S 200 Session 111 (1995-1996)
S 0200 General Bill, By Wilson, Bryan, Courson, Elliott, Giese, Gregory, Hayes,
Lander, Martin, McConnell, Mescher, O'Dell, M.T. Rose, Russell, Setzler, Thomas and
Waldrep
Similar(H 3482)
A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
59-1-460 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE EXCUSED FROM CLASS
TO ATTEND OFF- CAMPUS RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS
THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE STUDENTS MAY BE EXCUSED FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO PROVIDE
THAT STUDENTS ATTENDING THIS INSTRUCTION ARE NOT CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM
SCHOOL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL
DEVELOP A POLICY THAT PROVIDES REASONABLE PARAMETERS FOR THE RELEASE TIME
AUTHORIZED.
10/17/94 Senate Prefiled
10/17/94 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
01/10/95 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-69
01/10/95 Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-69
03/21/96 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Education SJ-14
03/26/96 Senate Amended SJ-44
03/26/96 Senate Read second time SJ-44
03/26/96 Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
amendments SJ-44
03/27/96 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-19
03/28/96 House Introduced and read first time HJ-10
03/28/96 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works HJ-10
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED
March 26, 1996
S. 200
Introduced by SENATORS Wilson, Bryan, Courson, Hayes,
Thomas, Giese, Russell, O'Dell, Gregory, McConnell, Mescher,
Rose, Martin, Lander, Waldrep, Elliott and Setzler
S. Printed 3/26/96--S.
Read the first time January 10, 1995.
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-460 SO AS TO PROVIDE
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE EXCUSED FROM
CLASS TO ATTEND OFF-CAMPUS RELIGIOUS
INSTRUCTION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS
THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE STUDENTS MAY BE
EXCUSED FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO PROVIDE THAT
STUDENTS ATTENDING THIS INSTRUCTION ARE NOT
CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, AND TO PROVIDE
THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT SHALL DEVELOP A POLICY THAT PROVIDES
REASONABLE PARAMETERS FOR THE RELEASE TIME
AUTHORIZED.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended
by adding:
"Section 59-1-460. The school district board of trustees
may authorize a student to be excused from school to attend a class
in religious instruction if:
(1) the student's parent or guardian gives his written consent;
(2) the sponsoring religious institution maintains attendance
records and makes them available to the public school the student
attends;
(3) transportation to and from the religious instruction,
including transportation for students with disabilities, is the
complete responsibility of the sponsoring religious institution,
parent, or guardian;
(4) the sponsoring religious institution makes provisions for and
assumes liability for the student who is excused; and
(5) no public funds and no public school personnel are involved
in providing the religious instruction.
At the middle school, junior high, or high school level, classes in
religious instruction shall be held a maximum of one class period a
week at a time determined by local board policy. At the elementary
school level, participating students must be excused for a maximum
of sixty minutes a week for religious instruction at a time
determined by local board policy. It is the responsibility of a
participating student to make up any missed school work.
While in attendance in a religious instruction class pursuant to
this section, a student is not considered to be absent from school.
The board of trustees of the school district shall develop a policy
that provides reasonable parameters for the release time authorized
by this section, including the academic and behavior standards to be
met by students before qualifying for release time."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect August 1, 1996.
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