings regarding this child for his parent's or guardian's failure to comply with the provisions of this section."

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