H 4025 Joint Resolution, By Govan, Allen, Askins, Bailey, Bales, Battle, 
Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, Canty, Carnell, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, 
Delleney, Gourdine, Hamilton, Harris, Harvin, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Howard, 
Inabinett, Jennings, Kennedy, Lee, Lloyd, Lourie, Mack, Maddox, McCraw, 
M. McLeod, W. McLeod, McMahand, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, Neilson, Ott, 
Parks, Phillips, Pinckney, Rhoad, Rutherford, Scott, F. Smith, J. Smith, Stille, 
Taylor, Whipper, Wilder and Wilkes
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL FOR
 VIOLENCE AND READINESS TO RESPOND TO POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN
 THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

   05/04/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-3
   05/04/99  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-3

TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE AND READINESS TO RESPOND TO POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Whereas, the recent tragedy that occurred at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, has sparked a national debate concerning the readiness of public school personnel to prevent and effectively respond to potential and actual acts of violence on public school campuses; and

Whereas, the incidents of serious violence on school campuses have increased in recent years; and

Whereas, it is imperative that each student and his parents or legal guardians are confident that the state's public school facilities are safe places of learning; and

Whereas, it is in the best interest of the State and its citizens to assess the readiness to prevent and effectively respond to acts of violence in our public school system. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. (A) There is established a task force:

(1) to study the:

(a) potential for violence in the state's public school system;

(b) state's readiness to respond to potential and actual acts of violence on public school campuses;

(c) feasibility of monitoring potential threatening student behavior and student computer WEB sites; and

(2) to make recommendations to the General Assembly and each school district concerning strategies that each school district should implement to address potential and actual acts of violence.

(B) The task force shall consist of:

(1) the Governor or his designee, who shall serve as chairman of the task force;

(2) the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee or his designee;

(3) the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee or his designee;

(4) the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee or his designee;

(5) the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee or his designee;

(6) the State Superintendent of Education or her designee;

(7) the Chief of the State Law Enforcement Division or his designee;

(8) the Director of the Department of Mental Health or his designee;

(9) the Director of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services or his designee;

(10) the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice or her designee;

(11) a member of a teacher's association to be appointed by the Governor; and

(12) a member of a parent-teacher organization to be appointed by the Governor.

(C) The task force shall submit its written report no later than December 1, 1999, to each member of the General Assembly containing its recommendations concerning strategies that each school district should implement to address potential and actual acts of violence on public school campuses. Upon submitting the report, the task force is abolished.

(D) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, mileage, subsistence, or per diem.

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.