Current Status Bill Number:200 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19950110 Primary Sponsor:Wilson All Sponsors:Wilson, Bryan, Courson, Hayes, Thomas, Giese, Russell, O'Dell, Gregory, McConnell, Mescher, Rose, Martin, Lander, Waldrep, Elliott, Setzler Drafted Document Number:GJK\21101SD.95 Companion Bill Number:3482 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Date of Last Amendment:19960326 Subject:Off-campus religious instruction
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19960328 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
Senate 19960327 Read third time, sent to House
Senate 19960326 Amended, read second time,
ordered to third reading
with notice of general amendments
Senate 19960321 Committee report: Favorable with 04 SED
amendment
Senate 19950110 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED
referred to Committee
Senate 19941017 Prefiled, referred to Committee 04 SED
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED
March 26, 1996
S. 200
Introduced by SENATORS Wilson, Bryan, Courson, Hayes, Thomas, Giese, Russell, O'Dell, Gregory, McConnell, Mescher, Rose, Martin, Lander, Waldrep, Elliott and Setzler
S. Printed 3/26/96--S.
Read the first time January 10, 1995.
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, TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS ATTENDING THIS INSTRUCTION ARE NOT CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL DEVELOP A POLICY THAT PROVIDES REASONABLE PARAMETERS FOR THE RELEASE TIME AUTHORIZED.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-1-460. The school district board of trustees may 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, including transportation for students with disabilities, 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 funds and 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 shall be held a maximum of one class period a week at a time determined by local board policy. At the elementary school level, participating students must be excused for a maximum of sixty minutes a week for religious instruction at a time determined by local board policy. 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.
The board of trustees of the school district shall develop a policy that provides reasonable parameters for the release time authorized by this section, including the academic and behavior standards to be met by students before qualifying for release time."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect August 1, 1996.