S*0876(Rat #0443, Act #0523 of 1996)  General Bill, By Bryan
 A Bill to amend Act 171 of 1967, as amended, relating to Laurens County School
 Districts 55 and 56 and their annual operating budgets and tax levies, so as
 to allow both districts to levey a permanent six mills for alternative schools
 and other classroom enhancements.-amended title

   05/29/95  Senate Intd. & placed on local & uncontested cal. w/o
                     reference SJ-7
   05/07/96  Senate Read second time SJ-12
   05/07/96  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-12
   05/08/96  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-20
   05/09/96  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-4
   05/14/96  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 21, 1996 HJ-61
   05/21/96  House  Debate adjourned HJ-60
   05/21/96  House  Read second time HJ-82
   05/22/96  House  Debate adjourned HJ-13
   05/22/96  House  Amended HJ-32
   05/22/96  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-32
   05/22/96  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-15
   05/30/96         Ratified R 443
   06/06/96         Became law without Governor's signature
   06/06/96         Effective date 06/06/96
   06/27/96         Copies available
   08/29/96         Act No. 523

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 171 OF 1967, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS 55 AND 56 AND THEIR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGETS AND TAX LEVIES, SO AS TO ALLOW BOTH DISTRICTS TO LEVY A PERMANENT SIX MILLS FOR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND OTHER CLASSROOM ENHANCEMENTS.

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

Tax millage revised

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Act 171 of 1967, as last amended by Act 214 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 1. On or before the first day of July for each year, the boards of trustees of School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six in Laurens County shall annually prepare operating budgets and recommend to the county auditor the amount of tax levy necessary to defray the cost of the budgets. The board of trustees of each school district in preparing the budgets may grant to teachers fringe benefits, in lieu of salaries, in forms as it may determine. Certified copies of the budgets signed by a majority of the boards of trustees of the districts must be filed with the auditor and treasurer. Copies of the budget must also be furnished to the county legislative delegation and a summary of the budgets published in a newspaper having general circulation within the district. For each tax year, an annual uniform millage for operating purposes must be levied on all taxable property in School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six of Laurens County. Monies derived from the levy first must be distributed to each school district to provide the amount necessary under the South Carolina Education Finance Act for required local support. Any monies not paid for required local support must be distributed to the school districts according to the current year's one hundred thirty-five day EFA weighted pupil units. School District Fifty-five and School District Fifty-six of Laurens County shall share the forestry funds according to the current year's one hundred thirty-five day EFA weighted pupil units. Beginning with the school year 1994-95 and thereafter, the boards of trustees of School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six may recommend a tax levy increase of up to two mills per year above the base authorization. A tax increase of more than two mills above the base authorization for the school year 1994-95 and thereafter must be approved at a referendum by the electors of the school districts prior to its levy. The referendum must be ordered by the board of trustees and held at places as the boards may designate in each attendance area of the school districts. Notice must be given by publication in all of the newspapers in the county at least once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum. The notice must give the date of the referendum, the question to be voted upon, and any other information which would aid the voters to understand the question being presented. The boards shall order the referendum to be held not later than the fourth Tuesday in May. If the recommended levy is approved in the referendum, the county auditor shall levy and the treasurer collect the amount specified.

If the board of trustees of either School District Fifty-five or Fifty-six, pursuant to the requirements of Section 59-21-1030 of the 1976 Code, increases the millage of their respective district in any year, the millage increase which that board is authorized to recommend without a referendum as provided herein is reduced by a like amount for that year, and the limitation on the total amount of increased millage which the board may recommend without a referendum in any one-year period is also reduced by a like amount.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other provision of law, commencing in the 1996-97 school year, a permanent six mills shall be levied to be used for alternative schools and other classroom enhancements."

Time effective

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

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 6/6/96.