S 97 Session 112 (1997-1998)
S 0097 General Bill, By Wilson and Giese
A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
59-1-460 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY
AUTHORIZE A STUDENT TO BE EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL TO ATTEND A CLASS IN 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.
01/14/97 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-116
01/14/97 Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-116
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-460 SO AS TO PROVIDE
THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY
AUTHORIZE A STUDENT TO BE EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL
TO ATTEND A CLASS IN 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.
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, 1997.
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