H 4718 General Bill, By Anthony, Hayes, Bingham, Erickson, Cobb-Hunter, Bales, 
Allison, Burns, Hiott, Robinson-Simpson, Anderson, Long, Whitmire, Merrill, 
George, Knight, Gambrell, Simrill, W.J. McLeod, Bannister, Bernstein, Chumley, 
Clary, Clemmons, Dillard, Felder, Gagnon, Goldfinch, Henderson, Herbkersman, 
Hixon, Nanney, Pitts, Ridgeway, Ryhal, Sandifer, G.R. Smith, Stringer, Weeks, 
Wells, White, Whipper, R.L. Brown, Gilliard and Mack
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-26-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PERSON WHO HAS TAUGHT IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC
 SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST TWENTY YEARS COLLECTIVELY WHILE HOLDING A TEMPORARY
 OR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
 EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THIS TWENTY YEAR PERIOD IS NOT REQUIRED TO RENEW THESE
 CREDENTIALS TO MAINTAIN THEIR VALIDITY, AND TO PROVIDE THE CREDENTIALS REMAIN
 SUBJECT TO REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION FOR A DISCIPLINARY ACTION, TO PROVIDE THE
 DEPARTMENT SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER A TEACHER MEETS THESE CRITERIA BEFORE THE
 EXEMPTION MAY BE APPLIED TO THE TEACHER, AND TO PROVIDE THIS DETERMINATION
 ONLY MAY BE MADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE TEACHER, WHO MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS
 TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION.

   01/21/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 6)
   01/21/16  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 6)
   03/10/16  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 2)
   03/15/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Whipper,
                     R.L.Brown, Gilliard, Mack
   03/15/16  House  Amended (House Journal-page 25)
   03/15/16  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 25)
   03/15/16  House  Roll call Yeas-104  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 28)
   03/16/16  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 8)
   03/16/16  Senate Introduced and read first time
   03/16/16  Senate Referred to Committee on Education

AMENDED

March 15, 2016

H. 4718

Introduced by Reps. Anthony, Hayes, Bingham, Erickson, Cobb-Hunter, Bales, Allison, Burns, Hiott, Robinson-Simpson, Anderson, Long, Whitmire, Merrill, George, Knight, Gambrell, Simrill, W.J. McLeod, Bannister, Bernstein, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Dillard, Felder, Gagnon, Goldfinch, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hixon, Nanney, Pitts, Ridgeway, Ryhal, Sandifer, G.R. Smith, Stringer, Weeks, Wells, White, Whipper, R.L. Brown, Gilliard and Mack

S. Printed 3/15/16--H.

Read the first time January 21, 2016.

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PERSON WHO HAS TAUGHT IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST TWENTY YEARS COLLECTIVELY WHILE HOLDING A TEMPORARY OR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THIS TWENTY YEAR PERIOD IS NOT REQUIRED TO RENEW THESE CREDENTIALS TO MAINTAIN THEIR VALIDITY, AND TO PROVIDE THE CREDENTIALS REMAIN SUBJECT TO REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION FOR A DISCIPLINARY ACTION, TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER A TEACHER MEETS THESE CRITERIA BEFORE THE EXEMPTION MAY BE APPLIED TO THE TEACHER, AND TO PROVIDE THIS DETERMINATION ONLY MAY BE MADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE TEACHER, WHO MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 26, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-45.    (A)    A person is eligible for a South Carolina Retired Educator certificate if he:

(1)    previously held a South Carolina renewable, professional educator certificate;

(2)    is either a:

(i)        retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System; or

(ii)    current or former participant in the State Optional Retirement Program who would have met the eligibility requirements for retirement under the South Carolina Retirement System had he participated in that system rather than the State Optional Retirement Program.

(3)    does not hold another valid South Carolina educator certificate.

(B)    An initial retired educator certificate is valid for thirty years. A certificate may be renewed and is valid for ten years. To renew a retired educator certificate, an individual must submit a request for renewal to the State Department of Education. The department shall create forms and a process for submitting renewal requests.

(C)    Renewal of a retired educator certificate does not require completion of professional learning or renewal credit.

(D)    An educator who works under the retired certificate must work under a letter of agreement.

(E)    Nothing in this section exempts an educator from taking part in professional development that is required by the local school district.

(F)    The State Board of Education shall develop guidelines for the implementation of this section."

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