S 0216 General Bill, By Richardson
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 17, TITLE 59 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE, BY ADDING
 SECTION 59-17-160, TO REQUIRE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUDGET AND TAX LEVY FOR
 GENERAL OPERATING PURPOSES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY OF
 THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT LIMITATIONS
 ON THE INCREASE IN MILLAGE OR THE BUDGET ALREADY PROVIDED BY LAW FOR A
 PARTICULAR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN APPROVAL PROCESS FOR SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY.

   12/13/06  Senate Prefiled
   12/13/06  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   01/09/07  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-127
   01/09/07  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-127

TO AMEND CHAPTER 17, TITLE 59 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-160, TO REQUIRE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUDGET AND TAX LEVY FOR GENERAL OPERATING PURPOSES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT LIMITATIONS ON THE INCREASE IN MILLAGE OR THE BUDGET ALREADY PROVIDED BY LAW FOR A PARTICULAR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN APPROVAL PROCESS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 17, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-17-160.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school district must obtain the approval of, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the county governing body of the county in which the school district is located for the school district's annual budget for school operating purposes and annual tax levy for school operating purposes. For any school district that is located in more than one county, the district must obtain the approval of each county governing body for that portion of the budget and tax levy to support school operations in that county. This provision does not amend any other provision of law that provides the county governing body the authority to determine the annual budget or tax levy for any school district located within the county. This provision does not amend any provision of law that requires the approval of the qualified electors of any school district due to a limit on the amount of millage increase over the previous year or limit on the percentage increase in the amount of the school operating budget over the previous year, or any other similar limitation."

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