Current Status Bill Number:516 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19950215 Primary Sponsor:Reese All Sponsors:Reese Drafted Document Number:GJK\21408SD.95 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Committee 04 SED Subject:Student unlawful absences
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate 19950215 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND SECTION 59-65-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL ABSENCES OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO INCREASE FROM FIVE TO TEN THE NUMBER OF UNLAWFUL ABSENCES A STUDENT MAY HAVE BEFORE SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE REQUIRED TO INTERVENE, TO INCREASE FROM TEN TO TWENTY THE NUMBER OF UNLAWFUL ABSENCES A STUDENT MAY HAVE BEFORE THE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUST APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF THE ABSENCES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS SHALL BE PERMITTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP A MINIMUM OF TEN UNLAWFUL ABSENCES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-65-90 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-65-90. The State Board of Education shall establish regulations defining lawful and unlawful absences beyond those specifically named in this article and additional regulations as are necessary for the orderly enrollment of pupils so as to provide for uniform dates of entrance. These regulations shall must require: (1) that school officials shall immediately intervene immediately to encourage the student's future attendance when the student has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five ten unlawful absences, and (2) that the district board of trustees or its designee promptly shall promptly approve or disapprove any student absence in excess of ten twenty days. As used in this section, `intervene' means to identify the reasons for the child's continued absence and to develop a plan in conjunction with the student and his parent or guardian to improve his future attendance. In its regulations, the board shall provide for the manner in which students shall be permitted the opportunity to make up a minimum of ten unlawful absences.
Provided, However, That nothing within this section shall interfere with the board's authority to at any time to refer a child to a truancy prevention program or to the court pursuant to Section 59-65-50."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.