H 3006 {Rat #196, Act #182 of 2022} General Bill, By Brawley, Robinson, Cobb-Hunter, 
Haddon, Henegan, Hosey, J.L.Johnson, Govan, King, Gilliard, Murray, McDaniel, 
Henderson-Myers and Garvin
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-63-785 SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER
 SCHOOLS, AND CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES MAY NOT USE DEBT COLLECTION
 AGENCIES TO COLLECT OR ATTEMPT TO COLLECT OUTSTANDING DEBTS ON STUDENT SCHOOL
 LUNCH OR BREAKFAST ACCOUNTS, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES MAY NOT ASSESS
 OR COLLECT ANY INTEREST, FEES, OR OTHER SUCH MONETARY PENALTIES FOR
 OUTSTANDING DEBTS FOR STUDENT SCHOOL LUNCH OR BREAKFAST ACCOUNTS, TO PROVIDE
 NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, AND TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLICABLE TO
 DEBTS ON STUDENT LUNCH AND BREAKFAST ACCOUNTS OUTSTANDING ON THE EFFECTIVE
 DATE OF THIS ACT AND INCURRED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT. - ratified
 title

   12/09/20  House  Prefiled
   12/09/20  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
   01/12/21  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 33)
   01/12/21  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 33)
   01/14/21  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Henegan,
                     J.L.Johnson
   04/22/21  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Henderson-Myers
   04/22/21  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 25)
   04/28/21  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Govan,
                     King, Gilliard, Murray, McDaniel
   04/28/21  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 36)
   04/29/21  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Garvin
   04/29/21  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 20)
   04/29/21  House  Roll call Yeas-108  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 20)
   04/29/21  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 22)
   04/30/21  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 2)
   05/04/21  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
   05/04/21  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 5)
   04/20/22  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education (Senate Journal-page 12)
   05/03/22  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 22)
   05/03/22  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 22)
   05/03/22  Senate Roll call Ayes-40  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 22)
   05/04/22  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 26)
   05/10/22  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 604)
   05/10/22  House  Roll call Yeas-109  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 605)
   05/12/22         Ratified R  196
   05/16/22         Signed By Governor
   05/31/22         Effective date  05/16/22
   05/31/22         Act No.  182

(A182, R196, H3006)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-785 SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES MAY NOT USE DEBT COLLECTION AGENCIES TO COLLECT OR ATTEMPT TO COLLECT OUTSTANDING DEBTS ON STUDENT SCHOOL LUNCH OR BREAKFAST ACCOUNTS, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES MAY NOT ASSESS OR COLLECT ANY INTEREST, FEES, OR OTHER SUCH MONETARY PENALTIES FOR OUTSTANDING DEBTS FOR STUDENT SCHOOL LUNCH OR BREAKFAST ACCOUNTS, TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, AND TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLICABLE TO DEBTS ON STUDENT LUNCH AND BREAKFAST ACCOUNTS OUTSTANDING ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT AND INCURRED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT.

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

School meal debt collections, exceptions

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-785.    (A)    A public school or public school district, including a charter school or charter school governing body, may not:

(1)    use a debt collection agency to collect or attempt to collect, directly or indirectly, debts due or assessed to be owed for outstanding debts on a school lunch or breakfast account of a student; or

(2)    assess or collect any interest, fees, or other such monetary penalties for outstanding debts on student school lunch or breakfast accounts.

(B)    For purposes of this section, 'debt collection agency' means any person or entity that collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts due or asserted to be owed or due another. 'Debt collection agency' does not include the South Carolina Department of Revenue or the programs they administer or a public school, public school district, charter school, or charter school governing body."

Applicability

SECTION    2.    The provisions of this act apply to debts on student lunch and breakfast accounts outstanding on the effective date of this act and incurred after the effective date of this act.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 12th day of May, 2022.

Approved the 16th day of May, 2022.