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Bill 4449

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      4449
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20000118
Primary Sponsor:                  Rutherford
All Sponsors:                     Rutherford and Knotts
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\gjk\20866sd00.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Education and Public Works Committee 21 
                                  HEPW
Subject:                          School districts, conduct by students, 
                                  manners; address employees in respectful 
                                  manner; discipline of


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20000118  Introduced, read first time,           21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-75 SO AS TO REQUIRE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 2000-2001 FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-5 AND ON A PHASED IN BASIS AFTER THAT FOR OTHER STUDENTS, TO ADDRESS SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER BY USING SPECIFIC TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL INCORPORATE THE ABOVE INTO EXISTING DISCIPLINARY POLICIES.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-75. (A)(1) Beginning with the 2000-2001 school year according to the schedule referenced in item (2) below, each school district board of trustees shall require students in the public schools under the jurisdiction of the board to exhibit appropriate conduct as required in subsection (B) of this section.

(2) The provisions of subsection (B) shall apply according to the following schedule:

(a) beginning with school year 2000-2001, students in grades K-5;

(b) beginning with school year 2001-2002, students in grades K-6;

(c) beginning with school year 2002-2003, students in grades K-7;

(d) beginning with school year 2003-2004, students in grades K-8;

(e) beginning with school year 2004-2005, students in grades K-9;

(f) beginning with school year 2005-2006, students in grades K-10;

(g) beginning with school year 2006-2007, students in grades K-11;

(h) beginning with school year 2007-2008, students in grades K-12.

(B) When a public school student is speaking with a public school employee while on school property or at a school sponsored event, the student shall address and respond to the public school employee by using the respectful terms 'yes, ma'am'; and 'no, ma'am' or 'yes, sir' and 'no, sir', as appropriate, or 'yes, Miss, Mrs., and Ms. (surname)' and 'no, Miss, Mrs., and Ms. (surname)' or 'yes, Mr. (surname)' and 'no, Mr. (surname)', as appropriate, each title to be followed by the appropriate surname.

(C) Each school district board of trustees shall provide for incorporation of the requirements of this section into any existing discipline policy or policies or any code of conduct of the school district or of each school within its jurisdiction.

(D) Each school district board of trustees shall take or provide for such appropriate actions necessary to discipline a student who fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (B) of this section. However, no school board may provide suspension nor expulsion from school as an appropriate punishment for violation of the mandates of this section."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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