S*0149(Rat #0212, Act #0203 of 2012)  General Bill, By Campsen, Rose, McConnell, 
Ryberg, Fair, Massey, Leventis, Bryant, Davis, Shoopman, Grooms and Hayes

Similar(S 171, H 4585)
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE
 "EQUAL ACCESS TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-100
 SO AS TO PERMIT HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS AND GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS TO
 PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE
 STUDENTS RESIDE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
 REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC
 ACTIVITIES. - ratified title

   12/01/10  Senate Prefiled
   12/01/10  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   01/11/11  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 73)
   01/11/11  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 73)
   04/11/12  Senate Committee report: Majority favorable, minority
                     unfavorable Education (Senate Journal-page 8)
   04/12/12  Senate  Minority Report Removed (Senate Journal-page 38)
   04/26/12  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 11)
   04/26/12  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 11)
   04/26/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-36  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 11)
   04/26/12  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (Senate Journal-page 11)
   04/27/12  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 1)
   05/01/12  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 5)
   05/01/12  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 5)
   05/23/12  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 10)
   05/30/12  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). RL Brown, Weeks,
                     Gilliard, Agnew, Henderson, Dilliard, GM Smith,
                     Bedingfield, DC Moss, Hixon, Taylor, Hosey,
                     Hiott, JR Smith, King, Johnson, Sabb,
                     Herbkersman, Brantley, Erickson, Forrester,
                     Crawford, Pinson, Patrick, Atwater, Toole
                     (House Journal-page 40)
   05/30/12  House  Amended (House Journal-page 198)
   05/30/12  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 198)
   05/30/12  House  Roll call Yeas-106  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 200)
   05/31/12  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments (House Journal-page 90)
   05/31/12  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
   05/31/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-38  Nays-0
   06/05/12         Ratified R 212
   06/07/12         Signed By Governor
   06/18/12         Effective date 06/07/12
   06/19/12         Act No. 203

(A203, R212, S149)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "EQUAL ACCESS TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-100 SO AS TO PERMIT HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS AND GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE STUDENTS RESIDE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES.

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

Act citation

SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as the "Equal Access to Interscholastic Activities Act".

Participation in interscholastic activities of public school district by home school, charter school, and Governor's school students

SECTION    2.    Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-100.    (A)    As used in this section:

(1)    'Charter school student' is a child enrolled in a charter school established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59.

(2)    'Governor's school student' is a child enrolled at a Governor's school established pursuant to this title.

(3)    'Home school student' is a child taught in accordance with Section 59-65-40, 59-65-45, or 59-65-47 and has been taught in accordance with one of these sections for a full academic year prior to participating in an interscholastic activity pursuant to this section.

(4)    'Interscholastic activities' includes, but is not limited to, athletics, music, speech, and other extracurricular activities.

(B)    Individual Governor's school students and home school students may not be denied by a school district the opportunity to participate in interscholastic activities if the:

(1)    student meets all school district eligibility requirements with the exception of the:

(a)    school district's school or class attendance requirements; and

(b)    class and enrollment requirements of the associations administering the interscholastic activities;

(2)    student's teacher, in the case of a Governor's school student, certifies by submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student fully complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a Governor's school. In addition, a charter school student's teacher, in the same manner required by this subsection for a Governor's school student, also must certify by affidavit to the student's school district that the student fully complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a charter school in order for the student to participate in interscholastic activities in the manner permitted by Chapter 40 of this title;

(3)    student participating in interscholastic activities:

(a)    resides within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates; or

(b)    in the case of a Governor's school student, resides or attends a Governor's school within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates; and

(4)    student notifies the superintendent of the school district in writing of his intent to participate in the interscholastic activity as a representative of the school before the beginning date of the season for the activity in which he wishes to participate.

(C)    A public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities as a charter school student, Governor's school student, or home school student for the following semester. To establish eligibility for subsequent school years, the student's teacher shall certify by submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student meets the relevant policies of the school at which the student wishes to participate.

(D)    A Governor's school student or home school student is required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related practice requirements, of other students participating in the interscholastic activities of the team or squad and is required to meet the same standards for acceptance on the team or squad.

(E)    A Governor's school may not be denied by a school district the opportunity to have a team representing the school participate in interscholastic activities if the team meets the same eligibility requirements of other teams. An individual Governor's school student may not participate in an interscholastic activity of a public school district if the school that the student is enrolled in has a team or squad participating in that interscholastic activity.

(F)    A school district may not contract with a private entity that supervises interscholastic activities if the private entity prohibits the participation of charter school students, Governor's school students, or home school students in interscholastic activities."

Time effective

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 5th day of June, 2012.

Approved the 7th day of June, 2012.