Bill 97

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       97
Type of Legislation:               General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19970114
Primary Sponsor:                   Wilson 
All Sponsors:                      Wilson and Giese
Drafted Document Number:           council\legis\bills\jic\5191sd.
97
Residing Body:                     Senate
Current Committee:                 Education Committee 04
                                   SED
Subject:                           School students, attendance of
                                   religious instruction off-campus
                                   allowed, curriculum

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

Senate  19970114  Introduced, read first time,             04 SED
                  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 THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY AUTHORIZE A STUDENT TO BE EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL TO ATTEND A CLASS IN 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.

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, 1997.