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Amt. No. 1A (Doc Name Council\nbd\12687ac04.doc)
June 3, 2004
H. 4740
Introduced by Reps. Miller, Hayes, J.E. Smith, Altman, Anthony, Battle, Bowers, Branham, Ceips, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Frye, Gourdine, Hagood, Harrison, Herbkersman, Whipper, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Keegan, Leach, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Ott, Rhoad, Rice, Richardson, Scarborough, Snow, Stille, Taylor, Townsend, Vaughn, Whitmire, Witherspoon and Young
S. Printed 6/2/04--S.
Read the first time April 20, 2004.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-150 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES SHALL WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOCATED IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND HAZARDS TO CHILDREN WALKING OR BICYCLING TO AND FROM SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND DISTRICTS MAY DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE FUNDING OF IMPROVEMENTS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS AND HAZARDS IDENTIFIED, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL FORM A COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND EACH SCHOOL SHALL FORM A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL TEAM TO PERFORM SPECIFIED FUNCTIONS IN REGARD TO SAFE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR IS DESIGNATED AS "WALK YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL/BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY" IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS STATE.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Safe Routes to Schools Act".
SECTION 2. Chapter 17, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-17-150. (A) Municipal and county governing bodies shall work with school districts located in their jurisdictions to identify barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school. The municipalities, counties, and districts may develop a plan for the funding of improvements designed to reduce the barriers and hazards identified. The sources of these funds may include federal funding or grants, state funding, or funding from private sources. Nothing in this section shall obligate any agency of federal, state, or local government to provide funding for identified improvements.
(B) Each school district in this State may establish a Safe Routes to School District Coordinating Committee. The coordinating committee shall include parents, children, teachers, administrators, local law enforcement officials, public health officials, interested citizens, and other persons familiar with the transportation needs of the school district. Duties of the coordinating committee may include gathering information about the schools in the district through surveys and traffic counts; organizing incentive-based events and contests to encourage students to try new modes of transportation, and promoting the program through school newsletters, assemblies, web sites, and other means to reach parents and students.
Any school within the district may establish a Safe Routes to School Team. The team shall include parents, children, teachers, administrators, and neighbors of the school. The team may be expanded to include local law enforcement officials, public health officials, and other persons familiar with the transportation needs of the school. The team shall select a representative to serve on the District Coordinating Committee. Duties of the team may include gathering information about their school through surveys and traffic counts, organizing incentive-based events and contests to encourage students to try new modes of transportation, and promoting the program through school newsletters and other means to reach parents and students.
(C) The first Wednesday of October of each year is designated as 'Walk or Bicycle with Your Child to School Day' in each school district of this State to promote walking or riding bicycles to school by students, with escorts if necessary, and to identify needed improvements such as sidewalks or safer pedestrian routes not open to vehicular traffic."
SECTION 3. Section 59-26-20(j) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a paragraph at the end to read:
"Notwithstanding another provision of this item:
(1) For a student seeking loan forgiveness pursuant to the Teacher Loan Program after July 1, 2004, 'critical geographic area' must be defined as a school that:
(a) has an absolute rating of below average or unsatisfactory;
(b) has an average teacher turnover rate for the past three years that is twenty percent or higher; or
(c) meets the poverty index criteria at the seventy percent level or higher.
(2) After July 1, 2004, a student shall have his loan forgiven based on those schools or districts designated as critical geographic areas at the time of employment.
(3) The definition of critical geographic area must not change for a student who has a loan, or who is in the process of having a loan forgiven before July 1, 2004."
SECTION 4. Article 3, Chapter 25, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-25-280. (A) The State Board of Education permanently shall revoke, refuse to issue, or renew a certificate without a hearing, if the holder of or applicant for the certificate pleads guilty, pleads nolo contendere, or is found guilty of the following crimes, whether or not a sentence is imposed and regardless of where the matter was tried:
(1) a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60;
(2) certain offenses related to obscenity, material harmful to minors, child exploitation, and child prostitution, including Sections 16-15-305, 16-15-335, 16-15-345, 16-15-355, 16-15-365, 16-15-385, 16-15-387, 16-15-395, 16-15-405, 16-15-410, 16-15-415, and 16-15-425; or
(3) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in items (1) and (2) committed in other jurisdictions or pursuant to federal law.
(B) A school district may not employ an educator in any capacity whose South Carolina certificate is revoked pursuant to subsection (A)."
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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