South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

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H. 3247

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Haddon, Pope, Spann-Wilder, Garvin, Pedalino, Chumley, Bowers, Hixon, Yow, Mitchell, Ligon, Rivers and Govan
Document Path: LC-0045WAB25.docx

Introduced in the House on January 14, 2025
Introduced in the Senate on February 18, 2025
Last Amended on March 4, 2025
Currently residing in the House

Summary: Excused school absences

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
12/5/2024 House Prefiled
12/5/2024 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
1/14/2025 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 143)
1/14/2025 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 143)
2/6/2025 House Committee report: Favorable Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 14)
2/11/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers
2/11/2025 Scrivener's error corrected
2/12/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon, Yow, Mitchell, Ligon
2/12/2025 House Debate adjourned until Thur., 2-13-25 (House Journal-page 92)
2/13/2025 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rivers, Govan
2/13/2025 House Read second time (House Journal-page 48)
2/13/2025 House Roll call Yeas-106 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 49)
2/13/2025 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day (House Journal-page 50)
2/18/2025 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 7)
2/18/2025 Senate Referred to Committee on Education (Senate Journal-page 7)
2/26/2025 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education (Senate Journal-page 17)
3/4/2025 Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 32)
3/4/2025 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 32)
3/4/2025 Senate Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 32)
3/5/2025 Scrivener's error corrected
3/5/2025 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 24)
3/25/2025 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 67)
3/25/2025 House Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 67)
4/24/2025 Ratified R 17
4/28/2025 Signed By Governor

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/5/2024
2/6/2025
2/11/2025
2/26/2025
3/4/2025
3/5/2025

NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(R17, H3247)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-462 SO AS TO EXCUSE ABSENCES, NOT TO EXCEED TEN SCHOOL DAYS PER SCHOOL YEAR, FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHEN PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCES, AND TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS MISSED DURING SUCH EXCUSED ABSENCES.

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

Excused school absences, limits, missed assignments

SECTION 1.    Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 59-1-462.    Each school district shall adopt a policy that authorizes a student to be excused from school absences, not to exceed ten school days per school year, to participate in a Career and Technical Student Organization experience in which student participation and learning outcomes are directed by a certified teacher for assessment of competencies. Participation in such Career and Technical Student Organization experience may include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of state-level Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations, the national FFA organization, and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The student and his parent or legal guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments missed while the student participates in any such Career and Technical Student Organization experiences.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 24th day of April, 2025.

______________________________________________________________________

President of the Senate

_____________________________________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2025.

____________________________________________________________________

Governor

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This web page was last updated on April 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM