Bill 779

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    779
Primary Sponsor:                Wilson
Committee Number:               04
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Schools, off-campus religious
                                instruction
Residing Body:                  Senate
Current Committee:              Education
Companion Bill Number:          3387
Computer Document Number:       JIC/5974HC.93
Introduced Date:                19930518
Last History Body:              Senate
Last History Date:              19930518
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Wilson
                                Bryan
                                Courson
                                Hayes
                                Thomas
                                Giese
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

779   Senate  19930518      Introduced, read first time,    04
                            referred to Committee

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-460 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE EXCUSED FROM CLASS TO ATTEND OFF-CAMPUS RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE STUDENTS MAY BE EXCUSED FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS ATTENDING THIS INSTRUCTION ARE NOT CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM SCHOOL.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-1-460. The school district board of trustees shall 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 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 school personnel are involved in providing the religious instruction.

At the middle school, junior high, or high school level, classes in religious instruction must be timed to coincide with the regular daily class schedule. At the elementary school level, participating students must be excused for a minimum of sixty minutes a week for religious instruction. 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."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect August 1, 1993.