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TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-71, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A UNIFORM BEGINNING DATE FOR THE ANNUAL SCHOOL TERM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTATION, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL MAKE ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2003, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY CHANGE TO THE PRESENT SCHOOL START DATE PROCEDURES MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY LAW.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-5-71 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 356 of 2002, is amended to read:
"Section 59-5-71. The General Assembly declares that it is in the best interest of the students of South Carolina for a uniform beginning date for the annual school term to be developed and adopted by the State Board of Education to be implemented in all public schools of the State. Therefore, the State Board of Education is directed to establish a task force comprised of superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, school board members, and representatives of business and industry, including tourism-related industries no later than July 1, 2002. This task force to the extent possible shall be equally divided among proponents of existing or earlier starting dates for schools, proponents of later starting dates for schools, including proponents for dates after Labor Day, and persons who legitimately have no preferences. The task force shall make recommendations to the board including, but not limited to, the desirability of and if agreed upon a suggested uniform beginning date for the annual school term. The task force shall report its findings to the State Board of Education no later than October 15, 2002. For the purpose of implementation, the State Board of Education shall then make its recommendation to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2003. Implementation of any change to the present school start date procedures must be determined by the General Assembly by law."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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