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A193, R225, S416
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Hembree and Alexander
Document Path: SEDU-0025DB25.docx
Introduced in the Senate on March 4, 2025
Introduced in the House on April 30, 2025
Last Amended on May 14, 2026
Governor's Action: May 18, 2026, Signed
Summary: School Expulsion
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4/2025 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10) |
| 3/4/2025 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Education (Senate Journal-page 10) |
| 4/10/2025 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education (Senate Journal-page 15) |
| 4/16/2025 | Senate | Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 34) |
| 4/24/2025 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 19) |
| 4/24/2025 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-39 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 19) |
| 4/29/2025 | Senate | Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 21) |
| 4/30/2025 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 108) |
| 4/30/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 108) |
| 4/22/2026 | House | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 3) |
| 4/28/2026 | House | Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 17) |
| 4/29/2026 | House | Amended (House Journal-page 181) |
| 4/29/2026 | House | Requests for debate-Rep(s). Bauer, Wetmore, Stavrinakis, Garvin, Cobb-Hunter, Alexander, Kirby, J Moore, Anderson, Grant, Govan, Williams, Clyburn, Hosey, Henderson-Myers, Gilliard, Bamberg, Gilreath (House Journal-page 181) |
| 5/7/2026 | House | Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 43) |
| 5/13/2026 | House | Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). Williams (House Journal-page 64) |
| 5/13/2026 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 184) |
| 5/13/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-7 (House Journal-page 184) |
| 5/14/2026 | House | Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments (House Journal-page 51) |
| 5/14/2026 | Senate | Non-concurrence in House amendment (Senate Journal-page 55) |
| 5/14/2026 | House | House recedes from amendment(s) (House Journal-page 87) |
| 5/14/2026 | House | Ordered enrolled for ratification (House Journal-page 87) |
| 5/15/2026 | Ratified R 225 | |
| 5/18/2026 | Signed By Governor | |
| 6/5/2026 | Effective date 05/18/26 | |
| 6/2/2026 | Act No. 193 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
03/04/2025
04/10/2025
04/16/2025
06/10/2025
04/22/2026
04/29/2026
05/13/2026
05/14/2026
NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(A193, R225, S416)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-210, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION, SUSPENSION, AND TRANSFER OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO REVISE RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO EXPELLED AND SUSPENDED STUDENTS WHILE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR ATTENDING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND TO REMOVE LIMITATIONS ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-235, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WHO BRING FIREARMS TO SCHOOL, SO AS TO REQUIRE A MINIMUM ONE-YEAR EXPULSION FOR KNOWINGLY BRINGING A FIREARM TO SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR MODIFICATION, REVIEW, AND REINSTATEMENT OF THE EXPULSION PERIOD, TO PRESERVE STUDENT APPEAL RIGHTS, AND TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE OR VIRTUAL SETTINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-237 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WHO MAKE CERTAIN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL, TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR SUCH EXPULSIONS, TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE OR VIRTUAL SETTINGS, AND TO REQUIRE REFERRAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-250, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND DESIGNATED ADMINISTRATORS TO TRANSFER STUDENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN LIEU OF SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, TO REQUIRE PARENT CONFERENCES OR HEARINGS AND NOTICE TO AND INPUT FROM THE RECEIVING SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, AND TO PROVIDE APPEAL RIGHTS FOR TRANSFERS ORDERED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Restrictions applicable to expelled and suspended students
SECTION 1. Section 59-63-210 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 59-63-210. (A) Any district board of trustees may authorize or order the expulsion, suspension, or transfer of any pupil for the commission of any crime, gross immorality, gross misbehavior, persistent disobedience, or for violation of written rules and promulgated regulations established by the district board, county board, or the State Board of Education, or when the presence of the pupil is detrimental to the best interest of the school. Each expelled pupil has the right to petition for readmission for the succeeding school year.
(1) Expulsion must be construed to prohibit a pupil from entering the school or school grounds including, but not limited to, attending any day or night school functions or riding a school bus. An expelled student may only enter school or school grounds for a prearranged conference with an administrator. This prohibition shall continue for the duration of the expulsion period.
(2) Suspension must be construed to prohibit a pupil from entering the school or school grounds, except for a prearranged conference with an administrator, attending any day or night school functions, or riding a school bus. This prohibition shall continue for the duration of the suspension period.
(B) The provisions of this section do not preclude enrollment and attendance in any alternate education program to include adult education or virtual programming.
Expulsions for knowingly bringing firearms to school
SECTION 2. Section 59-63-235 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 59-63-235. (A) A student who is determined to have knowingly brought a firearm to a school or any setting under the jurisdiction of a local board of trustees must be expelled for no less than one year from the date of the incident. The expulsion hearing must follow the procedures established pursuant to Section 59-63-240.
(B) If the hearing is conducted by the district board of trustees, the one-year expulsion period is subject to modification by the board on a case-by-case basis.
(C) If the hearing is conducted by any authority other than the district board of trustees, the one-year expulsion period is subject to modification by the district superintendent of education. The board must receive and review a copy of the results of the expulsion hearing and affirm any modification recommendations by the district superintendent of education. If the board does not affirm a modification recommendation of the district superintendent, the expulsion period established in this section shall be reinstated. A student shall retain all rights afforded to him by Section 59-63-240.
(D) Students expelled pursuant to this section are not precluded from receiving educational services in an alternative setting to include virtual programming. Each local board of trustees is to establish a policy which requires the student to be referred to the local county office of the Department of Juvenile Justice or its representative.
Expulsions for threats of violence
SECTION 3. Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-63-237. (A) The district board of trustees must expel for no more than one academic year a student who is determined to have knowingly and wilfully delivered or conveyed a threat to commit bodily harm by means of a weapon against students or employees of a school by means of any letter or paper, writing, document, electronic communication, or other type of communication that is intended to reach another person. The expulsion period is subject to modification on a case-by-case basis as determined by the district board of trustees or district superintendent of education.
(B) In order for a student to be expelled under this section, the board or any authority the board designates to conduct an expulsion hearing, must find, at a minimum:
(1) the threat was directed at specific students, staff, or school;
(2) an ordinary person reviewing the threat would have a reasonable expectation of a violent act resulting in bodily harm;
(3) the student making the threat could be reasonably expected to have the capacity to carry out the threat; and
(4) the threat resulted in a material and substantial disruption to school operations including, but not limited to, the cancellation of classes or families declining to send students to school in response to the threat or a lock-down of the school and students.
(C) The expulsion hearing must follow the procedures established pursuant to Section 59-63-240. Students expelled pursuant to this section must be afforded access to educational services through an alternative or virtual setting. Each local board of trustees is to establish a policy which requires the student to be referred to the local county office of the Department of Juvenile Justice or its representative.
Student transfers for disciplinary matters
SECTION 4. Section 59-63-250 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
Section 59-63-250. The board or a designated administrator may transfer a pupil to another school within the school district in lieu of suspension or expulsion but only after a hearing with the parents or legal guardian and notification to and input from the principal at the receiving school. The parents or legal guardian may request a conference in lieu of the hearing provided under this section. The parents or legal guardian may appeal a transfer made by an administrator to the board.
Time effective
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 15th day of May, 2026.
Approved the 18th day of May, 2026.
This web page was last updated on June 2, 2026 at 1:10 PM