H 3097 General Bill, By J. Brown
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 41-1-105 SO AS TO REQUIRE, WITH CERTAIN LIMITATIONS, THAT AN EMPLOYER GRANT
 LEAVE UP TO TWELVE HOURS A YEAR TO AN EMPLOYEE TO ATTEND SCHOOL OR DAYCARE
 CONFERENCES OR ACTIVITIES, TO REQUIRE VERIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE, AND TO
 PROVIDE THAT THE EMPLOYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY THE EMPLOYEE FOR THE TIME
 TAKEN.

   12/04/02  House  Prefiled
   12/04/02  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
   01/14/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-42
   01/14/03  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-43

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-105 SO AS TO REQUIRE, WITH CERTAIN LIMITATIONS, THAT AN EMPLOYER GRANT LEAVE UP TO TWELVE HOURS A YEAR TO AN EMPLOYEE TO ATTEND SCHOOL OR DAYCARE CONFERENCES OR ACTIVITIES, TO REQUIRE VERIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE EMPLOYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY THE EMPLOYEE FOR THE TIME TAKEN.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-1-105.    (A)    An employer shall grant an employee leave from work of up to a total of twelve hours during a twelve-month period to attend, observe, or participate in school or daycare conferences or activities related to the employee's dependent children or related to children for whom the employee is the legal guardian if requested by and conducted by the child's school or daycare center and if the conferences or activities reasonably cannot be scheduled during the nonwork hours of the employee. An employee who wishes to request leave pursuant to this section shall provide reasonable notice to the employer before the leave and make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employer. Upon returning to work following the conference or activity, the employee shall furnish to the employer a properly signed statement from the school principal or other appropriate school or daycare care official verifying the date and time the conference or activity took place. The statement also must verify that the school or daycare care center requested the employee to attend the conference or activity.

(B)    An employer is not required to pay an employee for a time taken as leave pursuant to subsection (A). However, an employee may elect, or the employer may require the employee, to substitute accrued vacation time or other appropriate paid leave, other than sick leave, for leave taken pursuant to this section."

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