Bill 3675

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       3675
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19950223
Primary Sponsor:                   Neilson, 
All Sponsors:                      Neilson, Sharpe, Simrill, Law,
                                   Mason, Easterday, Jaskwhich,
                                   Robinson, Limehouse, Tripp,
                                   Herdklotz, Vaughn, Rice, Cato,
                                   Davenport and Hutson 
Drafted Document Number:           gjk\21438sd.95
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Education and Public Works
                                   Committee 21 HEPW
Subject:                           School Voucher or Certificate
                                   Study Committee

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19950223  Introduced, referred to Committee        21 HEPW

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A VOUCHER OR CERTIFICATE SYSTEM FOR ATTENDING PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JANUARY 1, 1996.

Whereas, students in South Carolina's schools and their parents will become more informed about and involved in education if students and their parents are provided greater freedom to determine the most effective school for meeting their individual educational needs. There is no "right" school for every student and permitting students to choose from among different schools with differing assets will increase the likelihood that some marginal students stay in school and that other, more motivated students find their full academic potential; and

Whereas, giving more options to parents and students with respect to where they attend school will increase the responsiveness and effectiveness of all of the state's schools since teachers, administrators, and school board members will have added incentive to satisfy the educational needs of the students who reside in the district. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

A committee to study the feasibility of establishing a voucher or certificate system for attending public, private, or religious schools is hereby established. The committee shall consist of three members

from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members from the public at large appointed by the Governor.

The members of the committee at its first meeting shall elect officers and do all things necessary to organize. The members of the committee shall receive the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem paid by law to members of state boards, commissions, and committees. The expenses of the legislative members of the study committee must be paid from the approved accounts of their respective bodies. The expenses of the members appointed by the Governor must be paid from funds appropriated to the Governor's office.

The committee shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 1996, and shall terminate when the report is made. The staff of the Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee shall provide assistance as needed to the committee in the performance of its duties.